Stanford-Hawaii spread play and a Premier League winner pick: Best Bets for September 1

Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer.

Here are our best bets for Friday, Sept. 1:

TOP PLAY

The play: NCAAF, Hawaii +3 vs. Stanford

The odds/bet: -110 ($33 to win $30)

The book: Barstool Sportsbook

Time/TV: 11 p.m. (Fubo TV)

Our take: The public has been all over Hawaii after its performance against Vanderbilt in Nashville during Week 0. While the Rainbow Warriors went on to lose, they put on an impressive showing that displayed a lot of growth from where they were this time last year.

The spread for Hawaii's second game has been cut in half since it opened at seven points in favor of Stanford. Now, the Cardinal is just a field goal chalk favorite over the Rainbow Warriors in Honolulu.

The reality of the situation, though, is that Stanford is projected to be one of the worst teams in the Pac-12. Troy Taylor inherits a roster that's been gutted to its core with 20 players leaving via the transfer portal. He may surprise some folks out in Santa Clara County but his team will be tested early and often.

The Cardinal brings a solid rushing attack to this game, which will be useful in keeping the Hawaii offense on the sidelines. The Rainbow Warriors can sling the rock, folks, and if you didn't catch any of their game against the Commodores last weekend, you'll be surprised at how good their passing game can be.

I'm not going to make a drastic move and pick Hawaii money line (+130) — although I see a realistic chance of this happening — but I will take the hosts to keep it close.

WEST HAM SPOILS LUTON'S LITTLE PARTY

The play: EPL, West Ham money line at Luton Town

The odds/bet: -125 ($12.50 to win $10)

The book: DraftKings Sportsbook

Time/TV: 3 p.m. (NBC Sports)

Our take: Friday night football in the Premier League will broadcast live to the world for the first time from Kenilworth Road this afternoon. Luton Town welcomes its first top-flight foe to a charming stadium that's sure to give opponents a tough test throughout the campaign.

The Hatters have struggled in the Premier League thus far as they've conceded seven goals and scored once in two matches. Historically they've been great at home as their style of football combined with fan influence proves tough to break down. However, West Ham is not a traditional top-six side that welcomes teams to sit deep and defend for their lives.

Instead, the Irons invite you to get on the front foot, which is something Luton fans will love in their opening first-division fight at home. This plays right into David Moyes' tactics as West Ham counters clinically through the likes of Michail Antonio, Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen.

There is too much experience in the Irons' ranks for Luton to expect a positive result here, especially given how West Ham has opened the season.

HOW WE’VE FARED

• NCAAF: Utah -4.5 over Florida (WON $30)

• MLB: Nationals +1.5 vs. Marlins (LOST $11.50)

Thursday's profit/loss: +$18.50 (1-1)

Total for the week: +$51 (5-3)

Final total for August: -$75.20 (27-37)

Total for 2023: -$592.70 (201-231)

 If a line or odds are minus, it considers the juice one must lay to place the bet. Ex: Team A is -160 on the money line, one would have to bet $160 to win $100 (or $16 to win $10). OR Team B is a 5-point favorite at -110, one would have to bet $110 to win $100 (or $11 to win $10.)

Conversely, on positive lines, if Team C is +140 on the money line, $100 would bring in $140 (or $10 to win $14).