With college football season on the horizon, ESPN Chalks college football experts -- Phil Steele, Stanford Steve Coughlin and Chris Fallica -- combine to give you betting previews of the top 25 teams, according to the ESPN College Football Rankings. They break down each teams strengths and weaknesses, along with season win total bets and national title odds.Odds from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook as of Aug. 15.Michigan State SpartansNational title odds: 40-1 Season win total: 8 FPI win total projection: 7.4Phil SteeleStrengths:?Defense. I rate the Spartans defense No. 8 in the country, and they have my No. 17-rated defensive line, No. 3 linebackers and No. 26 defensive backs. I think running back LJ Scott and true freshman wide receiver Donnie Corley will contend for All-Big Ten honors this year. Brad Brach Jersey . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Willson Contreras Jersey . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Javier-Baez-Kids-Jersey/ . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Jason Heyward Cubs Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Jose Quintana Cubs Jersey .com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins placed forward James Neal on injured reserve Tuesday. NEW YORK -- Thousands of fans donned Mets caps with brunette locks flowing out the back at Citi Field on Saturday night -- a promotional giveaway by the defending NL champs to honor follicly gifted right-hander Jacob deGrom.Those lookalikes are probably the closest the Mets will see to deGrom pitching as they push for a postseason return.DeGrom was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday and is unlikely to throw again this season because of an injury to the ulnar nerve in his right elbow.The 2014 NL Rookie of the Year has been out since Sept. 1 after experiencing elbow pain in a start against Miami. DeGrom felt fine while throwing a bullpen Friday, but then sensed a twinge while tossing a baseball in from the outfield during batting practice about 15 minutes later.Just trying to lob it into the bucket, deGrom said. I guess throwing that bullpen had messed with that nerve. After I threw it, I was like, `OK, I have to go say something.General manager Sandy Alderson announced deGroms prognosis Saturday. Hours later, the Mets gave away the hairy hats before a game against the Twins while hoping to stretch a two-game lead over St. Louis for the second NL wild card.DeGrom will need surgery but has not decided whether he will wait until the end of the season to have it. Recovery time for the surgery is expected to be three months, meaning the 28-year-old will be ready for spring training.DeGrom is 7-8 with a 3.04 ERA this season, including 0-3 with a 9.82 ERA in his final three starts. He said he began experiencing numbness in his right pinky and ring fingers about five or six starts ago and did not tell the team. He then felt pain in the game Sept. 1 and at that point notified the Mets.After the last one, I was like, `OK, somethings not right and I think we need to get this looked at, deGrom said.An MRI showed no damage to deGroms ulnar collateral ligament -- good news for the star righty, who already had Tommy John surgery in 2010. DeGrom said doctors told him it wasnt unusual for Tommy John veterans to experience nerve issues caused by scar tissue buildup around the elbow.ddddddddddddEven before the flare up Friday, deGrom expected to have surgery this offseason to address the scar tissue.I think this is good news compared to what it could have been, deGrom said.The Mets will have to defend their wild-card lead without another pivotal piece. DeGrom joins Matt Harvey, David Wright, Neil Walker and Zack Wheeler as Mets likely done for 2016.On top of that, ace Noah Syndergaard and lefty Steven Matz may require operations in the offseason to remove bone spurs in their pitching elbows. If that happens, New York could enter 2017 with five starters coming off surgery.There was some good news Saturday. Slugging first baseman Lucas Duda was activated from the disabled list after missing nearly four months recovering from a stress fracture in his lower back. His role could be limited while he shakes off rust, and Duda said he hopes to contribute fully by the start of the postseason.Matz meanwhile threw a 30-pitch bullpen, signifying he could return soon after already missing a month with left shoulder tightness. Manager Terry Collins said Matz will be evaluated Sunday before determining his next course of action.The rotation is left with regulars Syndergaard and Bartolo Colon backed by rookies Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman -- Lugo is 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA in five starts, and Gsellman is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA in four starts.Gabriel Ynoa will start Sunday against Minnesota, and Collins said he expects to use a plethora of people to cover innings.You have to be resilient, Collins said. Theres no guarantees anythings going to happen on a daily basis. So you have to get ready for tomorrow and hopefully the guys who go out there get some big outs. ' ' '