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[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s 6-pack

Over/under win totals for SEC East football teams

— Florida 9 (under -$180)

— Georgia 11 (under -$160)

— Kentucky 6.5 (over -$125)

— Missouri 8 (over -$150)

— South Carolina 5.5 (over -$155)

— Tennessee 6.5

— Vanderbilt 5 (under -$200)

Quote of the Day
“Major League Baseball’s turning this game into a joke. They own Rawlings, and you’ve got Manfred up here saying it might be the way they center the pill. They own the f—ing company. If any other $40 billion company bought out a $400 million company and the product changed dramatically, it’s not a guess as to what happened. We all know what happened. Manfred the first time he came in, what’d he say? He said we want more offense. All of a sudden he comes in, the balls are juiced? It’s not coincidence. We’re not idiots.”
Justin Verlander, who is a pitcher, by the way

Tuesday’s quiz
Who won the first Home Run Derby, in 1985 in the Metrodome in Minnesota?

Monday’s quiz
In the early 60’s there was a Home Run Derby TV show; it was it filmed at an old ballpark called Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, where the Angels briefly called home.

Sunday’s quiz
Paul George played his college basketball at Fresno State.

************************

Tuesday’s Den: ACC football knowledge……

Boston College- Went 7-5 or 7-6 five of last six years; since 2014, Eagles are 11-2-1 vs spread as a road underdog. Last two years, BC is 10-3-1 vs spread coming off win. Junior QB Brown already has 22 career starts; their top four rushers are all back.

Clemson- Tigers won 10+ games eight years in a row; they won four of last five bowls, with three of those wins by 27+ points. Clemson covered 15 of last 19 neutral field games; they’ve been an underdog once the last four years.

Duke- Blue Devils won last three bowls, scoring 44-36-56 points; they’ll have a new, more mobile QB this year, but Cutcliffe is a QB guru. Last four years, Duke is 12-19-1 vs spread in ACC games. Average total in Duke’s last five bowls: 79.0.

Florida State- Seminoles are 12-13 SU the last two years, after going 59-9 from 2012-16. FSU is -17 in turnovers the last two years, 8-12 vs spread in last 20 home games, 9-13-2 in last 24 games as a favorite. Average total in FSU’s last five bowls: 66.8.

Georgia Tech- Collins went 15-10 at Temple; changing from option attack to more traditional offense can be dicey. Tech has only 9 of 22 starters back, with an inexperienced offensive line. Opening at Clemson will be a reality check, but Collins is a good coach.

Louisville- Cardinals went 2-10 LY after eight winning years in a row, so Petrino got the boot and Satterfield comes in from Appalachian State (47-16). Last three years, Louisville is 12-26 vs spread (1-11 LY), 3-11 in non-conference games.

Miami- Mark Richt went 26-13 in three years; not good enough. Defensive-minded Manny Diaz is the new coach; he has a new QB, inexperience on OL. Since 2012, Miami is 4-9-1 as road underdogs. From 2015-17, they were +34 in turnovers, were -1 LY.

North Carolina- Mack Brown was on TV last five years; now he is back on sidelines after UNC went 5-17 last two years under the cloud of an academic scandal. Tar Heels lot last three bowls; their last bowl win was 2013. UNC will be breaking in a new QB this year.

NC State- Wolfpack had five straight winning seasons, went 11-5 in ACC last two years, after going 17-31 the six years before that. State has a new QB and only two starters back on OL, so the offense (4 starters back overall) could take a step back this year.

Pittsburgh- Pitt lost last four bowls, with pair of 1-point losses; their last bowl win was in 2014, over Bowling Green (30-27, +6.5). Under Narduzzi, Panthers are 12-6 vs spread as road underdogs, 5-10-1 as home favorites.

Syracuse- Orangemen had their first winning season (10-3) in five years LY; they won their last four bowls (were favored in only one of those), with last bowl loss in 2004. Under Babers, Syracuse is 9-3 vs spread as a road underdog.

Virginia- LY’s 8-5 record was first winning season in seven years; they even pitched a shutout in their bowl game. Since 2014, Cavaliers are 15-7 vs spread outside the ACC- they start couple of sophs, three juniors on OL, so they’ll be very solid the next two years.

Virginia Tech- In three years under Fuente, Hokies are 9-5 vs spread as home favorites, 7-13 vs spread in all their other games; they’ve got 10 starters back on defense TY. QB Willis has 20 career starts; six of their top seven rushers are back.

Wake Forest- Deacons are 22-17 SU last three years, winning bowls all three years while scoring 42 ppg. Wake is 4-0-1 vs spread in lat five bowls; they covered 10 of last 13 games as a road underdog; last four years, they’re 16-8-1 vs spread coming off a loss.

[StarDust Bum]

Your complete guide to All-Star week

Lost among all the arguments about All-Star voting and All-Star snubs is that All-Star week is really just a big celebration of the sport. Baseball fans in Cleveland can attend the fan festival, get to see the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow, enjoy sluggers slugging during the Home Run Derby and then watch the best players in the sport -- most of them, at least -- in Tuesday's All-Star Game.

Here's a guide to three days of fun:

Monday: Home Run Derby

Pete Alonso's big swing could deliver big results in the Home Run Derby on Monday night. Kathy Willens/AP Photo

Time: 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
2018 winner: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

Format: An eight-player bracket, with the higher seed going second. Batters have four minutes per round with one timeout allowed per round (and two in the finals).


2019 MLB All-Star Game

This year's All-Star Game is Tuesday at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Here's what you need to know about the teams and all the festivities. Rosters, schedules, analysis

Participants: Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics (No. 1 seed, stepping in for the injured Christian Yelich); Pete Alonso, New York Mets (2); Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates (3); Alex Bregman, Houston Astros (4); Joc Pederson, Dodgers (5); Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves (6); Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians (7); Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (8)

It's going to be hard to top the past two Home Run Derbies -- Aaron Judge winning 2017 while dueling Giancarlo Stanton with a barrage of long-range missiles, and then Harper pulling out a dramatic, last-second victory over Kyle Schwarber at his home park -- but this field is loaded and should provide some fun energy with all the young guys.

