The Bum's Sports Page For Sunday August 23rd Best Bets-Trends-News !

[StarDust Bum]

Standings

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak

New York Liberty 18 7 0.720 0 9-3 9-4 10-5 8-2 W-2

Indiana Fever 16 9 0.640 2 8-4 8-5 9-7 8-2 W-5

Washington Mystics 15 10 0.600 3 9-4 6-6 8-9 6-4 L-1

Chicago Sky 16 11 0.593 3 11-3 5-8 11-6 5-5 W-1

Connecticut Sun 12 13 0.480 6 7-6 5-7 4-11 4-6 L-3

Atlanta Dream 9 16 0.360 9 6-6 3-10 5-9 2-8 L-1


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak

Minnesota Lynx 19 8 0.704 0 10-3 9-5 14-4 6-4 W-1

Phoenix Mercury 15 11 0.577 3 10-4 5-7 12-5 6-4 L-3

Tulsa Shock 13 14 0.481 6 8-5 5-9 7-10 3-7 W-3

Los Angeles Sparks 9 17 0.346 9 6-8 3-9 7-10 6-4 W-1

San Antonio Stars 7 20 0.259 12 7-7 0-13 5-11 2-8 L-4

Seattle Storm 7 20 0.259 12 5-7 2-13 6-11 2-8 L-1

Updated Sun Aug 23 11:07 AM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

CFL

Dunkel

Week 9


Ottawa @ Toronto

Game 297-298
August 23, 2015 @ 4:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ottawa
108.486
Toronto
119.463
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 11
56
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
by 9
50 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Toronto
(-9); Over

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CFL

Long Sheet

Sunday, August 23

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OTTAWA (4 - 3) at TORONTO (5 - 2) - 8/23/2015, 4:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 15-32 ATS (-20.2 Units) in road games since 1996.
OTTAWA is 15-32 ATS (-20.2 Units) in road lined games since 1996.
OTTAWA is 14-28 ATS (-16.8 Units) in road games in games played on turf since 1996.
TORONTO is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in home games after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 1-1 against the spread versus OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 1-1 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CFL

Week 9

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Trend Report
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Sunday, August 23

4:00 PM
OTTAWA vs. TORONTO

Ottawa is 5-15-1 SU in its last 21 games ,
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ottawa's last 6 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

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CFL

Sunday, August 23

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Game of the day: Redblacks at Argonauts
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Tory Gurley is second in the CFL with five receiving touchdowns.

Ottawa Redblacks at Toronto Argonauts (-9, 50.5)

The Toronto Argonauts won back-to-back games to pull into a tie with Hamilton for first place in the East Division heading into Week 9. The Ottawa Redblacks, who visit the Argonauts on Sunday, sit a game back in third place and will be looking to shake off a terrible performance after getting crushed at Calgary last week.

The Redblacks edged Calgary 29-26 at home on July 24 to kick off a modest two-game winning streak but failed to get anything done on offence last Saturday as the Stampeders rolled to a 48-3 victory. Ottawa will need to fix some holes on defence as well as it gets set for Toronto, which is second in the CFL in points scored despite handing the reins over to Trevor Harris at quarterback with veteran Ricky Ray injured all season. The Argonauts are coming off a 27-20 road victory over Winnipeg in which Harris threw a pair of touchdown passes to bring his season total to 16. The Redblacks shuffled through three quarterbacks at Calgary last week, and Danny O’Brien showed some promise with a 9-of-10 passing effort after the game was already out of hand.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN

LINE HISTORY: The Argos opened as 8.5-point favorites before shifting to -9. The opening total of 50.5 has not moved from that point.

INJURY REPORT: Redblacks - WR Chris Williams (Ques-Undisclosed) Argonauts - LB Cory Green wood (Ques-Concussion)

ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (4-3 SU, 4-3 ATS, 4-3 O/U): Henry Burris does not appear to be in danger of losing his starting job to O’Brien or anyone else, but the veteran quarterback could use a quick bounce-back after going 7-of-17 for 114 yards before being pulled in Calgary. Burris is fourth in the CFL with 1,809 passing yards heading into Week 9 and totaled 712 yards and five TDs in the Redblacks previous two games. The loss last week began a stretch of four of five on the road for Ottawa, which is 1-2 in front of opposing fans.

