Announcement

**Udog** · 04-03-2021, 09:00 AM

He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.

**Udog** · 04-03-2021, 09:00 AM

Armadillo: Saturday's six-pack

Six of the better “17th game” NFL matchups this season:
— Packers @ Chiefs
— Cowboys @ Patriots
— Seahawks @ Steelers
— Buccaneers @ Colts
— Rams @ Ravens
— Saints @ Titans

Americans who have died from COVID-19: 553,980
PLEASE wear a mask (over your nose/mouth) when you go out.

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Armadillo: Saturday's Den: Clearing out a cluttered mind……..

Its been a busy few days, even beyond baseball starting:
13) North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams retired, with 903 career wins, 485 for the Tar Heels, 418 at Kansas. He won’t be easily replaced; where does North Carolina turn from here?

My guess is former Tar Heel player Wes Miller, who is coach at NC-Greensboro; last five years, he’s gone 125-43 with the Spartans of the Southern Conference.

Back to Roy Williams for a minute; he seems like a genuinely nice person in addition to being a great coach. I remember reading a article where he read a book about golf— I think Rick Reilly wrote the book, but Williams really liked it, so he bought 20 copies of it and gave them to his friends. There aren’t enough nice people in today’s world: Roy Williams will be missed.

12) Kansas Jayhawks gave basketball coach Bill Self a lifetime contract this week, despite Kansas not having an AD right now. I guess the school’s chancellor stepped in and did the deal.

Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated wrote this about what the contract says about Kansas: “We like to win, we don’t care how, we don’t care what NCAA sanctions may come, we don’t care about anything but continuing to win.”

Kansas is headed towards some type of probation because of recruiting violations, but Self’s new contract says that he cannot be fired for cause due to NCAA sanctions.

11) As I starting writing this piece, Oklahoma tabbed Porter Moser as its next basketball coach, replacing the retired Lon Kruger. Moser went 178-141 in 10 years at Loyola, going 99-36 the last four years, including a run to the Final Four in 2018.

One of the interesting things about college hoop is how teams take advantage of circumstances to become relevant. Creighton left the MVC in 2013, Wichita State in 2017; they had dominated the Valley before moving on to greener pa$ture$. Loyola’s 56-16 run in MVC games the last four years coincide with Wichita State moving elsewhere.

10) Then there is Texas Tech, which got kicked in the teeth this week when Chris Beard left the Red Raiders to become the new coach at rival Texas, his alma mater. Bears was a student assistant to Tom Penders with the Longhorns in the early 90’s.

Beard went 112-55 in five years at Tech, after a 30-5 season at Little Rock. Texas has won one NCAA Tournament game in the last decade (1-6). Beard will be expected to win more than that.

9) Chris Ogden quit his job as HEAD COACH at Texas-Arlington, to become one of Beard’s ASSISTANTS at Texas. Ogden was 44-47 in three years at UTA, after they canned Scott Cross, who went 72-33 in his last three years with the Mavericks. Cross is now the coach at Troy- he knocked Ogden’s Arlington team out of the Sun Belt tournament last month.

8) Washington Wizards’ Russell Westbrook a triple-double earlier this week, the first one ever where the guy scored 35+ points and had 20+ assists in the same game. He had 35 points, 21 assists, 14 rebounds; he must’ve had the ball a lot, that’s for sure.

Most importantly, Washington beat the Pacers 132-124.

7) Utah Jazz had a scary night this week, when their flight to Memphis struck a flock of birds during takeoff, damaging the left engine of the plane. There was a loud sound like an explosion, flames coming out of the engine and visible damage. Then the plane started to tilt and slowly lose altitude.

Players were actually texting their families, saying their goodbyes; luckily, the flight turned around and made an emergency landing back in Salt Lake City. The rest of the team got on a rescheduled flight to Memphis, but star Donovan Mitchell, who apparently hates flying in the first place, stayed home and skipped that game, which the Jazz won anyway.

6) ESPN signed 81-year old Dick Vitale to a new, 2-year contract to continue working for them; they need to tell him to stop pouring that cooler of water over his head that he does in the GEICO commercial— a guy can catch pneumonia.

Not sure if everyone nows this, but Dick Vitale was a really good coach before he worked on TV; he was an assistant coach at Rutgers who recruited a lot of the players who formed the nucleus of their Final Four squad in 1976.

From there, he went 78-30 as head coach at Detroit, finishing ranked #12 in the country in his last season there. He went 34-60 in a brief stint coaching the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.

The man has amazing energy, even now; he’s helped raise over $100M to fight cancer. At times he is tough to listen to, but damn, he’s had a hell of a career.

5) DePaul hired Oregon assistant Tony Stubblefield as its new basketball coach; they haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2004. Since 2008, the Blue Demons are 43-206 in Big East conference games, which is, as we like to say, no bueno.

Stubblefield just turned 51; he’s never been a head coach, though he was an interim coach at New Mexico State in 2005, when Lou Henson got sick. He worked as an assistant under Mick Cronin at Cincinnati.