Also, for the first time there is the added incentive of $1 million going to the winner, as the overall pool for the participants increased from $725,000 to $2.5 million.

No wonder Alonso has actually been practicing for the event. The rookie slugger has the opportunity to basically double his 2019 salary.

Bregman and Pederson have participated in previous Home Run Derbies (Pederson lost in the 2015 final to Todd Frazier), so that might help them. Yelich is the first reigning MVP winner to participate since Albert Pujols in 2009. Acuña and Guerrero give us two of the most exciting young players in the game, and the hometown fans will root on Santana.

Bell, however, might be the favorite (he and Yelich were the top picks in Vegas, before Yelich pulled out), as his raw power might top even Alonso's. His seven home runs of 440-plus feet lead the majors, and he has cranked two into the Allegheny River beyond the right-field stands at PNC Park -- becoming just the fourth player in PNC history to reach the river on the fly.

Tuesday: All-Star Game
Will Mike Trout add to the success he's already enjoyed in the All-Star Game? Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
2018 MVP: Alex Bregman, Astros

Format: Nine innings, doesn't count. The past two All-Star Games both went 10 innings. The AL has won six in a row (after winning 12 in a row with one tie from 1997 to 2009).

The last time All-Star festivities were held in Cleveland was 1997, when Randy Johnson started against Greg Maddux. The AL starting lineup featured six future Hall of Famers (Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Cal Ripken, Ivan Rodriguez, Roberto Alomar) plus Alex Rodriguez. The NL starting lineup featured five future Hall of Famers (Maddux, Craig Biggio, Tony Gwynn, Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell) plus Barry Bonds and Larry Walker. There were eight more future Hall of Famers on the benches, plus Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire.

The first four NL pitchers were Maddux, Curt Schilling, Kevin Brown and Pedro Martinez. Now that is an All-Star pitching staff. Indians catcher Sandy Alomar played the hero for the hometown fans with a two-run homer in the seventh inning off Giants lefty Shawn Estes, giving the AL a 3-1 win.

Players to watch

• The NL starting outfield of Yelich, Acuña and Cody Bellinger is third-youngest outfield by average age in All-Star history, trailing only the 1957 NL trio of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson and the 1940 AL trio of Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and Charlie Keller. Yelich and Bellinger, battling for MVP honors, both head into the break with at least 30 home runs.

• Mike Trout, Angels. The two-time All-Star MVP might be having his best season yet. He's 7-for-15 with five extra-base hits (including two home runs) in All-Star games.

• Hyun-Jin Ryu, Dodgers. The likely NL starter, Ryu is 10-3 with a 1.73 ERA. He has allowed more than two runs in a start just twice all season -- one game with three runs (but just one earned) and one bad seven-run outing at Coors Field in which he allowed three home runs. He has walked just 10 batters in 109 innings. He's joined on the NL roster by teammates Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, making the Dodgers just the fifth team in 20 years with three starting pitchers on an All-Star roster.

• Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs. Last year's NL MVP runner-up started the 2018 game at second base but starts at shortstop this year. He joins Bobby Grich and Granny Hamner as the only players to start All-Star Games at both shortstop and second base.

• Justin Verlander, Astros. He started in 2012 and could be the AL starter seven years later, as he's 10-4 with a 2.98 ERA and has held batters to a .162 average. After finishing as the Cy Young runner-up in 2018 and 2016, he's intent on adding a bookend to his 2011 trophy.

• Francisco Lindor, Indians. He isn't starting, but he'll play in front of the hometown fans. And maybe like Alomar in 1997, he walks away with MVP honors.

[StarDust Bum]

National League starters

C -- Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs

1B -- Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

2B -- Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS -- Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs

3B -- Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

OF -- Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

OF -- Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

OF -- Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

National League reserves

C -- Yasmani Grandal, Milwaukee Brewers

C -- J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies

1B -- Pete Alonso, New York Mets

1B -- Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates

2B -- Mike Moustakas, Milwaukee Brewers

SS -- Paul DeJong, St. Louis Cardinals

SS -- Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies

3B -- Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals

3B -- Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

OF -- Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies

OF -- David Dahl, Colorado Rockies

OF -- Jeff McNeil, New York Mets

National League pitchers

RHP -- Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

RHP -- Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds

RHP -- Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

RHP -- Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

LHP -- Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

LHP -- Hyun-Jin Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers

RHP -- Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

RHP -- Mike Soroka, Atlanta Braves

RHP -- Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins

LHP -- Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers

LHP -- Will Smith, San Francisco Giants

RHP -- Kirby Yates, San Diego Padres

x -- injured


American League starters

C -- Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

1B -- Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

2B -- DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees

SS -- Jorge Polanco, Minnesota Twins

3B -- Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

OF -- Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

OF -- George Springer, Houston Astros

OF -- Michael Brantley, Houston Astros

DH -- Hunter Pence, Texas Rangers -- x

American League reserves

C -- James McCann, Chicago White Sox

1B -- Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox

1B -- Daniel Vogelbach, Seattle Mariners

2B -- Whit Merrifield, Kansas City Royals

2B -- Tommy La Stella, Los Angeles Angels -- x

2B -- Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays (replaces La Stella) -- x

2B -- Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees (replaces Lowe)

SS -- Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

SS -- Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox (replaces Pence)

3B -- Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics

OF -- Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

OF -- Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays

OF -- Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers

DH -- J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

American League pitchers

RHP -- Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros

RHP -- Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox

LHP -- John Means, Baltimore Orioles

LHP -- Mike Minor, Texas Rangers

RHP -- Charlie Morton, Tampa Bay Rays

RHP -- Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins -- x

RHP -- Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays

RHP -- Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

RHP -- Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins (replaces Odorizzi)

LHP -- Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees

RHP -- Shane Greene, Detroit Tigers

LHP -- Brad Hand, Cleveland Indians

RHP -- Ryan Pressly, Houston Astros

x -- injured

[StarDust Bum]

Win Total Update - AS Break

We've reached the midway point of the 2019 pro baseball season and bettors investing in “Win Total” wagers can start to get a clearer picture on their investments.

