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**Udog** · 06-03-2017, 07:10 AM

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

Early pointspreads on some interesting college football games this fall:

— Sept 9: Oklahoma @ Ohio State (-8)

— Sept 16: Texas @ USC (-12)

— Sept 23: Arkansas vs Texas A&M (-10) (@ Arlington)

— Oct 7: Michigan State @ Michigan (-15)

— Oct 21 USC (-6.5) @ Notre Dame

— Oct 28: Georgia (-3) vs Florida (@ Jacksonville)

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Armadillo: Saturday's List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here……

13) Davidson College is in the NCAA baseball tournament for the first time in 115 years; they upset North Carolina on Friday. Apparently their best pitcher is a 5-10 kid named Durin O’Linger who is a very good pitcher but not a pro prospect— great student, going to go to pharmacy school next. Terrific story.

Mr O’Linger threw 140 pitches in a game on May 24, then threw 51 more two days later. On the 27th, he threw 45 more pitches, then threw 92 against the Tar Heels yesterday.

All of this ignited a small firestorm on Twitter ignited by ESPN’s Keith Law, who went after the Davidson coach for abusing the kid’s arm. Couple of his ex-teammates objected strongly to that. It is an interesting debate; the kid will never play pro baseball, and he wants to make history for his school, with his friends. It is the kid’s choice, yes?

12) Westgate Casino in Las Vegas has a $1,500 NFL SuperContest every year; you pick five NFL games a week, and there are prizes— first place has been as much as $900,000 in the past.

This year, they’re adding a new angle; a separate $5,000 “Gold” SuperContest where there is only one winner— curious to see how many people sign up for that event.

11) From ESPN: Clayton Kershaw has been the betting favorite in his last 150 starts; next longest active streak is Carlos Carrasco of Cleveland (29).

10) 14 college freshmen were drafted by NBA teams last June; 20 are expected to be selected this year.

9) Lebron James is in his 8th NBA Final; his team has been underdog in six of those eight.

8) Cleveland Cavaliers are still paying former head coach Mike Brown, who is the interim head coach of the Warriors right now.

7) Mets’ catcher Travis d’Arnaud says he uses a different bat every day, often times one that belongs to a teammate. Mets’ TV guy Keith Hernandez said he never heard of that before.

Best wishes to Hernandez by the way; he had knee replacement surgery Friday.

6) Cubs had bases loaded, one out in 6th inning Friday and they pinch-hit for Kyle Schwarber. Baseball is a tough game. Schwarber is hitting .139 vs lefties this season.

5) Marlins’ 1B Justin Bour stole his first career base Thursday, in his 310th career game.

4) Las Vegas Golden Knights have been posted at 200-1 to win the Stanley Cup next season; they don’t have any players yet- they’re an expansion team. Who would bet on them?

3) Quincy McKnight averaged 18.9 pts/game at Sacred Heart last year but will transfer to Seton Hall, as big $$$ schools continue to poach good players from low D-I programs. McKnight will sit next year, then have two years left to play.

2) If you don’t think medicine and science are bleeping amazing, consider this; Hall of Famer Rod Carew was on TV during the Twins-Angels game Thursday night. He had both a heart transplant and a kidney transplant earlier this year, now says he feels good. Great to hear!!!

1) Kansas State WR Corey Sutton got a release from his scholarship, can go anywhere he likes now; K-State had originally blocked his transfer, but it was becoming a PR debacle so the school relented and he is gone.

**Udog** · 06-03-2017, 07:12 AM

Saturday's NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 3 Betting Preview: Penguins at Predators

Music City has been a safe haven for the Predators, who are 7-1 in these playoffs at Bridgestone Arena and winners of 11 of their past 12 playoff contests.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Nashville Predators (-135, 5.5)

Pens lead series 2-0

Home cookin' traditionally provides a bountiful feast for the Nashville Predators, who hope the change of scenery goes a long way in altering results when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Music City has been a safe haven for the Predators, who are 7-1 in these playoffs at Bridgestone Arena and winners of 11 of their past 12 playoff contests.