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (5-2 SU, 5-2 ATS, 3-4 O/U): Ray underwent offseason shoulder surgery that necessitated he begin the season on the six-game injured list, and the veteran has been returned to the list. “He still needs a few more weeks, minimum," coach Scott Milanovich told reporters. "I know he had a good throw the other day and felt good about that but he's not there yet." Ray is a free agent at the end of the season and Harris looks poised to step up into Toronto’s No. 1 spot for the long term while leading the CFL in TD passes and sitting second in yards (1,987).

TRENDS:

*RedBlacks are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games.
*Argonauts are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
*Under is 9-4 in RedBlacks last 13 games following a S.U. loss.
*Under is 5-0 in Argonauts last 5 vs. East.

CONSENSUS: 52 percent of the users are backing the Argos with 54 percent on the under.

[StarDust Bum]

2015 Regular Season Standings

Regular


West Division

GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV STREAK

Calgary 8 6 2 0 12 219 182 5 - 0 - 0 1 - 2 - 0 2 - 0 - 0 W3

Edmonton 8 5 3 0 10 200 150 3 - 1 - 0 2 - 2 - 0 2 - 1 - 0 L1

Winnipeg 8 3 5 0 6 160 237 2 - 2 - 0 1 - 3 - 0 2 - 2 - 0 L2

BC 8 3 5 0 6 179 234 2 - 2 - 0 1 - 3 - 0 3 - 1 - 0 L2

Saskatchewan 8 0 8 0 0 205 259 0 - 5 - 0 0 - 3 - 0 0 - 5 - 0 L8


East Division

GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV STREAK

Hamilton 8 6 2 0 12 292 156 3 - 0 - 0 3 - 2 - 0 1 - 1 - 0 W5

Toronto 7 5 2 0 10 193 183 2 - 0 - 0 3 - 2 - 0 0 - 1 - 0 W2

Ottawa 7 4 3 0 8 134 198 3 - 1 - 0 1 - 2 - 0 2 - 0 - 0 L1

Montreal 8 3 5 0 6 165 148 2 - 2 - 0 1 - 3 - 0 1 - 2 - 0 W1

[StarDust Bum]

http://cfl.ca/article/preview-redbla...und-in-toronto

[Udog]

http://cfl.ca/article/preview-redbla...und-in-toronto

I love these! Great addition, Bum!

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday Night's Preseason Tips

August 23, 2015


Cowboys at 49ers (-4 ½, 40) – 8:00 PM EST

Dallas

Head coach: Jason Garrett (7-11 SU, 5-12-1 ATS in preseason)

Quarterback rotation: Tony Romo (?), Brandon Weeden, Dustin Vaughan, Jameill Showers (Rookie)

The Cowboys have spent all of their preparation time on the West Coast again this training camp, setting up headquarters in Oxnard and playing the Chargers and 49ers on their home fields. They'll be home for the last two preseason games and will wait until they return to Texas to play their key offensive lineman or the banged up Dez Bryant. Romo may sit too, especially since there are concerns about the sod at Levi's Stadium potentially being dangerous. One Cowboy who will debut is Darren McFadden, expected to compete for the vacant running back job.

San Francisco

Head coach: Jim Tomsula (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS in preseason)

Quarterback rotation: Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, Dylan Thompson (Rookie)

Tomsula's debut in Houston didn't go well, but Kaepernick got in the game only briefly and Thompson failed to make much headway with the reserves after Gabbert put up the team's lone 10 points. With Kaepernick unlikely to play more than a quarter, the 49ers will again look to see how their backups respond before getting serious about giving their regulars time next week. As a result, intriguing Aussie rugby player turned running back Jerryd Hayne should get more touches, as will rookie Mike Davis.


Rams at Titans (-2, 38½) – 8:00 PM EST

St. Louis

Head coach: Jeff Fisher (38-39 SU, 37-38-2 ATS in preseason)

Quarterback rotation: Nick Foles, Case Keenum, Austin Davis, Sean Mannion (Rookie)

Foles delivered points on his first drive against the Raiders last week, but left after a second stint. No one else managed to generate any points and first downs were hard to come by. As a result, the offense is under some pressure to establish themselves with the customary dress rehearsal on tap next week. Keenum has experience in the stystem and will be counted on to show he can move the second-team offense.