Listed below are each team’s win totals and their records through July 7 along with their projection to go ‘over’ or ‘under’ this season.

[Udog]

2019 MLB All-Star Game betting picks and predictions: Plenty of pop at the plate for NL vs AL

The American League has held a six-year stranglehold on the MLB All-Star Game since snapping a three-year winning streak by the National League in 2013.

The MLB All-Star Game is the only show in town for baseball bettors Tuesday night, with the American and National Leagues doing battle at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio (7:30 p.m. ET).

We dive into the odds for the MLB All-Star Game and break down the best bets and top predictions for the Mid-Summer Classic, from quick-paying plays, top props, and the moneyline and Over/Under.


QUICK HITTER

Unlike most All-Star events around the sporting world, the MLB showcase isn’t bloated with an outpouring of offense. The American and National Leagues have played some low-scoring tight contests in recent years, and that competitiveness starts with the first pitch.

Generally, the respective managers will look to their top starter to open the game, and in the case of the All-Star Game, that means the best of the best: Top Gun style. With those elite aces on the mound to open the ASG, it’s no surprise the past six Mid-Summer Classics have produced a total of just five runs in the first innings (three of those coming in 2014). The past two All-Star Games, the AL and NL standouts have combined for a goose egg on the scoreboard and the 2013 game also featured a scoreless opening frame.

Astros starter Justin Verlander is first up for the AL, while Dodgers ace Hyun-jin Ryu gets the honors for the NL. Verlander has a 3.32 ERA in opening innings this season, but hasn't allowed a first-inning run in his last three starts. Ryu boasts a 3.71 first-inning ERA and blanked the Padres in the first inning of his previous start.

PREDICTION: Under 0.5 runs first inning


FIRST FIVE INNINGS

While low-scoring first innings have been the trend in MLB All-Star Games, so have uneventful first-five-innings spans. Over the past six seasons, the first five innings of action have averaged 3.33 runs, and four of those events had three or fewer runs scored.

All-Star team managers are still working with some elite starters through the opening five innings, but we have seen an uptick in scoring in the first half of the 2019 schedule, especially in terms of power.

Both lineups are loaded with pop at the plate, with the American League starting lineup totaling 164 home runs (three players with 20-plus HRs) and the National League lineup touting 185 homers (NL has seven players with 20-plus HRs) – give or take if MLB home run leader Christian Yelich (31) plays or not.

The starting lineups will likely get two at-bats before managers start swapping in reserves, which means plenty of power-hitting potential in the early innings.

PREDICTION: Over 4.5 runs first five innings


TEAM/PLAYER PROP

As measured above, the American League doesn’t pack the same punch at the plate as its Senior Circuit foes, but does have a deeper collection of pure hitters on its All-Star roster.

Three of the top four leaders in total hits this season are featured among the AL All-Stars (but not Boston’s Rafael Devers – glaring ASG snub), including major-league hit leader Whit Merrifield of Kansas City coming off the bench as a reserve. Houston’s Michael Brantley, who ranks No. 7 in hits, is also among the American League starting lineup.

The MLB All-Star Game averaged 14 total hits between 2010 and 2015, but that jumped in the past three years, with 18 hits in 2016, 17 hits in 2017 and 20 hits in last July’s Mid-Summer Classic. The American League was responsible for 13 of those hits in 2018 and will rely on getting guys on base and advancing those runners more than the NL on Tuesday night.

PREDICTION: American League Over 8.5 hits

BONUS PROP PREDICTION: If you’re looking for a tasty flier, you could take “Yes” on the extra innings prop at +650. The current moneyline has this game as a pick ’em, and the previous two ASGs have gone into extra frames.


OVER/UNDER BET

Last year’s All-Star Game went Over the 7-run total, thanks to a busy final three innings in which the teams combine for seven runs and forced the game into extra innings, tacking on an added four runs in those two bonus frames for an 8-6 win for the Junior Circuit.

Traditionally, the seventh, eighth and ninth innings have been relatively quiet. Before the 2018 ASG, the previous seven Mid-Summer Classics produced a total of just six runs in the final three frames, and four of those runs came in 2015.

However, measuring up past All-Star Game results doesn’t hold much water when looking at 2019. So far, this MLB season has produced the highest scoring rate (9.6 total runs per game) since 2007 (9.6) and 2006 (9.72). A good part of that uptick in production has been the explosion in power hitting, namely the home run rate.

Major League Baseball is producing 2.74 home runs per game in the first half of the 2019 schedule, which is the highest home run rate ever and on pace to break the 2018 record rate of 2.52. The next highest home run rate came in 2000 (2.34) – smack dab right in the middle of the steroid era.

Plenty of the bats responsible for those rising home run numbers are stepping into the box Tuesday night.

PREDICTION: Over 8.5 runs


SIDE BET

The American League has held a six-year stranglehold on the MLB All-Star Game since snapping a three-year winning streak by the National League in 2013. Home-field advantage has had little to do with that success, as 2019 is the first time the All-Star Game has been played in the AL park since 2014.

The Mid-Summer Classic has been a hotly contested showcase during that six-year run, with the previous two games going to extra innings and the average margin of victory in those ASGs sitting at 2.16 in favor of the AL.

The National League holds an 89-73 advantage in interleague action this season, but there are some big guns missing from the NL roster: Washington starter Max Scherzer and third baseman Anthony Rendon. The National League could also be without the massive bat of Yelich, who withdrew from the Home Run Derby due to back issues.

