Friday Trends and Indexes 09/07

[pm530]

National Football League – Long Sheet

NFL
Long Sheet


Week 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, September 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


KANSAS CITY (9 - 8) at HOUSTON (6 - 10) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
KANSAS CITY is 34-19 ATS (+13.1 Units) in September games since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 1-0 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
KANSAS CITY is 1-0 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


DENVER (9 - 7) at BUFFALO (7 - 9) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
DENVER is 1-0 against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
DENVER is 1-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PITTSBURGH (8 - 8) at CLEVELAND (4 - 12) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 65-41 ATS (+19.9 Units) as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 3-1 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 4-0 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TENNESSEE (8 - 8) at JACKSONVILLE (8 - 8) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
JACKSONVILLE is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) in home games in September games since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
JACKSONVILLE is 2-2 against the spread versus TENNESSEE over the last 3 seasons
JACKSONVILLE is 3-1 straight up against TENNESSEE over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CAROLINA (8 - 8) at ST LOUIS (8 - 8) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CAROLINA is 1-0 against the spread versus ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
CAROLINA is 1-0 straight up against ST LOUIS over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PHILADELPHIA (11 - 7) at GREEN BAY (8 - 8) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 113-77 ATS (+28.3 Units) against conference opponents since 1992.
PHILADELPHIA is 24-10 ATS (+13.0 Units) against NFC North division opponents since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 2-0 against the spread versus GREEN BAY over the last 3 seasons
PHILADELPHIA is 2-0 straight up against GREEN BAY over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ATLANTA (7 - 9) at MINNESOTA (6 - 10) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 1-0 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
ATLANTA is 1-0 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MIAMI (6 - 10) at WASHINGTON (5 - 11) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 40-62 ATS (-28.2 Units) as a favorite since 1992.
WASHINGTON is 7-20 ATS (-15.0 Units) in home games in September games since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NEW ENGLAND (14 - 5) at NY JETS (10 - 7) - 9/9/2007, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY JETS are 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) in home games in September games since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
NEW ENGLAND is 4-1 against the spread versus NY JETS over the last 3 seasons
NEW ENGLAND is 4-1 straight up against NY JETS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA BAY (4 - 12) at SEATTLE (10 - 8) - 9/9/2007, 4:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 23-39 ATS (-19.9 Units) as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points since 1992.
SEATTLE is 11-26 ATS (-17.6 Units) as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points since 1992.
SEATTLE is 55-83 ATS (-36.3 Units) in all games where the total is between 35.5 and 42 points since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 1-0 against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE is 1-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CHICAGO (15 - 4) at SAN DIEGO (14 - 3) - 9/9/2007, 4:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) against AFC West division opponents since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


DETROIT (3 - 13) at OAKLAND (2 - 14) - 9/9/2007, 4:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 24-45 ATS (-25.5 Units) in games where the line is +3 to -3 since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NY GIANTS (8 - 9) at DALLAS (9 - 8) - 9/9/2007, 8:15 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY GIANTS is 2-0 against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
DALLAS is 2-2 straight up against NY GIANTS over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, September 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BALTIMORE (13 - 4) at CINCINNATI (8 - 8) - 9/10/2007, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CINCINNATI is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in all games where the total is between 35.5 and 42 points over the last 3 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in September games over the last 3 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 36-56 ATS (-25.6 Units) in home games against conference opponents since 1992.
CINCINNATI is 44-66 ATS (-28.6 Units) versus division opponents since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 3-1 against the spread versus BALTIMORE over the last 3 seasons
CINCINNATI is 3-1 straight up against BALTIMORE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ARIZONA (5 - 11) at SAN FRANCISCO (7 - 9) - 9/10/2007, 10:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in September games over the last 3 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 20-7 ATS (+12.3 Units) when playing on Monday night since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 3-1 against the spread versus SAN FRANCISCO over the last 3 seasons
ARIZONA is 4-0 straight up against SAN FRANCISCO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

National Football League - Short Sheet

NFL
Short Sheet

Week 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, September 9th

Kansas City at Houston, 1:00 ET
Kansas City: 18-7 Under vs. conference opponents
Houston: 2-8 ATS in the first two weeks of the season

Denver at Buffalo, 1:00 ET
Denver: 19-8 ATS in the first two weeks of the season
Buffalo: 13-4 Over at home vs. AFC West opponents

Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1:00 ET
Pittsburgh: 11-4 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points
Cleveland: 12-4 Under in home games

Tennessee at Jacksonville, 1:00 ET
Tennessee: 10-5 Over in the first half of the season
Jacksonville: 16-6 ATS at home in September

Carolina at St. Louis, 1:00 ET
Carolina: 1-7 ATS in the first month of the season
St. Louis: 7-3 ATS as a home underdog of 3 points or less