Tennessee

Head coach: Ken Whisenhunt (10-20 SU, 10-19-1 ATS in preseason)

Quarterback rotation: Marcus Mariota (Rookie), Zach Mettenberger, Charlie Whitehurst, Alex Tanney

Turnovers helped spoil Mariota's debut, but the Titans want him to learn from his mistakes and won't dial much of anything back in fear of damaging his confidence. They know blitzes and complicated schemes will be part of the equation against aggressive defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and the Rams, who will certainly provide a strong test for the offensive line with their consistent pressure.

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday's NFL Week 2 preseason betting primer

The second week of the NFL preseason comes to a close with three games on the schedule on Sunday. From disastrous fields to disastrous offensive lines, here are the notes you need-to-know for Sunday's action on the gridiron.

Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5, 41)

* Packers' linebacker Clay Matthews has still yet to see live snaps this preseason and it does currently seem that it is unlikely he will Sunday. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers does not seem overly concerned though saying "With a guy like Clay, who's bright (and has) good football instincts, I like where he is in terms of being able to do what I ask him to do."

* The Steelers will trot out every healthy player in Sunday according to Mike Tomlin. The only regular starter that is expected to miss the game is linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who is dealing with turf toe.


St. Louis Rams at Tennessee Titans (-2, 38.5)

* The center position is still unsettled for the Rams. The three-way race between Tim Raines, Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney saw Barnes get the start last week. Rhaney has spent most of the week at left guard with Roger Saffold nursing an injury as well.

* The Titans first-team offensive line looked shaky in Week 1 of the preseason and will be tested early in this one against the powerful Rams defensive line. There has been reports that te Titans have been connected to guard Evan Mathis is shore up their line.


Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (-4, 40.5)

* There seems to be a chance that Tony Romo does not even see the field Sunday. The grass at Levi Stadium has been so bad that Romo will likely be limited if he plays at all according to Clarence Hill of the Dallas Star-Telegram.

* Levi Stadium has been an utter trainwreck this offseason. It has been so bad that the 49ers have only conducted three of their eight scheduled practices on their home turf due to the poor conditions. The field has also been freshly laid after the stadium hosted a Taylor Swift concert earlier this week.

[StarDust Bum]

NFL Capsules

August 23, 2015

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray had successful debuts, Kenjon Barber returned another punt for a score, and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Baltimore Ravens 40-17 Saturday night.

Bradford went 3 of 5 for 35 yards and led the Eagles (2-0) on an 84-yard drive in his only series. He played his first game since tearing his left ACL for the second time in 11 months on Aug. 23, 2014.

Bradford survived a late hit by Terrell Suggs, who lowered his helmet and tackled his knees for a roughing penalty. Bradford also took a hard shot from Brandon Williams and appeared shaken up, but stayed in to complete the drive.

Murray had a 2-yard TD run, Ryan Mathews had a 14-yard TD run and Barber took a punt 68 yards to the end zone a week after a 92-yard TD return in a 36-10 win over Indianapolis.

Joe Flacco threw interceptions on his first two drives and the rest of the Ravens (1-1) didn't fare much better against a team they practiced with the previous three days.

PATRIOTS 26, SAINTS 24

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Brandin Cooks caught all four passes thrown his way for 117 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown from Drew Brees, and New Orleans raced to a 21-0 lead before New England rallied for a victory.

Brees, a healthy scratch last week when New Orleans (0-2) lost at Baltimore, was 8 of 10 for 159 yards and two TDs, the other going to veteran tight end Ben Watson.

After Tom Brady failed to move New England (1-1) for a first down on three series, backup Jimmy Garoppolo led five scoring drives, starting with his scramble and 24-yard scoring pass to Chris Harper.

Dion Lewis added an 11-yard TD run and James White scored from 3 yards. New England finally pulled in front on Stephen Gostkowski's second field goal, a 35-yarder with 14 seconds left.

