Announcement

**Udog** · 10-26-2016, 07:54 AM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

NFL trends to ponder with Week 8 on the way…….

— Tennessee is 3-12 vs spread in its last 15 games.

— Oakland covered its last seven road games.

— Buffalo is 14-7-1 in its last 22 divisional games.

— Cowboys are 8-3 vs spread after their last 11 byes.

— Chargers covered nine of their last eleven games.

— New Orleans is 11-3-1 in its last 15 games as a dog.

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Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Sports Illustrated ranks NBA players……

Before starting today, I have something that needs to be said.

New Jersey Giants are taking some heat for how they handled the Josh Brown situation; they may have made a mistake giving the guy a 2-year contract after his domestic violence issues, but they corrected that mistake and sent Brown on his way. No one is perfect; when mistakes are made, they need to be corrected and this one was.

The Giants used to have training camp here in Albany; I got to know some of their PR people and they couldn’t have been nicer to me. First class people all the way. My dad (a huge Giants fan) got sick one summer and the Giants gave him a football signed by the whole team. It meant a lot to him. It is still here in my living room, next to my football signed by Vince Ferragamo (ha!!!).

Last year, when my dad passed away, the Giants sent a bouquet of flowers to the wake. It was so kind, so unexpected, just a very nice/thoughtful thing to do. Nice people get scoffed at in today’s society; it is too damn bad.

Lot of people like to report negative things for whatever reason; the positive things that are done by people/teams get glossed over, because that is corny. Kicking people when they’re down is in vogue, but truth is, a hell of a lot more good is done than bad.

You can take this to the bank: the New Jersey Giants are good people. Top-shelf.

— Sports Illustrated’s Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney ranked the NBA’s top 100 players in SI’s NBA Preview issue, with random comments on various players……..here are some of those comments:
(last season’s rank is in parentheses)

100) Devin Booker, Suns (NR)— “Superstar ceiling, but was still a teenager when preseason opened!”

97) Manu Ginobili, Spurs (NR)— “Still a magician at 39. The oldest player on the list.”

91) Bismack Biyombo, Magic (NR)— “Magic paid him $72 million; 71 for his defense, one for his offense.”

78) Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (NR)— “The best young player you’ve (probably) never heard of.”

68) Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks (NR)— “The Big Apple’s most beloved is a lock to make a big jump next year.”

60) Luol Deng, Lakers (56)— “The only Laker to make the list, now that Kobe is retired.”

42) Serge Ibaka, Magic (25)— “Took a hit after a rough season that led to trade.”

25) Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers (23)— “This one incited fan outrage, but his defense was damaging.”

19) Klay Thompson, Warriors (26)— “That’s right; four Warriors in the top 20.”

12) DeMarcus Cousins, Kings (14)— “Top 10 talent; HR nightmare.”

4) Chris Paul, Clippers (6)— “Barely edged out Westbrook, thanks to defense shot selection, control.”

3) Stephen Curry, Warriors (4)— “Is the unanimous MVP underrated?”

1— Lebron James, Cavaliers (1)— “The King for the fourth straight year.”

**Udog** · 10-26-2016, 07:59 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Wednesday, October 26

Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland

Game 953-954
October 26, 2016 @ 7:08 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago Cubs
(Arrieta) 14.857
Cleveland
(Bauer) 17.681
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cleveland
by 3
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Chicago Cubs
-155
7
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(+135); Over

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, October 26

Cubs @ Indians
Arrieta is 0-2, 7.31 in his last three starts, 2-2, 4.11 in five postseason starts. Cubs lost six of his last nine road starts.

Bauer’s finger (stitches from cut) must be healed if he is starting here. Bauer is 0-0, 5.06 in two postseason starts; his start in last series ended in first inning because his finger kept bleeding. He is 0-0, 4.76 in his last three starts; Indians won his last four starts, are 7-1 in his last eight home starts.

Cubs are 7-4 in playoffs this year, 3-3 on road; they didn’t play the Indians this season. Obviously Chicago hasn’t been in World Series since 1945, Indians since 1997. Cleveland is 8-1 in playoffs, 5-0 at home.

Maddon is 24-26 as a playoff manager, 11-9 with Cubs. he lost 2008 World Series with Rays. Francona won World Series with Boston in 2004, 2007; he is 36-19 as a postseason manager.

Keep in mind this game starts an hour earlier (7:00) than last night because rain is expected in the Cleveland area late Wednesday night.