Philadelphia at Green Bay, 1:00 ET
Philadelphia: 24-10 ATS vs. NFC North opponents
Green Bay: 1-5 ATS as a home underdog

Atlanta at Minnesota, 1:00 ET
Atlanta: 12-4 Under in road games
Minnesota: 6-1 Under in the first month of the season

Miami at Washington, 1:00 ET
Miami: 1-6 ATS as a road underdog of 3 points or less
Washington: 19-8 Under in the first two weeks of the season

New England at NY Jets, 1:00 ET
New England: 8-2 ATS as a road favorite
NY Jets: 6-18 ATS at home in September

Tampa Bay at Seattle, 4:15 ET
Tampa Bay: 25-4 Under in the first two weeks of the season
Seattle: 11-26 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points

Chicago at San Diego, 4:15 ET
Chicago: 21-9 Under away vs. non-conference opponents
San Diego: 10-4 ATS in the first half of the season

Detroit at Oakland, 4:15 ET
Detroit: 0-6 ATS as a road underdog of 7 points or less
Oakland: 12-3 Under in home games

NY Giants at Dallas, 8:15 ET NBC
NY Giants: 8-3 ATS vs. division opponents
Dallas: 9-5 Under at home vs. NY Giants


Monday, September 10th

Baltimore at Cincinnati, 7:00 ET ESPN
Baltimore: 18-6 Under vs. conference opponents
Cincinnati: 6-0 ATS in September

Arizona at San Francisco, 10:15 ET ESPN
Arizona: 0-6 ATS in September
San Francisco: 20-7 ATS on Monday nights

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

National Football League – Write up

NFL
Write-up



Week 1 2007 NFL season

Sunday, September 9

Chiefs @ Texans-- Two teams headed in opposite directions, as Chiefs are in disarray, with Huard winning QB derby by default, while Texans imported Schaub te replace Carr at QB, as they try and move past mistake of not drafting hometown hero Young. Houston lost last four home openers, three by 14+ points. KC is 4-2 in last six road openers, but lost couple of offensive linemen, and star RB Johnson just got into camp. Chiefs, originally called the Dallas Texans, won last two visits here, 42-14/45-17.

Broncos @ Bills-- Denver won last four series games, with totals in last three 43+; they won last two visits here, 23-20ot/28-17, but lost last three road openers, with four of last five staying under total. Old friend Travis Henry returns to Buffalo, trying to revive Bronco running game. Buffalo is 4-9 in last 13 openers, 2-4 in last six at home; six of their last eight home openers stayed under the total. Interesting to see how Cal rookie Lynch does running ball.

Steelers @ Browns-- Steelers have third coach in last 39 seasons, vs team that has major confusion at QB- they actually flipped a coin to determine starter for summer game. Pittsburgh won seven series games in row, with five of last six wins by 11+ points- they won last six visits to Lake Erie, and converted on 16 of 28 third down plays vs Browns LY, scoring six TDs on 20 drives, while the Browns had one TD on 19 drives, with seven 3/outs. They've lost seven of last eight home openers, with four of the last five losses by five or less points.

Titans @ Jaguars-- Jax outrushed Titans 380-149 LY, allowing the Titans to convert just five of 26 on third down, but they lost big game in Week 15 to Tennessee (24-17), even though Titans had only 98 total yards, and were 0 for 8 on third down. Titans lost last two visits here, 40-13/37-7, and lost six of last seven openers on road; they're 3-9 vs spread as dog in road openers, losing last two by combined score of 74-14. Jags covered last six openers at home; they covered in Week 1 the last eight years.

Panthers @ Rams-- First visit to this site for Carolina since win in OT in '03 playoffs that propelled them to NFC title; Panthers won last three series games, 15-0/20-7/29-23ot- they held Rams to just 31 rushing yards in LY's game, dominating total yards (411-111) holding St Louis to eight first downs. Rams upgraded offense by adding Bennett, McMichael; they won last four series openers, all by eight or less points. In their history, Carolina is 1-3 in Week 1 road games-- they lost their last three season openers, all as a home favorite.

Eagles @ Packers-- Philly won last five series games, with home side winning nine of last ten in series; Eagles lost three of last 4 visits to Lambeau, but haven't been here since '03. LY, Pack led
9-7 at half in Philly, but lost 31-9, as Iggles ran ball for 131 yards, and has 12-yard advantage in field position. Pack lost their last 4 home openers, covered just one of last eight, allowing 25.8 ppg in last four. Eagles are 6-2 vs spread as favorite in Week 1; under is 7-2 in their last nine road openers.