GIANTS 22, JAGUARS 12

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Blake Bortles had another impressive preseason outing for Jacksonville, leading the Jaguars to three field goals in his only drives in a loss to New York.

Bortles, who was 11 of 15 in a preseason opener, hit 8 of 16 passes for 98 yards. His chances for scoring touchdowns were hurt by poor offensive line play at times, a holding penalty in the red zone and a drop.

Josh Scobee capped the first drive for the Jaguars (1-1) with a 52-yard field goal and Jason Myers converted from 51 and 49 yards.

Eli Manning and the Giants (1-1) struggled for the second straight week, with the two-time Super Bowl MVP finishing 4 of 14 for 46 yards in three series. Odell Beckham Jr. was targeted five times, had no catches and one red-zone drop.

VIKINGS 20, RAIDERS 12

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Charles Johnson and Chase Ford each caught touchdown passes in the second quarter for Minnesota, which came back from an hour-plus weather delay to defeat Oakland.

Teddy Bridgewater finished 10 for 14 for 89 yards, including the crisp 10-yard throw into Johnson's outstretched hands in close coverage to finish the third drive by Minnesota's starters.

In three exhibition games, Bridgewater is 22 for 28 for 219 yards and no turnovers. Some of his early passes sailed high, but he settled in and again found a rhythm with short and intermediate routes by his receivers.

Derek Carr, the other member of the NFL's 2014 quarterback class who started to hit his stride in his first year on the job, completed half of his eight passes. But he had the throw of the night, a beautiful back-shoulder fade to rookie Amari Cooper for a 40-yard gain.

BRONCOS 14, TEXANS 10

HOUSTON (AP) - Peyton Manning couldn't score in more than a quarter of work in his preseason debut before Denver's reserves rallied late to help the Broncos to a win over Houston.

Manning led the team on four drives that all ended with punts before he was replaced by Brock Osweiler with 11 minutes left in the second quarter. The 39-year-old Manning was 8 of 14 for 52 yards.

Ryan Mallett, competing with Brian Hoyer to be Houston's starting quarterback, opened the game on Saturday. He failed to move the offense, and the Texans punted on his two possessions. Hoyer was also unable to get into the end zone in his four drives.

Osweiler gave the Broncos a 7-0 lead on a 57-yard touchdown pass to Andre Caldwell early in the second quarter.

PANTHERS 31, DOLPHINS 30

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Ryan Tannehill completed 12 of 15 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, Damien Williams scored twice for Miami in a loss to Carolina.

Williams scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and caught an 11-yard TD pass on a slant route from Tannehill.

Williams nearly had a third touchdown, but Dolphins coach Joe Philbin errantly challenged an official's call that the second-year running back was stopped before the goal line after diving for the pylon.

When officials reviewed the play, they determined Williams actually fumbled the ball into the end zone.

Instead of the Dolphins taking a 20-0 lead - or having a second-and-goal at the Carolina 1 had Philbin not challenged - the Panthers got the ball at the 20 after the touchback.

Carolina's Cam Newton struggled in his first game without wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, finishing 4 of 10 for 42 yards with an interception.

BEARS 23, COLTS 11

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Jimmy Clausen's two second-half touchdown drives trumped Jay Cutler's three first-half field-goal drives.

Chicago's backup quarterback threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Bellamy to give the Bears the lead midway through the third quarter, then took advantage of a Colts turnover to lead the Bears to another TD.

First-year coach John Fox has won his first two preseason games, though this was hardly a beauty. The Bears finished with seven penalties, one turnover and were 3 of 12 on third-down chances.

Plus, Cutler got his team inside the Colts 10-yard line twice before mistakes forced Chicago to settle for field goals.

For the Colts, it was another dismal exhibition game. Indy has lost seven straight since winning in the preseason on Aug. 24, 2013, against Cleveland.

CHARGERS 22, CARDINALS 19

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona rookie David Johnson rushed for 66 yards in 13 carries in his NFL debut, San Diego had six first-half sacks, and rookie Josh Lambo kicked a 42-yard field goal as the game ended for the win.

Johnson, a fourth-round pick from Northern Iowa who had been out most of training camp with a hamstring injury, also caught two passes for 15 yards.

Melvin Ingram sacked Carson Palmer twice.