4) The clusterbleep of the year may be at East Tennessee State, where coach Jason Shay was told to take a hike this week- they say he “resigned” but guys don’t quit after their first year as a head coach, not a guy who waited until he was 47 to become a head coach.

East Tennessee’s players took a knee during the national anthem before a few games this year, which ticked off boosters/state politicians, who publicly said so. Shay backed the players; if you want to be a successful coach, you back your players, especially when they’re right.

Shay went 13-12 in his one year as a head coach; he had assisted Steve Forbes for the five years before that, when ETSU went 130-43, going 71-19 in SoCon games.

East Tennessee’s decision makers have some questions to answer:
— Who do they hire from here?
— Who would want this job, if you fired Shay for supporting his players?
— Do the ETSU decision makers want to win?
— If you get a reputation as a racist organization, how do you recruit basketball players?

3) NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers have some internal issues involving the Spanos family, which owns the team. Chargers have to start paying a $650M relocation fee to the NFL pretty soon; they can’t sell the team just yet— the NFL will penalize them even more money if they move the team too quickly after bolting up the freeway to LA— its called a “flip tax”.

In a November 2019 letter included with a court filing, Dean Spanos vowed to his three siblings that he would retain an investment bank at the end of the 2024 season in an effort to find a new owner- by 2024, the “flip tax” wouldn’t be relevant anymore.

But Spanos’ sister says the family’s finances are such that the team needs to be sold before that; the family has owned the Chargers since 1984. If you go broke while you own an NFL franchise, you’re a candidate for the Moron Hall of Fame.

There is a rumor that when the team is sold, they could move back to San Diego, which happens to be the 8th-biggest city in America.

2) In 1979, the Kansas City Royals drafted both John Elway and Dan Marino, which would be great, if the Royals were an NFL team. But they’re a baseball team; Elway played a year for Oneonta in the NY-Penn League, after New York drafted him in the 2nd round of the 1981 draft.

1) Amazing Fact of the Day: Tampa Bay won its season opener 1-0 at Miami Thursday; it is the first time since 1946 that a road team won 1-0 on Opening Day!!!!

Back then, Bob Feller blanked the White Sox on three hits at Comiskey Park; former major league manager Bob Lemon played CF for Cleveland that day.

Additional thing that happened Friday: this weekend’s Mets-Nationals series was cancelled, due to four Washington players testing positive for COVID.

**Udog** · 04-03-2021, 09:02 AM

951PITTSBURGH -952 CHICAGO CUBS
PITTSBURGH is 460-435 SU (-18.5 Units) in road games against division opponents since 1996.

953ATLANTA -954 PHILADELPHIA
ATLANTA is 11-2 SU (8.8 Units) in road games after scoring 2 runs or less over the last 2 seasons.

957ST LOUIS -958 CINCINNATI
CINCINNATI is 22-8 SU (13.2 Units) after allowing 8 runs or more in the last 3 seasons.

959LA DODGERS -960 COLORADO
COLORADO is 718-771 SU (-130.1 Units) in home games when the total is 10 or higher since 1996.

961ARIZONA -962 SAN DIEGO
SAN DIEGO is 19-10 SU (8 Units) in home games against left-handed starters in the last 3 seasons.

963TORONTO -964 NY YANKEES
TORONTO is 448-428 SU (-22.8 Units) in road games after a win since 1996.

965CLEVELAND -966 DETROIT
DETROIT is 25-52 SU (-32.2 Units) in home games when the total is 8.5 to 10 in the last 3 seasons.

967BALTIMORE -968 BOSTON
BOSTON is 41-68 SU (-33.8 Units) in home games in all games in the last 3 seasons.

969TEXAS -970 KANSAS CITY
TEXAS are 2-10 SU (-9 Units) in road games after a game where the bullpen was hit hard for 4 or more earned runs in the last 3 seasons.

971HOUSTON -972 OAKLAND
HOUSTON is 27-9 SU (17.1 Units) when playing with a day off in the last 3 seasons.

**Udog** · 04-03-2021, 09:07 AM

MLB
Weather Report

Saturday, April 3

**Udog** · 04-03-2021, 09:07 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Saturday, April 3

**Udog** · 04-03-2021, 09:10 AM

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, April 3

Not a lot to go on for the first 7-10 days, but we’ll do what we can. Once the season gets rolling, we’ll be posting what I think is the most relevant information for each game.

NL games
Pirates (1-0) @ Cubs (0-1)
TAnderson is 2-0, 4.05 in three starts vs Chicago; he is 1-0, 2.57 in one start at Wrigley.

Arrieta is 12-6, 2.93 in 23 career starts vs Pittsburgh.

Braves (0-1) @ Phillies (1-0)
Morton is 2-3, 6.17 in seven starts vs Philly; he is 2-2, 4.23 in five starts here.

Wheeler is 6-5, 3.79 in 16 starts vs Atlanta.