Six-year steak aside, the American League gets the nod in 2019.

PREDICTION: American League -110

[Udog]

MLB
Dunkel

Tuesday, July 9


National League @ American League

Game 945-946
July 9, 2019 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
National League
(Ryu) 16.466
American League
(Verlander) 14.945
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
National League
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
American League
-110
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
National League
(-110); Over

[Udog]

MLB Mid-Season Awards

TOP OVER TEAM (sorted by Over %)
Dodgers 58-32-4

Honorable mention
Pirates 53-33-3, Mets 47-33-10, Red Sox 51-36-3


TOP UNDER TEAM (sorted by Under %)
Reds 54-30-3

Honorable mention
Rays 46-37-8, Astros 47-38-5, Indians 47-38-3

[Udog]

Wednesday’s 6-pack

Props for NFL teams making the playoffs:
— Miami Dolphins No -$2,500, Yes +$1,100
— Minnesota Vikings No -$130, Yes +$110
— New Orleans Saints Yes -$330, No +$260
— New Jersey Giants No -$700, Yes +$500
— New Jersey Jets No -$425, Yes +$325
— Oakland Raiders No -$800, Yes +$550

Quote of the Day
“If you’re the smartest person in the room, go to another room.”
Ralph Lawler

Wednesday’s quiz
Which team had the most players in the All-Star Game this year?

Tuesday’s quiz
Dave Parker won the first Home Run Derby, in 1985 in the Metrodome in Minnesota.

Monday’s quiz
In the early 60’s there was a Home Run Derby TV show; it was it filmed at an old ballpark called Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, where the Angels briefly called home.


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Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings…….

13) I’d rather watch NBA Summer League games than Home Run Derby; just would rather watch actual games with guys competing for jobs.

Overall I’m a much bigger baseball fan than an NBA fan, but I like games, not batting practice.

12) Been listening to Sam Mitchell do analysis on NBA Summer League games; he’s great, he tells stories, just sits there and talks about ball, which is all I’m asking for.

11) Tip of the cap to my friend Phil, who nailed a $50 bet on Pete Alonso at 5-1 to win the Home Run Derby.

This makes up for the summer night in 1983 when we were at jai-alai in Hartford, CT and Phil didn’t do so well; he unleashed a torrent of epithets at a player named Gurney who cost Phil a quinella with a bad blunder. To this day it is the hardest I’ve ever laughed in my entire life; had tears running down my face, I was laughing so hard.

Phil….he wasn’t laughing; hope this makes up for it.

10) Cincinnati Reds used five different left fielders in Sunday’s game, the first time that has happened since 1908; they also used four 2B Sunday, first time they’ve done that since 1958.

In that 1958 game, Gus Bell went 1-5 for the Reds with a run scored and an RBI; his grandson David is the Reds’ manager now.

9) Jay Bruce is the first player in MLB history to hit 10+ home runs for two different teams before the All-Star break; he hit 14 for Seattle, has 10 for the Phillies.

8) Astros, Twins, Braves and Brewers are supposedly the teams most interested in Madison Bumgarner; Minnesota is the only one of those teams that can acquire Bumgarner without his permission.

7) Jaxson Hayes is running amok for the New Orleans Pelicans in summer league; this is a kid who never started a high school game until his senior year, which means that only 20 months ago, he had never started a game, and now he looks like an NBA star in the making.

6) Seth Greenberg is really good on TV and he was a good college hoop coach, but he said something the other day, that was odd…….odd as in, people who work for ESPN aren’t allowed to criticize guys who played for Duke.

He was talking about Cam Reddish on the Hawks: “He was regarded as a good shooter coming out of high school, but he didn’t make many shots last year.”

It is pretty easy to decide who the good shooters are: they make the most shots. Reddish shot 39.4% inside the arc, 33.3% outside the arc at Duke last season. Not good.

5) Thanasis Antetokounmpo is signing a fully guaranteed two-year, $3M veteran’s minimum deal with the Bucks. Milwaukee is getting creative with ways to keep his brother Giannis, one of the best players in the league, but as a lifelong Oakland A’s fan who had to live thru the Jeremy Giambi era, it likely won’t work.

4) Rams’ QB Jared Goff got his first hole-in-one a few weeks ago. I got a hole-in-one once, but it came on a windmill hole, so I’m told that doesn’t count.

3) Chinese Nationals 84, Hornets 80— I know it is only summer league, but Michael Jordan owns the Hornets and he couldn’t have been too happy after this game Monday night.

2) Has the Home Run Derby hurt the All-Star Game’s popularity? Sometimes it seems like the home run contest has surpassed the game as a fun event for fans.

1) Commercial on the Mets’ game Sunday: “Cremation starting for as little as $895!!!”

Who knew cremation was such a good deal?

[Udog]

TOP MONEY STARTING PITCHER (based on $100 wager per start)

Andrew Cashner BAL (11-6) $1196

Honorable mention

Lucas Giolito CHW (12-5) $955
Brandon Woodruff MIL (14-4) $897
Mike Soroka ATL (12-3) $856


WORST MONEY STARTING PITCHER (based on $100 wager per start)

Chris Sale BOS (6-12) $-1878

Honorable mention

Jacob deGrom NYM (5-13) $-1567
Aaron Sanchez TOR (5-14) $-890
Jack Flaherty STL (7-11) $-877


TOP OVER STARTING PITCHERS (min. 10 starts)

Yusei Kikuchi SEA 15-3 O/U
Eduardo Rodriguez BOS 15-3 O/U

Honorable mention

Noah Syndergaard NYM 12-4 O/U
Mike Foltynewicz ATL 8-3 O/U


TOP UNDER STARTING PITCHER (min. 10 starts)