Palmer, playing less than one quarter, completed a 57-yard pass to rookie speedster J.J. Nelson to set up his 17-yard TD pass to John Brown.

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers sat out the game.

Rookie quarterback Phillip Sims directed the Cardinals to 10 fourth-quarter points to tie it at 19 before Lambo won it.

[StarDust Bum]

Diamond Trends - Sunday

August 23, 2015

SU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Orioles are 13-0 since Apr 22, 2013 at home and as a favorite and after a loss in which they scored first.

PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- None

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Brewers are 0-10 OU since Apr 18, 2004 on the road as a 140+ dog and after a 5+ run loss and in the last game of a series.

CHOICE TREND:

-- The Cardinals are 11-0 since Aug 11, 2013 it is the last game of a three game series when they lost the first two games.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Cubs are 11-0 since Jul 27, 2015 after a game in which they hit more home runs than their opponent.

[StarDust Bum]

Standings

Regular Season Standings

AMERICAN - EAST

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak

New York Yankees 68 54 .557 0 36-23 32-31 7-3 W-1

Toronto Blue Jays 68 55 .553 0 40-23 28-32 7-3 W-2

Baltimore Orioles 62 60 .508 6 37-24 25-36 5-5 L-3

Tampa Bay Rays 62 61 .504 6 31-31 31-30 5-5 W-3

Boston Red Sox 56 67 .455 12 33-31 23-36 6-4 L-1


AMERICAN - CENTRAL

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak

Kansas City Royals 74 48 .607 0 42-20 32-28 6-4 W-1

Minnesota Twins 62 61 .504 12 38-24 24-37 5-5 W-3

Detroit Tigers 59 63 .484 15 29-32 30-31 5-5 L-2

Chicago White Sox 58 63 .479 15 30-28 28-35 5-5 W-3

Cleveland Indians 57 65 .467 17 24-34 33-31 4-6 L-1


AMERICAN - WEST

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak

Houston Astros 68 56 .548 0 44-21 24-35 7-3 W-2

Texas Rangers 63 59 .516 4 28-30 35-29 8-2 W-2

Los Angeles Angels 63 60 .512 4 39-26 24-34 4-6 L-3

Seattle Mariners 56 67 .455 11 26-35 30-32 4-6 L-3

Oakland Athletics 53 71 .427 15 29-36 24-35 2-8 L-2


NATIONAL - EAST

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak

New York Mets 66 56 .541 0 42-21 24-35 6-4 W-2

Washington Nationals 61 61 .500 5 32-24 29-37 3-7 W-1

Atlanta Braves 53 70 .431 13 32-24 21-46 2-8 L-6

Miami Marlins 50 73 .407 16 29-32 21-41 5-5 L-2

Philadelphia Phillies 49 74 .398 17 28-30 21-44 4-6 W-2


NATIONAL - CENTRAL

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak

St. Louis Cardinals 77 45 .631 0 46-19 31-26 5-5 L-2

Pittsburgh Pirates 73 48 .603 3 43-20 30-28 8-2 W-1

Chicago Cubs 70 51 .579 6 37-26 33-25 7-3 W-3

Milwaukee Brewers 53 71 .427 25 28-38 25-33 5-5 L-1

Cincinnati Reds 51 70 .421 25 28-31 23-39 2-8 L-8


NATIONAL - WEST

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Last 10 Streak

Los Angeles Dodgers 67 55 .549 0 42-20 25-35 5-5 L-4

San Francisco Giants 66 57 .537 1 35-24 31-33 6-4 L-1

Arizona Diamondbacks 61 61 .500 6 30-29 31-32 5-5 W-3

San Diego Padres 61 62 .496 6 31-29 30-33 8-2 W-5

Colorado Rockies 49 72 .405 17 27-35 22-37 2-8 L-2

Updated Sun Aug 23 11:34 AM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Standings