Cardinals (1-0) @ Reds (0-1)
Wainwright is 10-13, 5.12 in 34 games (29 starts) vs Cincinnati; he is 7-5, 4.96 in 17 starts here.

Mahle is 1-3, 5.45 in eight starts vs St Louis.

Dodgers (1-1) @ Rockies (1-1)
Buehler is 5-2, 4.07 in 16 games (12 starts) vs Colorado, 1-1, 5.12 in seven games (5 starts) at Coors Field.

Gray is 5-6, 4.62 in 15 starts vs LA.

Diamondbacks (0-2) @ Padres (2-0)
Smith is 2-1, 2.01 in four starts vs San Diego; he is 1-1, 2.25 in two starts at Petco.

Musgrove is 1-1, 3.70 in five games (4 starts) vs Arizona.

AL games
Orioles (1-0) @ Red Sox (0-1)
Harvey threw six shutout innings in his only career start vs Boston.

Houck hasn’t pitched against Baltimore.

Blue Jays (1-0) @ Bronx (0-1)
Stripling is 0-2, 4.50 in three appearances vs New York, all in relief (10 IP).

Kluber is 2-3, 4.46 in six starts vs Toronto.

Indians (0-1) @ Tigers (1-0)
Plesac is 2-0, 0.51 in three starts against the Tigers, 1-0, 1.00 in one start at Detroit.

Teheran is 0-1, 9.64 in one start vs Cleveland.

Rangers (0-1) @ Royals (1-0)
Arihara is making his first MLB start.

Minor is 0-2, 6.30 in four games (1 start) vs Texas.

White Sox (1-1) @ Angels (1-1)
Lynn is 4-2, 3.58 in nine starts against the Angels, 0-2, 5.11 in four starts at Anaheim.

Cobb is 0-3, 13.89 in three starts vs Chicago.

Astros (2-0) @ A’s (0-2)
McCullers is 5-2, 4.04 in nine starts vs Oakland, 2-0, 4.96 in three starts at the Coliseum.

Irwin is making his Oakland debut; he hasn’t pitched against Houston.

Interleague games
Rays (2-0) @ Marlins (0-2)
Hill is 2-1, 4.67 in four games (three starts) against the Marlins, 2-0, 0.75 in two starts at Miami.

Hernandez allowed five runs in six IP in three games (1 start) vs Tampa Bay.

Twins (0-1) @ Brewers (1-0)
Berrios is 1-1, 2.08 in two starts vs Milwaukee, 0-1, 3.86 in one start at Miller Park.

Burnes is 1-0, 1.50 in two games (1 start) vs Minnesota.

Giants (1-1) @ Mariners (1-1)
Webb allowed five runs in five IP in his one start vs Seattle.

Flexen has never pitched against San Francisco.

**Udog** · 04-03-2021, 09:14 AM

MLB

Saturday, April 3

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Trend Report
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Toronto @ NY Yankees
Toronto
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
NY Yankees
NY Yankees is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Toronto
NY Yankees is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Toronto

Baltimore @ Boston
Baltimore
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Baltimore's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Baltimore's last 7 games
Boston
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games at home

Cleveland @ Detroit
Cleveland
Cleveland is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Cleveland is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games when playing Detroit
Detroit
Detroit is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games

Texas @ Kansas City
Texas
The total has gone UNDER in 18 of Texas's last 22 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas's last 5 games when playing Kansas City
Kansas City
Kansas City is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Kansas City is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

Pittsburgh @ Chi Cubs
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Chi Cubs
Chi Cubs
Chi Cubs is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs's last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh

NY Mets @ Washington
NY Mets
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Mets's last 6 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Mets's last 6 games on the road
Washington
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games

Atlanta @ Philadelphia
Atlanta
Atlanta is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Atlanta's last 7 games on the road
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta

Houston @ Oakland
Houston
Houston is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Oakland
Houston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Oakland
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Oakland's last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oakland's last 6 games at home

St. Louis @ Cincinnati
St. Louis
St. Louis is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 6 games on the road
Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Cincinnati's last 9 games at home

Tampa Bay @ Miami
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Miami
Tampa Bay is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games when playing Miami
Miami
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Miami's last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
Miami is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay

Minnesota @ Milwaukee
Minnesota
Minnesota is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 6 games when playing at home against Minnesota

LA Dodgers @ Colorado
LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 8 of LA Dodgers's last 9 games on the road
LA Dodgers is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games when playing Colorado
Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Colorado's last 5 games
Colorado is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games

Arizona @ San Diego
Arizona
Arizona is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games
San Diego
San Diego is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Arizona
San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

Chi White Sox @ LA Angels
Chi White Sox
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Chi White Sox's last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Angels
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Chi White Sox's last 9 games
LA Angels
The total has gone OVER in 7 of LA Angels's last 8 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox
LA Angels is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox

San Francisco @ Seattle
San Francisco
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Francisco's last 5 games when playing Seattle
San Francisco is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Seattle
Seattle
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing San Francisco
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing at home against San Francisco

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Announcement

Saturday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 4/3

Saturday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 4/3

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