2016 wnba thread news notes picks !

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WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 62-69-3 47.33% -6950

O/U Picks 65-69-0 48.51% -5450


SUNDAY, AUGUST 28

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CONN at ATL 03:00 PM

CONN +4.0

U 166.0

CHI at DAL 04:30 PM

CHI +1.0

O 171.0

SA at WAS 07:00 PM

WAS -8.5

U 153.5

SEA at MIN 07:00 PM

MIN -11.0

U 157.0

LA at PHO 09:00 PM

PHO +4.0

U 164.5

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WNBA Betting Recap - 8/26-8/28
August 29, 2016

League Betting Notes (Friday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Aug. 28)

-- Underdogs went 6-5 straight up (SU)

-- Underdogs went 7-4 against the spread (ATS)

-- Home teams posted a 7-4 SU record

-- Road teams posted a 8-3 ATS record

-- The 'over' went 7-4


Team Betting Notes

-- Los Angeles (21-5) did not benefit from the Olympic break, as they opened going 0-2 SU/ATS in their two road games since play resumed. The Sparks will try to get on track Thursday at San Antonio (6-19). The Sparks are 2-0 SU/1-1 ATS in their two previous games against the Stars this season.

-- The Stars snapped their six-game slide Sunday with a win at Washington (10-16). San Antonio will be sad to see Washington go, as they are 2-1 SU/ATS against the Mystics this season, and they do not play again.

-- Connecticut (9-17) had their season-high three-game win streak snapped in Atlanta (14-13). The non-cover also put to an end a hot run for the Sun, who entered the game 10-1 ATS in their past 11 before the loss.

-- The Dream have won and covered five straight games at home dating back to July 3, while going 0-4 SU/ATS over their past four games on the road.

-- New York (17-7) picked up a seven-point win against the Sun Sunday, but narrowly missed out on a cover. It's nothing new for the Liberty, as they're just 2-5 ATS over the past seven games, and 5-8-2 ATS over the past 15 outings. They're also 2-8 ATS over the past 10 games at home.

-- Minnesota (22-5) dropped their first game out of the break in Connecticut, but rebounded with a 92-80 win and cover against Seattle (10-16). The loss and non-cover ended a 3-0 ATS streak for the Storm. Seattle entered 6-2 ATS over the past eight, too.

-- The Lynx started 9-4 ATS in their first 13 games, but they're just 6-8 ATS over their past 14 outings. They're also just 1-4 ATS in the past five road outings.

-- The turnaround continues for Phoenix (12-14), as they fired out of the Olympic break going 2-0 SU/ATS, including a win Sunday against Los Angeles. The 'under' has now cashed in a season-high five straight games for the Mercury.

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WNBA Capsules
August 28, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Lindsay Whalen scored a season-high 24 points, Sylvia Fowles added 11 points and 11 rebounds, and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Seattle Storm 92-80 on Sunday night.

Seimone Augustus had 18 points, and Maya Moore 13 for the defending champion Lynx (22-5).

Minnesota trailed 47-41 at halftime, but tied it with a 12-6 run to open the third and pulled away with an 11-2 run to close the quarter up 73-65.

Jewell Loyd had 20 points for the Storm (10-16).

MERCURY 70, SPARKS 66

PHOENIX (AP) - Diana Taurasi scored 26 points and made two free throws with 8 seconds left to ice Phoenix's victory over Los Angeles.

Taurasi was 4 of 10 from 3-point range to help Phoenix (12-14) improve to 4-1 in its last five games.

Candace Parker had 25 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles (21-5), and Nneka Ogwumike added 15 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles. The Sparks have lost four of five after opening 20-1.

DREAM 87, SUN 73

ATLANTA (AP) - Layshia Clarendon and Angel McCoughtry had 19 points to help Atlanta beat Connecticut.

Tiffany Hayes added 17 points and Elizabeth Williams had 16 for the Dream (14-13). Clarendon made all three of her 3-point attempts and McCoughtry was 2 of 3 from the arc.

Chiney Ogwumike had 24 points for the Sun (9-17).