Nashville defenseman P.K. Subban is confident that victory will be on the menu Saturday, providing what is tantamount to a guarantee as well as bulletin-board material for his opponent. "There's no question. We're going to win the next game, and then we'll move forward," said the outspoken Subban, who has seen his team outshoot the Penguins 64-39 -- only to be outscored 9-4 in losing the first two contests of the best-of-seven series. Jake Guentzel has been responsible for both game-winning goals of the series, scoring with 3:17 remaining in Game 1 and setting an NHL rookie record for a playoff year with his fifth such tally in Wednesday's 4-1 victory. The 2-0 series lead is a familiar one for Pittsburgh, which also claimed that advantage last year before skating past San Jose in six games to capture its fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS

Stanley Cup Final Game 3 Betting Preview: Penguins at Predators
The Penguins will look to take a commanding 3-0 series in Game 3 Saturday night, but they'll have to contend with a rowdy Nashville crowd as the Predators host their first Stanley Cup final game in franchise history.

LINE HISTORY: The Predators may be down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup final, but they will enter game three as the betting favorites at the sportsbooks. The Preds opened at -140 on the moneyline and that number has come down slightly to -135. The total hit the betting board at 5.5. Check out the complete line history here.

GOALIE MATCHUP: Matt Murray (PIT) vs. Pekka Rinne (NAS)

Murray - GP: 7, W/L: 5-1, 1.54 GAA, .943 SAVE %, 1 SO
Rinne - GP: 18, W/L: 12-6, 1.98 GAA, .929 SAVE %, 2 SO

INJURY REPORT:

Penguins - C N. Bonino (Questionable, lower body), RW T. Kuhnhackl (Questionable, lower body), D C. Ruhwedel (Questionable, concussion), D K. Letang (Out for season, neck).

Predators - LW C. Wilson (Doubtful, undisclosed), C R. Johansen (Out For Season, thigh), LW K. Fiala (Out For Season, leg).

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (64-26-8-5, 56-40 O/U): While the 22-year-old Guentzel leads the league in goals (12), fellow forward Evgeni Malkin added to his advantage in points (26) by scoring a goal in his second straight contest Wednesday to send beleaguered Pekka Rinne to the showers. The 2012 Hart Trophy winner has recorded six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five games. Chris Kunitz is doing quite well in his own right by matching a career high with three straight multi-point performances in the playoffs, during which he has collected two goals and five assists.

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (53-34-9-4, 45-43 O/U): Although coach Peter Laviolette "politely" reiterated Friday that he and his coaching staff do not publicly discuss lineup changes, Rinne likely will be in net for Game 3 despite being shredded for eight goals on 36 shots in the first two contests. The three-time Vezina Trophy finalist has permitted just 13 tallies en route to winning seven of eight playoff games at Bridgestone Arena to go along with a 1.54 goals-against average and .947 save percentage. "It's going to be a tremendous lift," Laviolette said of playing at home. "I think the playoffs, everything ratchets up and becomes even better, a more explosive environment."

TRENDS:

* Penguins are 8-2 in their last 10 Stanley Cup Final games.
* Predators are 0-5 in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Under is 9-2 in Penguins last 11 Stanley Cup Final games.
* Under is 7-1-3 in Predators last 11 home games.
* Penguins are 10-2 in the last 12 meetings.

CONSENSUS: 64 percent of users are siding with the home favorite Predators and 55 percent of the totals wagers are on the Under.

**Udog** · 06-03-2017, 07:16 AM

NHL
Long Sheet

Saturday, June 3

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PITTSBURGH (64-26-0-13, 141 pts.) at NASHVILLE (53-34-0-13, 119 pts.) - 6/3/2017, 8:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 6-2 (+3.5 Units) against the spread versus NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 6-2-0 straight up against NASHVILLE over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.0 Units)

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NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, June 3

Pittsburgh won first two Finals games at home; they’re 10-2 in last 12 games with Nashville- four of last five series games went over. Predators won four of its last five home games; under is 7-3-2 in their last 11 games, 3-1-1 in last five at home. Pittsburgh is 2-3 in last five road games, scoring total of nine goals. Under is 4-3-2 in their last nine games. Penguins won Cup LY and in 2009; they’re 4-1 overall in Stanley Cup final series. Nashville is in its first Stanley Cup final.

Stanley Cup final
Nashville-Pittsburgh
Pitt 5-3, -$160, O5.5
Pitt 4-1, -$140, U5.5

NHL

Saturday, June 3

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. NASHVILLE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games when playing Nashville
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Nashville
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Nashville's last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
Nashville is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games

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Announcement

Saturday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 6/3

Saturday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 6/3

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