SportSunday October 13 Top Sports Betting Picks & Predictions for MLB Playoffs, WNBA Finals & NFL

In the second half of September, the New York Mets were displaying the look of being that team you didn’t want to face in the postseason. Now they sit four wins away from reaching the World Series.

These Mets have been comeback kings during October, and they certainly are capable of beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seven-game National League Championship Series. Game 1 is Sunday, and the Dodgers enter with 24 consecutive scoreless innings thrown by their pitching staff.

The Detroit Lions have lost their last six meetings against the Dallas Cowboys, including the playoffs, and are hoping to snap that skid. Perhaps the Lions are tired of seeing the backside of CeeDee Lamb, who had 13 catches for 227 yards in Dallas’ 20-19 win last year.

Game 2 of the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx is on tap as we ponder whether Napheesa Collier of the Lynx has entered the world superstar list.

NEW YORK METS AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The Mets are in the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2015, while the Dodgers are in this round for the seventh time in the past 12 seasons. Los Angeles beat the San Diego Padres in five games to get here, while New York upset the Philadelphia Phillies in four games.

Pete Alonso (three postseason homers) and Francisco Lindor (one) are the stars, but Mark Vientos (12-for-28, two homers, two doubles) has been the hottest New York player. Right-hander Kodai Senga will start the opener; he pitched two innings against the Phillies in his playoff start.

Shohei Ohtani was just 4-for-20 with 10 strikeouts against the Padres but did hit his first postseason homer. Teoscar Hernandez (6-for-18) and Mookie Betts (4-for-18) each hit two homers. Right-hander Jack Flaherty will start for Los Angeles; he gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings in a losing start against San Diego.

The Dodgers went 4-2 against the Mets this season, including a three-game sweep in New York in May. Ten or more runs were scored in four of the games.

Over 8 runs, -115 (DraftKings)

DETROIT LIONS AT DALLAS COWBOYS

The Lions surely haven’t forgotten last year’s meeting when referee Brad Allen somehow botched Detroit offensive lineman Taylor Decker reporting as eligible before catching a go-ahead two-point conversion pass in the final half-minute. The conversion was waved off with an illegal touching penalty, and Detroit missed the follow-up try.

Lions quarterback Jared Goff said he doesn’t take the officiating mistake personally and “that type of stuff happens, and you move on.” OK, so he’s a much nicer person than most of us. Detroit coach Dan Campbell probably didn’t quit fuming until May.

Detroit (3-1) and Dallas (3-2) both bring two-game winning streaks into the contest, with the Lions coming off a bye. The Cowboys’ wins were on the road by an average of four points.

Lamb has yet to register a 100-yard outing yet this season, despite Dak Prescott twice topping 350 yards. Prescott passed for 345 yards in last season’s matchup.

Lions -3.5 spread, -108 (DraftKings)

MINNESOTA LYNX AT NEW YORK LIBERTY

Collier has postseason averages of 26.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Keep this up, and the runner-up for regular-season MVP honors is going to join three-time MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and two-time winner Breanna Stewart of the Liberty in the top women’s player in the world conversation.

Collier scored 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting in Minnesota’s 95-93 road overtime victory in Game 1, including the decisive basket with 8.8 seconds left. While Courtney Williams also thrived with 23 points, Collier is always the key figure for the Lynx.

Stewart had 18 points in the opener but was just 6-of-21 from the field. She missed a tying layup attempt just before the buzzer and also missed a free throw with 0.8 seconds left in regulation that could have won the game. Expect Stewart to be highly motivated to bounce back and help New York tie the best-of-five series.

New York also needs Sabrina Ionescu to locate her shot after an 8-of-26 effort in Game 1. That high volume of shots helped her score 19 points, but the Liberty will be hoping for more efficient marksmanship.

Napheesa Collier over 20.5 points, -108 (FanDuel)