SKY 92, WINGS 85

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Elena Delle Donne had 18 points and eight rebounds in Chicago's victory over Dallas.

Courtney Vandersloot added 15 points and nine assists, and Cappie Pondexter had 14 points for the Sky (13-13). Odyssey Sims scored 22 points for Dallas (9-18). They have lost eight in a row.

STARS 85, MYSTICS 74

WASHINGTON (AP) - Monique Currie, Jazmon Gwathmey and Astou Ndour scored 16 points each and San Antonio beat Washington to end a six-game losing streak.

Moriah Jefferson added 15 points and nine assists, and Kayla Alexander had 12 points for the Stars (6-19). Tayler Hill was 5 of 10 from 3-point range and led the Mystics (10-16) with 26 points.

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UPDATED BEST BET RECORD:

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 65-71-3 47.79% -6550

O/U Picks 68-71-0 48.92% -5050

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Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

In my opinion, the six best backup QBs in the NFL:

— Nick Foles, KC– threw 27 TDs with 2 INT in 2013.

— Matt Cassel, Tenn– Has started 79 NFL games (35-44)

— Matt Moore, Mia– Still think he is better than Tannehill.

— Derek Anderson, Car– 2-0 as a starter since 2010.

— Josh McCown, Clev– 13 years, 7 teams. 2-17 last two years.

— Brian Hoyer, Chi– 12-10 for Browns/Texans last two years.

Due to forecasts of severe weather, the Redskins-Bucs preseason game scheduled for Thursday night has been moved up to Wednesday.

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Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: Nobody asked me, but………

13) I’m a big advocate of veteran quarterbacks calling their own plays; NFL coaches tend to be too conservative, protecting their jobs. When a QB calls plays, he is going to be more aggressive, and I like that.

Not many coaches like Bruce Arians, Sean Payton or Mike Martz who call plays like they bet the over.

12) I’m pretty sure on most NFL teams, QB/OC both prepare a list of their favorite plays, and the play-caller chooses plays both like for a given situation. Why can’t the QB have those plays on his wristband and do the same thing?

Last week on Hard Knocks, Rams’ OC Rob Boras was heard talking to Jared Goff after a series; the last play they had run was #5 on Boras’ list, #1 on Goff’s list. Teams have all week to develop a consensus on which plays they think will work.

11) The coach has the radio into the QB’s helmet, so if he wants one play to be chosen, he can still call it in, but if I have a solid veteran QB, I’d let him pick the plays our team runs. Think the players would have more confidence in the play calling if that happened.

10) A reader from Texas e-mailed me Monday to praise the Star, the Cowboys’ practice facility in Frisco, TX which is doubling as a 12,000-seat high school football stadium. Eight schools are using the domed facility as their home field. Tremendous idea.

9) Our reader also told us about the basketball coaching situation at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas; apparently the new coach at Findlay came to Vegas from Frisco, where he was a middle school football coach (they have 16 middle schools in Frisco). 16 middle schools in one town- wow.

The coach has two sons who are outstanding basketball players; he was named an assistant coach at Findlay, but when the old coach left for a college assistant’s job (Southern Utah), the assistant became the head coach, which may be why Gary Trent Jr jumped ship and is going to a school in California for his senior year.

8) Rumors have the older son preferring the Texas Longhorns as his college destination; would Shaka Smart bring the kid’s father along as an assistant coach?

7) Cal-San Diego has an outstanding D-II basketball program, but if they get an invite from the Big West, the Tritons will be going D-I. Not to be confused with San Diego State or U of San Diego, UCSD doesn’t have football, so basketball could put the school more on the national map.

6) Former NFL QB Byron Leftwich is now a coaching intern with the Arizona Cardinals. Surprisingly few former players become NFL coaches; maybe the big money they make as players discourages them from working the long hours that coaches work.

5) San Francisco Giants hit 4 home runs and 4 triples Sunday, first team to do that in one game since 1998.

4) Florida State’s football team has a reality show on Showtime that starts September 6; curious to see if the first episode deals with their strength coach getting a DUI over the weekend. Not good.