Vince Velasquez PHI 8-2 U/O

Honorable mention

Shane Bieber CLE 13-4 U/O
Spencer Turnbull DET 12-4 U/O
Jason Vargas NYM 8-3


TOP OVER UMPIRE (min. 10 games behind home plate)

Alan Porter 14-2

Honorable mention

Jeffrey Kellogg 10-3
Mike Winters 10-3
Carlos Torres 11-4


TOP UNDER UMPIRES (min. 10 games behind home plate)

Jerry Meals 12-4
Rob Drake 12-4

Honorable mention

Kerwin Danley 10-4
Andy Fletcher 10-4
Joe West 12-5


TOP OVER TEAM (sorted by Over %)
Dodgers 58-32-4

Honorable mention
Pirates 53-33-3
Mets 47-33-10
Red Sox 51-36-3


TOP UNDER TEAM (sorted by Under %)
Reds 54-30-3

Honorable mention
Rays 46-37-8
Astros 47-38-5
Indians 47-38-3

[Udog]

AL holds off NL, 'under' cashes

CLEVELAND (AP) For one night, the pitchers took back the power.

Hours after an awesome Home Run Derby got everyone buzzing even louder about monster shots and juiced balls, only a couple flew out of Progressive Field in the All-Star Game.

Instead, Justin Verlander blazed 97 mph heat from the start, Shane Bieber and Aroldis Chapman each struck out the side and the American League slowed a loaded NL lineup 4-3 Tuesday for its seventh straight win.

''I know it's the year of the home run, but pitching dominated today,'' Colorado slugger Nolan Arenado said.

Sure did - at least until play resumes Thursday.

Facing Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger and a bunch of boppers, the AL staff combined to strike out 16.

''Baseball is a funny game,'' said Bieber, a most unlikely MVP after being added late to the roster.

With fans hoping to see a replay of Monday's jaw-dropping aerial show when 312 homers cleared the walls, this became the Arm-Star Game up until the late innings.

Derby champ Pete Alonso of the Mets grounded a two-out, two-run single past Gleyber Torres in the eighth to close the NL's gap. After a double steal put runners at second and third against Cleveland reliever Brad Hand, White Sox catcher James McCann made a tumbling catch on Mike Moustakas' twisting foul pop to end the inning.

Chapman closed to give the AL its 19th win in 22 games, with a tie stuck in there. He got a little encouragement with two outs - Yankees teammate CC Sabathia, honored this week for his contributions on and off the field, strolled to the mound to talk to the flamethrower.

Chapman then struck out Yasmani Grandal for a save , giving the AL an overall 45-43-2 lead in the Midsummer Classic.

No need, either, for the experimental rule that was set to go effect: If the game went into extras, each team would've started the 10th with an automatic runner on second base.

Major League Baseball is on a record-shattering pace for homers this season, but no one came close to clearing the walls until Charlie Blackmon connected in the NL sixth to make it 2-1. Texas' Joey Gallo countered with a solo drive in a two-run seventh.

Still, it was a far cry from last year's All-Star Game that featured a record 10 home runs.

''I kind of expected it, to be honest,'' former NL MVP Kris Bryant said. ''You only see them once, so they have the advantage.''

''There are a lot of hard throwers and great pitchers over there. Unless you've seen them before, it's a difficult matchup,'' he said.

Cleveland favorite Michael Brantley had an early RBI double off losing pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Jorge Polanco drove in a run with an infield single for a 2-0 edge in the fifth and another scored on a double-play grounder.

''I wanted to swing the bat early. I had some nervous jitters I wanted to get out,'' Brantley said.

Winning pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, Lucas Giolito and Shane Greene did their parts to protect the lead with scoreless innings.

Bieber dazzled in front of a chanting home crowd, striking out Willson Contreras, Ketel Marte and Ronald Acuna Jr. in the fifth with a 1-0 lead. Bieber later donated his cap to the Hall of Fame.

''It was electric out there, the fans got in it and it was fun,'' AL manager Alex Cora of the Red Sox said. ''And I'm glad that he got the MVP. He plays at this level. He's really good.''

The biggest misplay of the night might have been on the scoreboard. NL All-Stars David Dahl of Colorado and Willson Contreras of the Cubs had their names misspelled - ''Davis Dahl'' and ''Wilson Contreras'' - on the outfield videoboard. Jeff McNeil was spelled correctly, but the photo accompanying it was of Mets teammate Jacob deGrom.

''That was tough, to see deGrom's picture up there,'' McNeil said. ''I didn't really like that. I wanted to see my picture up there. I know my family did, too. What are you going to do, I guess, but I don't think that should happen.''

Fittingly, the first batter of the game was the guy who leads the majors in home runs - Yelich, the NL MVP with 31 homers at the break, hit leadoff for the first time this year.

Yelich lined out and Verlander quickly fanned Javier Baez and Freddie Freeman to finish his work.

Those lively balls that Verlander is complaining about? Didn't bother him a bit.

NL starter Hyun-Jin Ryu, deGrom and Luis Castillo threw scoreless innings to keep the NL close in the early going.

Pittsburgh dynamo Josh Bell was part of the youngest starting lineup in All-Star history, with the NL crew averaging under 26 years old.

Overall, there were 36 first-timers, a number boosted by the absence of Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Jose Altuve and several past perennials. And consider this: Of the 16 AL pitchers on the 2017 All-Star roster, zero made the roster this year.

TRIBUTE

All players wore a uniform patch with No. 45 to honor late Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Los Angeles teammates Mike Trout and Tommy La Stella switched their jerseys to Skaggs' number, and there was a pregame moment of silence.

''I felt him out there with me,'' Trout said. ''To be able to represent him and what he meant to us on a stage like this is special.''

UP NEXT

The regular season resumes on Thursday night with one game, Houston at Texas. All teams are back in action Friday. ... Next year's All-Star Game is at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 1980.