Wild Card Standings

AMERICAN

Team Win Loss Percent GB

Toronto Blue Jays 68 55 0.553 +4.5

Texas Rangers 63 59 0.516 0.0

Los Angeles Angels 63 60 0.512 0.5

Baltimore Orioles 62 60 0.508 1.0

Tampa Bay Rays 62 61 0.504 1.5

Minnesota Twins 62 61 0.504 1.5

Detroit Tigers 59 63 0.484 4.0

Chicago White Sox 58 63 0.479 4.5

Cleveland Indians 57 65 0.467 6.0

Boston Red Sox 56 67 0.455 7.5

Seattle Mariners 56 67 0.455 7.5

Oakland Athletics 53 71 0.427 11.0



NATIONAL

Team Win Loss Percent GB

Pittsburgh Pirates 73 48 0.603 +3

Chicago Cubs 70 51 0.579 0.0

San Francisco Giants 66 57 0.537 5.0

Washington Nationals 61 61 0.500 9.5

Arizona Diamondbacks 61 61 0.500 9.5

San Diego Padres 61 62 0.496 10.0

Atlanta Braves 53 70 0.431 18.0

Milwaukee Brewers 53 71 0.427 18.5

Cincinnati Reds 51 70 0.421 19.0

Miami Marlins 50 73 0.407 21.0

Colorado Rockies 49 72 0.405 21.0

Philadelphia Phillies 49 74 0.398 22.0


Updated Sun Aug 23 11:34 AM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack

-- Giants 22, Jaguars 12-- Eli Manning was 4-14 passing, Ryan Nassib 19-35.

-- Patriots 26, Saints 24-- Garoppolo has thrown 63 passes in two games.

-- Rookie kicker Josh Lambo drilled a game-winning field goal that might've been good from 60-65 yards as the Chargers won 22-19 in Arizona.

-- Rookie QB Philip Sims looked sharp for the Cardinals; he bounced around some in college, but looked poised and in control last night

-- Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh might have the yips; he's already missed a PAT and a few field goals this summer.

-- Raiders' DB Charles Woodson is starting his 18th year in the NFL-- wow!!!

**********

Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday......

13) My #1 pet peeve with the NFL; teams don't have to suit up three QBs, so if they suit up two and one gets hurt early in a game, that ruins the quality of the game, since they cannot risk the #2 QB getting hurt. Happened tot he Texans couple of years ago and all they did the rest of the game was run the ball.

NFL teams are worth around $1B each; how about springing for a #3 QB?

12) This is going to happen in an NFL game this season, and I hope to God I'm in a casino when it does; Team A (-2.5) is down four points with 0:10 left- they score a TD with 0:03 left, go up two points, but instead of kicking the easy PAT to cover, they'll take a knee to guard against the PAT being blocked and run back for two points and a tie game. Hasn't happened in college ball, that I know of, but it will in the NFL.

11) Patriots 26, Saints 24-- New Orleans was up 21-0 in first half; they went for two three times, as both coaches managed the game like drunken sailors but since it was an exhibition game, no one cares. Just another reason not to bet exhibition games.

10) Pittsburgh Pirates are 52-19 in non-divisional games; if they keep up this pace, it would be the best winning %age in non-divisional games since 1969.

9) At the start of this season, ten of 30 MLB GMs either went to MIT, Amherst or an Ivy League school. Dave Dombrowski is really highly regarded-- he went to college at Western Michigan, a freakin' state school. How does he do his job every day?????

8) One aspect of new PAT rule; if there is a holding penalty on a PAT, it becomes a 43-yard attempt, which is anything but a gimme.

7) Johnny Cueto gave up seven runs in Fenway Park Friday night; you could almost see him mentally checking Boston off his list of potential free agent destinations.

6) White Sox 6, Mariners 3 (10)-- Seattle is unbelievably bad, considering its payroll this year is $123,225,843. Hawk Harrelson was thrashing their bullpen last night; the way he was talking, that came from the Mariners' TV/radio announcers.

5) In the 80's, Cubs had a backup catcher named Steve Swisher who hit nine homers at Wrigley Field; his son Nick has been a good major leaguer for over a decade-- he homered from both sides of the plate in the same game yesterday in Wrigley, but his Braves lost 9-7 to the Cubs, Atlanta's 21st loss in their last 23 road games.