3) Tennessee-Virginia Tech are playing football this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, with 160,000 fans expected to attend. Should be quite a spectacle.

2) Started going thru college basketball stuff last week, as preparation for this winter has begun; surprised to see that the Michigan Wolverines have not won the Big 14 conference tournament since 1998. Long time.

1– Kudos to former baseball commissioner Bud Selig for the whole Wild Card thing; the Wild Card makes September relevant in baseball. Going to be an exciting month, with lot of teams jockeying to make the playoffs.

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WNBA

Tuesday, August 30

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
PHOENIX vs. INDIANA
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Phoenix is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Phoenix
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Indiana's last 7 games when playing at home against Phoenix

7:00 PM
SAN ANTONIO vs. CONNECTICUT
San Antonio is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
San Antonio is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Connecticut
Connecticut is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Connecticut's last 7 games when playing San Antonio

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WNBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, August 30


San Antonio @ Connecticut

Game 601-602
August 30, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Antonio
102.972
Connecticut
114.491
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Connecticut
by 11 1/2
150
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Connecticut
by 8 1/2
157
Dunkel Pick:
Connecticut
(-8 1/2); Under

Phoenix @ Indiana

Game 603-604
August 30, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Phoenix
112.447
Indiana
109.359
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Phoenix
by 3
172
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Phoenix
by 1
166 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Phoenix
(-1); Over

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Preview: Stars (6-19) at Sun (9-17)
Date: August 30, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The San Antonio Stars are in the final stretch of a dreadful season, but they bring a modicum of momentum -- thanks to a rare victory - into Tuesday's road game against the Connecticut Sun.

The Stars (6-19) have the fewest wins in the WNBA, but surprised Washington on Sunday with an 85-74 victory in the nation's capital. The 11-point victory provided San Antonio with its largest margin of victory this season and snapped a six-game losing streak. The Stars forged a 23-point halftime lead against the Mystics, saw the advantage drop to as low as seven points in the third quarter but pulled it together in the fourth to claim the win.

Tuesday's contest in Uncasville, Conn., will be another chance for San Antonio, which is still mathematically eligible to climb four spots into the postseason, to play spoiler against a team that also has a chance to qualify for the postseason in the WNBA's new playoff scenario. The top eight teams, regardless of conference in the 12-team league, will qualify for the postseason.

San Antonio has not won back-to-back games this season.

Washington and Seattle are currently tied for the final spot, with Connecticut, Dallas and San Antonio on the outside looking in with the season in its final three weeks.

Connecticut has beaten the Stars twice this season, but the victories were not decisive. The Sun won by four points in San Antonio on May 19 and by three on June 19 in Uncasville.

The Sun (9-17), who lost to Atlanta 87-73 on Sunday to snap a three-game winning streak, consider this game against San Antonio a must-win. With the hill Connecticut has to climb and a final eight-game run that features six games against teams currently above them on in the standings, losing to the worst team in the league at home would be disappointing.

WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Jun 19, 2016 Score ATS Results
SA 90 Cover: 2.5
CONN « 93 Over: 183
Tools: Recaps

May 19, 2016 Score ATS Results
CONN « 72 Under: 140
SA 68 Cover: 0
Tools: Recaps

Sep 4, 2015 Score ATS Results
CONN « 73 Cover: 5.5
SA 72 Under: 145
Tools: Recaps

Aug 4, 2015 Score ATS Results
SA 51 Under: 133
CONN « 82 Cover: 27.5
Tools: Recaps

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Preview: Mercury (12-14) at Fever (12-13)
Date: August 30, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Diana Taurasi and the surging Phoenix Mercury started the post-Olympic break in impressive fashion. The Mercury backed up a blowout of the Dallas Wings on Friday with an upset of the first-place Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.

Taurasi scored 26 points and the Mercury defense forced 21 turnovers in the win over the Sparks. Phoenix has won four of five heading into Tuesday's road test against the Indiana Fever.

Unlike the Mercury, the Fever did not get off to the start they were hoping for after returning from the monthlong Olympic break. Indiana was blown out by the Washington Mystics 92-69 on Friday at home. The loss snapped the Fever's three-game winning streak.