[Udog]

Indians' Bieber wins All-Star MVP

CLEVELAND (AP) Michael Brantley came back, took a well-deserved bow and delivered like always. Shane Bieber pitched a perfect inning and took home an MVP trophy and a shiny new pickup truck.

Carlos Carrasco stood up to cancer.

On an idyllic night for baseball, Cleveland connections shined brightest at the All-Star Game.

Even Sandy Alomar Jr., whose storybook home run the last time the game was played at Progressive Field in 1997 made him an MVP and local legend, enjoyed another moment on the star-studded stage.

And then Bieber matched him, winning MVP honors after striking out the side in the fifth as the AL staff combined for 16 strikeouts in a 4-3 win over the NL and returned pitching to prominence a night after Vladimir Guerrereo Jr., Pete Alonso and Joc Pederson knocked balls over Progressive Field's walls with stunning ease.

''It's an incredible feeling now, now that it's kind of sinking in,'' Bieber said. ''Just to be able to do it in front of the home crowd and my first All-Star Game is definitely not something I expected, especially being added to the game four or five days ago.''

Bieber was a late All-Star injury replacement, only added Friday to give the Indians four representatives.

The 23-year-old, who soared through Cleveland's minor league system and won 11 games as a rookie in 2018, showed a veteran's poise in the fifth when he fanned Chicago's Willson Contreras, Arizona's Ketel Marte and Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr. in succession while protecting a 1-0 lead.

The crowd chanted ''Let's Go Bieber,'' during his performance, and it's an anthem that will likely be heard each time he takes the mound going forward.

''Kind of stepped off the back of the mound after one of the pitches and wasn't totally able to look up and see everything, just because there was so much going on, but I heard everything and really soaked it all in,'' Bieber said. ''I can't really thank the fans enough for creating that moment for me and making it really special.''

While Bieber's unexpected MVP put a perfect cap on Cleveland's magical night - in fact, he donated his hat to the Hall of Fame - Carrasco's appearance served as the most poignant moment.

The 32-year-old was recently diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, and during Major League Baseball's ''Stand Up to Cancer'' campaign, Carrasco stood in the third-base coach's box, flanked by his teammates and Indians manager Terry Francona.

Carrasco held a sign that read ''I Stand''' while Lindor's said: ''Cookie,'' the pitcher's nickname.

''When I saw him, it puts everything in perspective,'' said Boston manager Alex Cora, who guided the AL team. ''We get caught up in wins and losses and pennant races and all that stuff and rivalries, and then that happens. And there's more than baseball in life.

''And we're thinking and praying for him, his family and hopefully he can be back on the field sooner rather than later.''

Brantley returned for the first time as a member of the Houston Astros, who were happy to sign the outfielder as a free agent last winter after the Indians let him walk after 10 seasons.

He was greeted with a thunderous ovation during player introductions, stopping to squeeze Francona tightly before slapping hands with the rest of the AL squad.

''I was very emotional. I was trying to hold it together,'' Brantley said. ''To come back in front of these fans that I played for, for 10 years, I just want to say thank you for their support, thank you for that ovation. It means so much to me. It's going to last a lifetime.''

Brantley heard an even bigger roar in the second inning with an RBI double off Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw for a 1-0 lead.

Alomar, a member of Cleveland's coaching staff since 2010, caught a ceremonial first pitch from CC Sabathia, whose New York Yankees pinstripes will never completely cover his love for the Indians. He began his career in Cleveland, and it was only fitting the big left-hander got to say goodbye in his final season.

Cora sent Sabathia to the mound in the ninth inning to talk to Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman before getting another standing ovation.

''He's one of the best pitchers in the big leagues for the last, what, 15 years,'' Cora said. ''The guy has won more than 250 games, 3,000 strikeouts. Everything started here in Cleveland. We all know he's going to retire, so we wanted to let everybody know who he is and I think it was a nice tribute.''

And Cleveland's crowd also had its say, booing Cubs All-Stars Javier Baez and Kris Bryant, who crashed their World Series party in 2016.

''If I was a (Cleveland) fan, I'd boo us, too,'' Bryant said. ''It was a wacky World Series.''

On this night, Cleveland celebrated its past, present and future.

''It's such a good, hard, gritty town,'' Bieber said. ''I can't say enough about how this All-Star Weekend and week has been run. I was talking to some guys and they said it's one of the better-run All-Star Games and weekends that they've been to. And those are guys that have been to three or four, five, six All-Star Games.''

[Udog]

The five best MLB betting trends for the first half of the season
Rohit Ponnaiya

Yasiel Puig and the Cincinnati Reds have come out firing in the first inning of games, but can that trend continue in the second half of the season?

We're at the halfway point of the 2019 MLB season and certain betting trends are starting to stand out.

Sure the Mariners are the best Over team in the majors and the Twins the most profitable moneyline pick: everybody and their grandmother knows about those trends by now (but feel free to keep hammering them like I am). But we've been digging into five of the more under-the-radar trends and MLB best bets that have dominated the first half of the MLB season, and let you know if you should fade or follow them after the All-Star break.

CINCINNATI REDS First Team to Score: 47-31 in last 78 games

When you consider the Cincy has been an underdog in 53 of its 87 games, betting on the Reds to score first or to lead after the first inning has been money in the bank.

The Reds have led after the first inning in 33 of their 87 games, while trailing 22 times. Not only do the Reds score in the first inning in a major league-leading 37.93 percent of their games, but they also have the fourth-lowest opponent first-inning score percentage at 25.29.

Even though the Reds 41-46 on the year, they've been the first team to score in 48 of their 87 games this season.

Both of those numbers are even more impressive considering that Cincinnati didn't score in the first inning through its first nine games of the season, and opposing teams scored before they did in eight of those contests.
FADE OR FOLLOW?