4) Major leaguers who have come to the plate this season with the most runners on:
1) Carlos Santana, Clev-- 358
2) Todd Frazier, Cin-- 355
T3) Kendrys Morales, KC-- 346
T3) Eric Hosmer, KC-- 346

3) Major leaguers with 200+ PA who have driven in the highest %age of baserunners so far this season:
T1) Carlos Gomez (with Milwaukee), 21.3%
Gomez has knocked in 3 of 39 runners (7.7%) with the Astros.
T1) Chris Colabello, Tor, 21.3%
3) David Peralta, Ariz, 21.0%
4) Andrew McCutchen, Pitt, 20.7%
5) Caleb Joseph, Balt, 20.4%

2) How happy is CBS that Eldrick Woods is in contention in Greensboro today?

1) Wrigley Field is considered a national historical landmark; as a result, they're very limited to changes they can make to the structure itself. Ownership is doing its best to modernize Wrigley for players and fans alike, but it has been a slow process- they want to move the bullpens under the outfield bleachers and off the field, but they are being held up by the "historical landmark" stuff.

1a) Minnesota Vikings' play-by-play guy was brutal on kicker Blair Walsh last night; Walsh just signed a new contract and a bad night last night- the TV guy kept talking about it like his son wanted a tryout to take the guy's place. A little odd.

[StarDust Bum]

Team Open Line Movements Current Moneyline Halftime Scores

1:00 PM EDT

425 GREEN BAY PACKERS 41 41 / 40.5 / 40.5o14 41 +107
426 PITTSBURGH STEELERS -3 -05 -2 / -2.5 -05 / -2.5 -04 -2 -05 -127

Time-change to 01:00pm EDT | PIT-RB-Le'Veon Bell-OUT | TV: NFL, DTV: 212 | MOSTLY FAIR, NORTH WIND 2-7. GAME TEMP 81, RH 39% HEAT INDEX 81

[StarDust Bum]

NFL Consensus Picks

SIDES (ATS)

Time Away Line Picks Pct Home Line Picks Pct Detail Odds

8:00 PM St. Louis +2.5 624 46.26% Tennessee -2.5 725 53.74% View View

1:00 PM Green Bay +2.5 857 59.14% Pittsburgh -2.5 592 40.86% View View

8:00 PM Dallas +4.5 857 61.48% San Francisco -4.5 537 38.52% View View


TOTALS (OVER/UNDER)

Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds

8:00 PM St. Louis 38.5 381 34.95% Tennessee 38.5 709 65.05% View View

8:00 PM Dallas 40 574 52.42% San Francisco 40 521 47.58% View View

1:00 PM Green Bay 41 631 55.79% Pittsburgh 41 500 44.21% View View

I'll update the other games closer to game time

[StarDust Bum]

Team Open Line Movements Current Moneyline Halftime Scores

4:05 PM EDT

651 CHICAGO SKY 155o05 157 / 156.5 / 156 156 +115
652 WASHINGTON MYSTICS -2.5 -03 -2 -05 / -2 -15 / -2.5 -2.5 -05 -135
TV: NBA, DTV: 216

4:35 PM EDT

653 LOS ANGELES SPARKS -4.5 -09 -5 / -4.5 / -5 -15 -5.5 -220
654 SA STARS 147o05 147u08 / 147 / 146.5 147 +190
LA-F-Nnemkadi Ogwumike-?

6:05 PM EDT

655 MINNESOTA LYNX -1 -02 -1 -02 PK -109
656 PHOENIX MERCURY 146.5u07 146.5u07 / 146.5 / 146 146.5 -101

MIN-G-Seimone Augustus-OUT | PHO-G-Diana Taurasi-OUT | TV: NBA, FS-Arizona, FS-North, DTV: 216, 668, 686


6:05 PM EDT

657 NEW YORK LIBERTY 147o05 147o07 / 148 / 147.5 147 +115
658 INDIANA FEVER -2.5 -01 -2.5 +11 / -2 / -2.5 -2 -135
TV: FS-1, DTV: 219

6:05 PM EDT

659 ATLANTA DREAM -1 -05 +1 / +1.5 / PK -1 -115
660 CONNECTICUT SUN 159u07 159u07 / 158.5 / 159 158.5 -105

CON-G-Alex Bentley-? | CON-F-Chiney Ogwumike-OUT