"I'm disappointed in our effort," Indiana coach Stephanie White told the Indianapolis Star after the loss to the Mystics. "For whatever reason, we lost our energy and intensity in the second half."

Indiana (12-13) is in sixth place in the league standings. The top eight teams, regardless of conference, qualify for the postseason. White said her team still needs to generate a playoff effort in the final 10 games of the season.

"We have to put that energy, that effort, that urgency out there," White told reporters. "We can't turn that on when the lights turn on. We have to do that day in and day out."

Phoenix (12-14) is in seventh place entering Tuesday's game, a half-game behind the Fever.

Taurasi is fourth in the WNBA in scoring, averaging 18.9 points per game. She was held to 13 points in an ugly loss to the Fever in July.

Indiana has won the two previous meetings with the Mercury this season, including a 78-60 rout on July 8 in Phoenix. The Fever turned 27 Mercury turnovers into 38 points and outscored them 30-10 in the third quarter to pull away.

The Fever have won the last four meetings with Phoenix. The Mercury's last victory in the series came in August 2014.

Tuesday's game marks the beginning of the final 10 games of Indiana standout Tamika Catchings' career. The future Hall of Famer has announced she is retiring after the season. White is also leaving after the season to become the coach at Vanderbilt.

WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Jul 8, 2016 Score ATS Results
IND « 78 Cover: 24
PHO 60 Under: 138
Tools: Recaps

May 18, 2016 Score ATS Results
PHO 93 Over: 190
IND « 97 Cover: 9
Tools: Recaps

Aug 16, 2015 Score ATS Results
IND « 75 Cover: 17.5
PHO 63 Under: 138
Tools: Recaps

Jun 12, 2015 Score ATS Results
PHO 74 Cover: 1
IND « 77 Over: 151
Tools: Recaps

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Standings

EASTERN CONFERENCE

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

New York Liberty 19 8 0.704 0 8-5 11-3 10-2 7-3 W-1

Atlanta Dream 14 13 0.519 5 9-4 5-9 8-7 6-4 W-1

Chicago Sky 13 13 0.500 5 7-6 6-7 6-6 6-4 W-2

Indiana Fever 12 13 0.480 6 5-7 7-6 5-7 6-4 L-1

Washington Mystics 10 16 0.385 8 4-9 6-7 6-5 2-8 L-1

Connecticut Sun 9 17 0.346 9 4-8 5-9 2-10 6-4 L-1


WESTERN CONFERENCE

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

Minnesota Lynx 22 5 0.815 0 12-2 10-3 13-1 8-2 W-1

Los Angeles Sparks 21 5 0.808 0 11-1 10-4 7-3 6-4 L-2

Phoenix Mercury 12 14 0.462 9 9-6 3-8 4-9 5-5 W-2

Seattle Storm 10 16 0.385 11 7-7 3-9 5-8 4-6 L-1

Dallas Wings 9 18 0.333 13 5-9 4-9 7-6 1-9 L-8

San Antonio Stars 6 19 0.240 15 4-8 2-11 1-10 3-7 W-1

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SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31, 2016
Time (ET) Away Home Site
10:00 PM Dallas Wings Seattle Storm KeyArena

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM New York Liberty Indiana Fever Bankers Life Fieldhouse
8:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks San Antonio Stars Freeman Coliseum

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2016
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:00 PM Phoenix Mercury Connecticut Sun Mohegan Sun Arena
8:00 PM Washington Mystics Minnesota Lynx Target Center
8:30 PM Los Angeles Sparks Dallas Wings College Park Center
8:30 PM Seattle Storm Chicago Sky Allstate Arena

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2016
Time (ET) Away Home Site
6:00 PM Phoenix Mercury New York Liberty Madison Square Garden

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2016
Time (ET) Away Home Site
4:30 PM Washington Mystics Dallas Wings College Park Center
6:00 PM San Antonio Stars Chicago Sky Allstate Arena
6:00 PM Seattle Storm Atlanta Dream Philips Arena
7:00 PM Connecticut Sun Minnesota Lynx Target Center
7:00 PM Indiana Fever Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 30

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

PHO at IND 07:00 PM

PHO -2.5

U 166.5


SA at CONN 07:00 PM

SA +7.5

O 158.0

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WNBA Capsules
August 30, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Brittney Griner had 20 points and four blocks, Diana Taurasi scored 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever 79-65 on Tuesday night.