MLB

Wednesday, October 26

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Trend Report
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7:08 PM
CHI CUBS vs. CLEVELAND
Chi Cubs are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 6 games
Cleveland is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
Cleveland is 3-6 SU in their last 9 games when playing Chi Cubs

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**Udog** · 10-26-2016, 09:57 AM

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, October 26

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CHICAGO CUBS (110 - 62) at CLEVELAND (102 - 68) - 7:05 PM
JAKE ARRIETA (R) vs. TREVOR BAUER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1598-1685 (-258.9 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1541-1598 (-233.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1175-1250 (-195.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters since 1997.
CLEVELAND is 102-68 (+17.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 58-28 (+17.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
CLEVELAND is 10-1 (+10.8 Units) against the money line in October games this season.
CLEVELAND is 96-64 (+13.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CLEVELAND is 72-39 (+20.5 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
CLEVELAND is 8-1 (+8.8 Units) against the money line in playoff games this season.
CLEVELAND is 55-36 (+15.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 29-9 (+17.0 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -150 over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 126-74 (+27.7 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
ARRIETA is 28-9 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 28-9 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CLEVELAND is 38-54 (-32.7 Units) against the money line in home games after shutting out their opponent since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
CLEVELAND is 1-0 (+1.0 Units) against CHICAGO CUBS this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

JAKE ARRIETA vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
ARRIETA is 1-1 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 8.69 and a WHIP of 1.932.
His team's record is 2-2 (-0.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-1. (+2.0 units)

TREVOR BAUER vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
BAUER is 1-0 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 1.000.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

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**Udog** · 10-26-2016, 12:05 PM

MLB

Wednesday, October 26

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World Series Game 2 Betting Preview and Odds: Cubs at Indians
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Chicago will look to even the series with Jake Arrieta on the mound in Wednesday's Game 2.

Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Indians (+135, 7)

Indians lead series 1-0

The Cleveland Indians overpowered Chicago's bats in the opener of the World Series and hope to do so again as they seek a 2-0 series lead when they host the Cubs on Wednesday. Light-hitting catcher Roberto Perez belted two homers while the trio of starter Corey Kluber (nine in six-plus innings), Andrew Miller (three) and Cody Allen (three) combined for 15 strikeouts in Cleveland's 6-0 victory in Game 1.

Perez became only the fifth catcher in World Series history to hit two homers in a single game, joining Hall-of-Famers Yogi Berra (1956), Johnny Bench (1976) and Gary Carter (1986), as well as Gene Tenace (1972). "I was controlling my emotions, I think that was a big part of it," Perez told reporters. "It has been an unbelievable night. I can't describe the words right now." Chicago will look to even the series with Jake Arrieta on the mound and also will need some of its other key offensive players to join Ben Zobrist (3-for-4) in swinging the bat well. "I was not disappointed," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said in his postgame press conference. "I know we had 15 punch-outs, I get it, but the quality of the at-bats were not that bad."

TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, FOX

WEATHER REPORT: Rain is in the forecast for later this evening in Cleveland - so much so that the league decided to move the start time for this game up an hour to 7:08 ET in order to attempt to get the game in before the wet stuff hits. Temperatures will be in the low-40's with a 10 mph wind blowing from right to left. Sounds like a horrible night for baseball.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (0-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (0-0, 5.06)

Arrieta has given up four runs in three of his five career postseason starts, but he believes he's getting more comfortable with the higher-pressure stage. "I think what you really learn with the more experience you get in the postseason is the finer details, controlling the running game, not allowing mental mistakes and not allowing your opponent to capitalize on your mental mistakes," Arrieta said during a press conference. "Because, obviously, at this point in the season, the team that makes the fewest mistakes typically wins the ballgames." Arrieta started one game at Progressive Field as a member of the Baltimore Orioles and picked up the win despite allowing six runs - five earned - and six hits in six innings of a 14-8 victory on Aug. 10, 2010.

Bauer badly cut his right pinkie finger while working on his drone on Oct. 14 and had to leave his Game 3 start in the American League Championship Series against Toronto in the first inning three nights later as the finger began bleeding profusely. He said the cut now is healed and he tested the finger by throwing 20 pitches on Monday without incident. "Threw it with max intent, just like in a game, as close to game intensity as I could possibly get to," Bauer said during a press conference. "There's no pain, no blood. I was able to execute all my pitches to a high level, and I'm really encouraged by it."

TRENDS:

* Cubs are 12-3 in their last 16 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
* Indians are 8-1 in their last 9 playoff games.
* Indians are 7-1 in Bauer's last 8 home starts.
* Over is 12-2-3 in Arrieta's last 17 road starts.
* Under is 8-0 in Indians' last 8 playoff games.
* Cubs are 3-12 in their last 15 games with Guccione behind home plate.

CONSENSUS: The public is backing the road team Chicago Cubs in Game 2 at a rate of 58 percent. View Full consensus data here.

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**Udog** · 10-26-2016, 02:30 PM

MLB
Short Sheet

Wednesday, October 26

Chicago Cubs at Cleveland, 8:05 PM ET
Arrieta: CHICAGO CUBS are 6-9 on the road when the total is 7 or less
Bauer: CLEVELAND is 10-1 SU when playing in the 2nd game of a playoff series

Announcement

Wednesday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 10/26

Wednesday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 10/26

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