This is more than just a short-term trend. That first inning scored percentage of 42.3 percent over their last 78 games is very impressive. The Reds rank first in the majors in runs scored per game in the first inning (0.84) and have the third-fewest runs allowed (0.41).

Cincinatti has an effective pitching rotation with its starters owning an ERA of 3.60 (fourth best in the majors) and a batting average allowed of .232. While the Reds bat just .235 overall, they have a BA of .309 and a slugging percentage of .582 during the first inning.

For whatever reason, the Reds are simply a much better team in the early going than over the length of a full game but are still usually priced as underdogs. It seems like sportsbooks still haven't adjusted to this trend, so keep betting it until the wheels fall off.


OAKLAND ATHLETICS First Five Innings: 50-29-7 in last 86 games

Only two teams in the majors - the Yankees and Dodgers - have a better record this season through the first five innings of games. However, those clubs tend to be big favorites most of the time, so betting on the A's in the first five innings has been far more profitable, especially at home where they are 28-12-4 in their last 44 contests.
FADE OR FOLLOW?

Generally if teams play very well through the first five innings, it's because they have excellent starting pitching and strong early-game hitting. Oakland starters have an ERA of 4.17 and BAA of .242 which is good but not exceptional, and those numbers will take a hit with Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.70 ERA) suspended until the end of the regular season. On offense, the A's generate 3.00 runs per game (2.75 at home) through the first five innings which once again, is good but not great.

Their schedule has also been relatively easy through the first half of the season, but will get tougher the rest of the way, with 11 games against the Astros, 10 against the Rangers, six against the Yankees, four against the Twins, and three on the road against the Cubs. All those teams have been some of the best squads in the majors through the first five innings. I'm fading this trend.


SHANE BIEBER First Five Innings Under: 14-3-1 in last 18 starts

Last year it was all about "deGrom Day" with the first five innings Under cashing in on the overwhelming majority of Jacob deGrom's starts for the Mets. This year it's "Bieber Fever", where the first five innings Under has hit in 82 percent of Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber's last 18 starts. OK, we'll work on a new name for this one.

Much like deGrom last year, this situation is the perfect storm of a good pitcher (Bieber is 8-3 with a 3.45 ERA and 1.01 WHIP) throwing for a team providing little run support (Cleveland averages just 4.50 runs per game). Bieber's confidence should be soaring after winning the MVP award in the All-Star game.
FADE OR FOLLOW?

Oddly enough, despite the Under hitting so often in Bieber's starts, books keep setting totals higher and higher. In his first three starts of the season the O/U was seven or 7.5. In his next six starts the O/U was set at eight or 8.5 five times. And over his last nine starts, that total has jumped to nine or higher for each contest. With totals rising, keep taking the Under especially through the first five innings.


PITTSBURGH PIRATES O/U: 29-12-2 at home

At home, Pittsburgh has a surprisingly strong offense averaging 5.21 runs per game - good for ninth-best in the majors. However, the Pirates also allow 5.77 runs per game at PNC Park (mostly just because their pitching stinks). That combination of good offense and bad pitching in a ballpark considered pitcher-friendly has resulted in Overs hitting in 70.7 percent of games at PNC.

The Over has been an even better bet when they're the underdog at home, cashing 80 percent of the time (16-4-1).
FADE OR FOLLOW?

Sportsbooks seem to be adjusting to this trend and although the Pirates are still 7-1 O/U over their last eight home games, totals have been creeping steadily higher since the beginning of the season. Through their first 16 home games the total was installed at eight or lower in every game. However, over their last 19 contests, the O/U has been at least nine.

Pitchers Joe Musgrove and Jordan Lyles got off to great starts early in the season for the Pirates but have since reverted back to mediocrity and the totals have moved accordingly. With scoring up across the majors I'm going to keep backing this trend.


NEW YORK YANKEES Runline 28-10 in division

The New York Yankees have been an excellent runline bet all season (baseball's version of the pointspread), converting on the runline 59.1 percent of the time. Against divisional opponents that line just gets silly though, hitting on the run line in 73.7 percent of games. Interesting enough when they play against teams outside of their division they are under .500 on the runline (24-26). The Bronx Bombers are 41-29 as runline favorites (-1.5) which usually sees plus-money or low-cost vig.
FADE OR FOLLOW?

As more of the Yankees lineup starts to get healthy, this might look like an interesting trend to keep playing. But don't forget that not all divisional opponents are the same. The Yankees have already played the worst team in baseball, the Baltimore Orioles 12 times, going 10-2 on the runline against them. They're only scheduled to play Baltimore seven times during the second half of the season.

On the flip side, they've played the Red Sox only seven times so far and will have to play them 12 more times. While the Yankees do get to play against the woeful Blues Jays 13 more times, keep in mind that New York is just 2-4 on the runline against the Jays so far this year.

I'm fading this one, well unless they're playing the O's.

[Udog]

TOP HOME MONEY TEAM (based on $100 wager per home game)

Rangers (29-17) $1675

Honorable mention
Dodgers (37-12) $1636
WhiteSox (25-20) $911
Twins (28-15) $731


TOP ROAD MONEY TEAM (based on $100 wager per road game)

Twins (28-18) $902

Honorable mention
Braves (26-18) $871
D'backs (26-23) $763
Pirates (22-24) $664


TOP HOMER UMPIRE (min. 10 games behind home plate)

Bruce Dreckman 13-3

Honorable mention
Adrian Johnson 13-4
Chad Fairchild 12-4
Manny Gonzalez 11-4
Paul Nauert 11-4


TOP ROADIE UMPIRE (min. 10 games behind home plate)

Todd Tichenor 12-6

Honorable mention
Dana DeMuth 11-6
Mike Everitt 12-7
Mark Wegner 10-6
Mike Muchlinski 10-6