Taurasi scored 10 of Phoenix's 12 points to start the fourth quarter, including an open 3-pointer from the wing that made it 64-50.

DeWanna Bonner added 14 points and Penny Taylor scored 10 points for Phoenix (13-14), which is ranked sixth in the AP power poll. The Mercury moved into sixth place in the WNBA standings.

Erlana Larkins had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Lynetta Kizer added 10 points for seventh-ranked Indiana (12-14). The Fever were held to 20-of-60 shooting (33.3 percent), including 3 of 17 from distance. Indiana didn't make its first field goal until Jeanette Pohlen's 3-pointer with 2:10 left in the first quarter.

Indiana Pacers' forward Myles Turner sat courtside.

SUN 89, STARS 62

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - Alex Bentley scored 21 points, Jasmine Thomas had 14 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals, and the Sun beat the Stars.

Bentley made back-to back 3-pointers to start the game as the Sun scored 22 of the first 27 points. Thomas and Bentley each had eight points during the spurt and Connecticut cruised from there.

Alyssa Thomas and Chiney Ogwumike each scored 16 points for Connecticut (10-17), ranked ninth in the AP power poll. Camille Little was the only starter not in double figures for the Sun but she tied a career-high with seven assists. Jonquel Jones and Shekinna Stricklen added nine points apiece off the bench.

Connecticut made 59 percent of its shots in the first half, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. San Antonio was held to 9-of-29 shooting (31 percent) in the opening 20 minutes.

Astou Ndour scored 12 points, and Moriah Jefferson and Monique Currie each added 10 points for 12th-ranked San Antonio (6-20).

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Top WNBA teams slip up after break
August 30, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) The WNBA is back in full swing after the monthlong Olympic break and if the opening weekend was any indication, it's going to be an exciting final few weeks.

Los Angeles looked to be the team in the best position to maintain its momentum and continuity coming out of the break with only one Olympian on the roster. Yet the Sparks have struggled, dropping their first two games. They fell out of first in The Associated Press WNBA power poll for the first time since Week 6.

Minnesota moved into the top spot, but also suffered a loss falling to Connecticut.

There are now only three games separating the fourth and 10th spots in the playoff chase, making every game meaningful.

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POWER POLL: Minnesota moved back to No. 1 and Chicago climbed to fourth in the AP power poll. A look at this week's WNBA poll:

1. Minnesota (22-5): Coach Cheryl Reeve would like to clinch one of the top two spots so she can get some rest for her four Olympians.

2. Los Angeles (21-5): Schedule isn't kind to Sparks down the stretch. Signing Sandrine Gruda will help bolster the roster.

3. New York (19-8): Getting Epiphanny Prince back from her ACL injury will make the Liberty more potent offensively.

4. Chicago (13-13): Not even the break could slow down the Sky, who are back at .500 and climbing.

5. Atlanta (14-13): Now's the time that the Dream usually make their playoff push.

6. Phoenix (12-14): The Mercury are finally looking like the team that was predicted to win the WNBA crown this season.

7. Indiana (12-13): The Fever have a bad taste in their mouth after a blowout loss to Washington. Itching to get back on the court.

8. Seattle (10-16): The Storm split with the top two teams when they returned from Rio and now look to build on an easier schedule.

9. Connecticut (9-17): The Sun are one of the hottest teams in the league and have a chance to further try and improve their playoff chances this week.

10. Washington (10-16): The Mystics looked great against Indiana before falling to San Antonio. They also lost guard Bria Hartley for the season after she got pregnant.

11. Dallas (9-18): The Wings slump continued as they have lost eight straight games. Their chances of making the postseason are fading.

12. San Antonio (6-19): The Stars won a game, but are still languishing at the bottom of the standings.

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PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Elena Delle Donne had a strong week averaging 26 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3 assists to help the Sky win both their games. Others receiving votes included: Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry, Phoenix's Diana Taurasi and Minnesota's Lindsay Whalen,

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GAME OF THE WEEK: Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty, Saturday, Sept. 3. The Mercury will try and continue their rise in the standings as they visit the Liberty.

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THE SHOE'S ON THE OTHER FOOT: Brittney Griner, in partnership with the Mercury and the Phoenix Rescue Mission collected nearly 500 pairs of shoes over the weekend for the Valley's homeless.

''I am so thankful and overwhelmed by everyone's support,'' said Griner. ''The generosity from my teammates and the X-Factor is amazing. When I thought of this idea, I never would have dreamed we would have received so many pairs of shoes. This is just one of the many reasons the Mercury family, especially our fans, are known as the best in the WNBA.''

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Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

— Since 2013, New Mexico is 14-6-1 vs spread coming off a loss.

— East Carolina is 9-18 vs spread in its last 27 games as a favorite.

— UConn covered 11 of its last 15 road games.

— Since ’07, Texas Tech is 24-10-1 vs spread in games where road team is favored.

— Since 2011, Arizona State is 7-13 vs spread in non-conference games.

— Last three years, Nebraska is 8-14 vs spread at home.

Due to forecasts of severe weather, the Redskins-Bucs preseason game scheduled for Thursday night has been moved up to Wednesday.

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

13) Very bad news for the Vikings Tuesday; QB Teddy Bridgewater hurt his leg and is done for the year. New starter Shaun Hill is 16-18 as an NFL starter; he was 3-5 starting for the ’14 Rams, his only starts since 2010. Hill is 36 and a vastly different player than the mobile Bridgewater.

Minnesota has no competent backup QB now, good news if you’re a fan of Austin Davis, Bryce Petty or Mark Sanchez.

12) Think it was Troy Aikman who said on TV last weekend that nickel packages (5 DB’s) were used on 62% of NFL plays last year. You get more passing in games, you need more defensive backs.

11) Andrew Luck/Kevin Hogan went 67-18 in starting Stanford’s last 85 football games; big shoes to fill for this year’s Cardinal QB.

10) Tennis balls at the US Open are different; men’s tennis balls have black writing on them and weigh slightly more than women’s tennis balls, which have red writing on them.

Insert your own joke here.

9) Mountain West basketball tournament is most always in Las Vegas, so impressive that San Diego State has won its last six conference tourney games against the Rebels. Tough to win road games in March.

8) Miami’s Jose Fernandez has made 33 road starts in his career and is 8-14 in those games. He has made 41 home starts and is 27-2 there.

7) Joey Bosa finally signed with San Diego; he won’t lose any salary, but you have to wonder how far behind he is, as far as preparing for this year.

6) South Alabama plays Mississippi State this week; USA’s defensive coordinator is the son of Ole Miss’ DC, so chances are pretty strong he got a good game plan from his dad on how to deal with the Bulldog offense, seeing as Ole Miss and Miss State are archrivals.

Too bad South Alabama doesn’t have some of Ole Miss’ players.

5) Former Packer WR James Jones is having trouble picking up San Diego’s offense; Chargers run a different offense than Green Bay– its like learning a new language, which ain’t always easy.

4) Apparently Tim Tebow did alright in his baseball tryout Tuesday; you would think someone will take a chance on him and at least let him play in the Arizona Fall League. What do you have to lose?

3) You could have won a sizeable bet in March if you had bet that Didi Gregorius would bat CLEANUP in five major league games this season. Gregorius was born in Holland, by the way- he has 17 HRs this year.

2) Pirates’ OF Starling Marte has a great throwing arm; he threw Javier Baez out at the plate with a perfect throw from LF Monday night, when Baez’s run would’ve won the game. Marte now has 17 outfield assists this season.

1– Quote of the Day, part 2: When asked which assistant coach has the toughest job on an NFL coaching staff, Giants’ coach Ben McAdoo said this:

“…….the position coach who coaches the head coach’s area of expertise.”