[Udog]

Thursday’s 6-pack

Props for NFL teams making the playoffs:
— Pittsburgh Steelers No -$115, Yes -$115
— San Francisco 49ers No -$300, Yes +$240
— Seattle Seahawks No -$180, Yes +$150
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers No -$700, Yes +$500
— Tennessee Titans No -$350, Yes +$275
— Washington Redskins No -$700, Yes +$500

Quote of the Day
“Melo’s was like a good teammate, man. Melo practiced every day. Didn’t miss any games. Now, the one thing I will say—and I’ve even told Melo this—scoring 30 meant too much to Melo……But, now I think you fast forward the tape, and the reason he’s not in the league—because he’s still mentally worthy—he hasn’t taken that set back to say ‘Okay, I’ll come in and play against back-ups. I’ll try to help the team out. I know I might not be able to close, but I just want to help the team out.”
Chauncey Billups, talking about Carmelo Anthony

Thursday’s quiz
Who played the judge in the great comedy, My Cousin Vinny?

Wednesday’s quiz
Houston Astros had the most players (six) in the All-Star Game this year.

Tuesday’s quiz
Dave Parker won the first Home Run Derby, in 1985 in the Metrodome in Minnesota.


************************************************** *****


Thursday’s List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud…….

13) New Orleans Pelicans sold 2,500 season tickets the night they won the draft lottery; imagine how many they must’ve sold the night of the draft?

12) Celtics have 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall on their summer league team; their nutritionists have him eating 6,000 calories a day, to try and add some weight to his frame. Lot of eating.

11) I turn on the Portland-Utah summer league game Tuesday and the first voice I hear is Dan Dakich, so immediately my reflex is……..MUTE BUTTON!!!! Good grief he is annoying.

10) Nevada Wolf Pack alum Jordan Caroline had seven fouls in a game Monday night; the limit in summer league is ten- they don’t want guys fouling out, but having seven in a game isn’t good. Caroline’s dad and grandfather were really good football players, so it is in the genes.

9) Part of the reason NBA Summer League is so popular is that it is a chance for regular people to see pro ball in person at affordable prices. You can sit there all day, watch four games for $35, and for kids, they’ve got a good chance to meet a current NBA player or coach.

Plus if you’re in Las Vegas, its 105 outside and the arenas are air conditioned, and its a hell of a lot cheaper than playing video poker all day.

8) Central Florida QB Darriel Mack Jr broke his ankle recently, so Notre Dame transfer Brandon Wimbush is the Golden Knights’ likely starting QB this fall. Wimbush was Notre Dame’s starting QB two years ago.

7) NFC East is the only division where all four teams have won a Super Bowl.

6) NC State received a notice of allegations from the NCAA this week, related to the recruitment of former five-star point guard Dennis Smith Jr. Problem is, the coaches involved in all that have moved on, so the school will get punished for something the current coaches didn’t do.

5) Warriors told Shaun Livingston to take a hike before his contract became fully guaranteed at $7.7M- instead he will get paid $666,000 a year over the next three years to go away. He hopes to play for a contending team next season.

4) There are eight new head coaches in the NFL this season; Adam Gase, Bruce Arians are only two of the eight who have been NFL head coaches before. Kliff Kingsbury has been a head coach in college- Texas Tech fired him last year.

3) There are 18 NFL coordinators with NFL head coaching experience.

2) Quick college football trends:

— Since 2017, Kentucky is 0-7 as a home favorite.
— Mississippi State covered eight of last ten non-conference games.
— Since 2012, Arizona State is 20-12 as a home favorite.

1) RIP to former big league pitcher Jim Bouton, 80, who wrote Ball Four, which might’ve been the first real book I ever read. Controversial at the time, Ball Four was Bouton’s diary of the 1969 baseball season, where he took us inside a major league locker room, which was frowned upon at the time. Bouton started that season with the expansion Seattle Pilots and wound up with the Astros. RIP, sir.

[Udog]

951Houston -952 Texas
TEXAS are 9-0 SU (9 Units) revenging 4 or more straight losses vs opponent in last 2 years in the current season.




MLB
Long Sheet

Thursday, July 11

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HOUSTON (57 - 33) at TEXAS (48 - 42) - 8:05 PM
FRAMBER VALDEZ (L) vs. LANCE LYNN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS is 48-42 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
TEXAS is 29-17 (+16.5 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
TEXAS is 14-7 (+11.4 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents this season.
TEXAS is 31-28 (+9.4 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
TEXAS is 26-20 (+9.3 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
TEXAS is 18-17 (+7.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 137-78 (+33.7 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 26-7 (+12.6 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
HOUSTON is 95-53 (+26.1 Units) against the money line in road games in night games over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 59-24 (+25.3 Units) against the money line in road games after a win over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 7-19 (-15.5 Units) against the money line in home games in July games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 4-6 (+1.8 Units) against HOUSTON this season
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.3 Units, Under=-0.6 Units)

FRAMBER VALDEZ vs. TEXAS since 1997
No recent starts.

LANCE LYNN vs. HOUSTON since 1997
LYNN is 4-2 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 2.25 and a WHIP of 1.182.
His team's record is 4-3 (+0.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-5. (-3.4 units)

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MLB

Thursday, July 11

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Trend Report
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Houston Astros
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Houston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Houston is 16-8 ATS in its last 24 games on the road
Houston is 16-8 SU in its last 24 games on the road
Houston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games on the road
Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Texas
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Texas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing Texas
Houston is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Texas
Houston is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games when playing on the road against Texas
Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Texas
Texas Rangers
Texas is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Texas is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas's last 7 games
Texas is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Texas's last 23 games at home
Texas is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Houston
Texas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas's last 6 games when playing Houston
Texas is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Houston
Texas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
Texas is 5-15 SU in its last 20 games when playing at home against Houston


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