Falcons @ Vikings-- Post-Vick era begins with Harrington at QB for Atlanta. Home side lost four of last five series games, as the Falcons won last two visits here, both in OT (one of wins was in playoffs). Vikings won three of last four home openers; under is 13-5-1 in their last 19, as well as 12-6 in Falcons' last 18 openers on road. Atlanta started out 1-0 last four years, won three of last four road openers. Minnesota figures to try and run ball, with a young QB (Jackson) and solid rookie runner (Peterson).

Dolphins @ Redskins-- Cameron/Green combo used to work for Redskins, now 37-year old Green tries to revive career in Miami, after serious concussion caused him to miss half of last season in KC. Home side won last five series games, with Dolphins' last W here back in '84. Skins won four of last five home openers, with last four staying under- they're 2-6-1 vs spread last nine times as a favorite in home opener. Fish lost last three road openers; nine of their last thirteen road openers stayed under the total.

Patriots @ Jets-- New England defense has taken hits recently, as Harrison, Seymour both out for first month, but Belichick is 7-1 in last eight series games, winning last six at this site. Last season, Pats won two of three vs Jets, outrushing Gang Green 448-208. although Jets did run ball for 117 yards in game they won. Jets were 17-31 on 3rd down during season vs Pats, but only 3-11 in playoff loss. Over is 13-5-1 in last nineteen Jet home openers, and 5-2-2 in New England's last nine road openers.

Buccaneers @ Seahawks-- Seattle won six of last seven in series, with last four series totals 30 or less; Hawks won 23-7 last year in Week 17 (+3), winning 60.9% of third down plays, having 12-yard edge in field position, piling up 28 first downs and 72-49 edge in plays run. Garcia is latest QB for Bucs, who won six of last eight road openers (under is 6-0 both in Seattle home openers, and Buc road openers). Seahawks won last four home openers, allowing just 9.5 ppg, winning by 17-34-3-11 points.

Bears @ Chargers-- Norv Turner debuts as Bolts' HC, while his brother Ron calls plays for Bears. Charger LB coach Rivera was Chicago DC for last three years, was let go by Chicago after he tried to get head coaching job, so this has to be special game for him, even with hated Patriots on deck. Bears won last four games in this seldom-played series; this is their first visit here since '99. San Diego scored 24-28-40 points in last three season openers. Of late, teams that lose Super Bowl have stumbled the next year.

Lions @ Raiders-- Fine piece of scheduling, as two worst teams in '06 meet in '07 opener, guaranteeing one of them a happy start to this season. Home side won six of last eight series games, as Lions are 0-4 at this site. Raiders acquired QB McCown from the Lions in offseason; will he help Oakland defend Martz Madness? Lions expected to be more explosive in second year with Martz as OC, but Lions just 24-72 in six years under inept GM Millen; hard to have much confidence backing them on road, even against dysfunctional Raider team that cut its 3rd round pick this week.

Giants @ Cowboys-- Both offense dominated series games in '06, as teams combined to convert 56% of third down plays in teams' meetings. This was game last year where Romo replaced Bledsoe after bad INT right before half. Giants were +3 in turnovers, ran ball for 281 yards, while Dallas averaged 7.2/7.3 yards per pass attempt in two games. Giants are 10-6 in last 16 series games, 4-3 in last seven visits here. Dallas started 0-1 six of last seven years under is 13-5-1 in their last nineteen home openers. Can Jacobs be adequate replacement for backstabbing former RB Barber?

Monday, September 10

Ravens @ Bengals-- Baltimore was 11-31 on third down last year vs Bengals, scoring only one TD in seven trips to Cincinnati red zone; they hope addition of McGahee improves those numbers. Bengals won four of last five series games, with Ravens losing in last two visits here, 42-29/13-7, but Cincy OL took some hits last offseason, which could hamper formerly high-powered offense. Ravens lost five of last six road openers, with under 8-1 in last 9 road openers. Bengals won last three home openers, by 3,29,17.

Cardinals @ 49ers-- Since losing pair of OT tilts to Niners in 2005, Cardinals won last four series games, winning last two visits here 17-10/26-20; six of last seven series totals were 45+. Arizona won 64.6% of third down plays in series LY, with Niners just 2-18 on third down, but Cardinals have been awful road team, losing last five road openers by 13-point average. Arizona is 1-12 in last 13 Week 1 road games. Niners covered their last four openers, with underdog covering seven of their last nine. At age 23, 49er QB Smith is same age as Hawai'i's Heisman hopeful Colt Brennan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

National Football League - Tips & Trends

NFL

Sunday, September 9

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips and Trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills (CBS | 1 PM ET)

Team insiders are interested in seeing how this Denver team reacts to the emotional off-season losses it suffered (the death of CB Darrent Williams a few hours after the season ended and in February, Broncos RB Damien Nash died at a charity basketball game). SLIGHT EDGE: BRONCOS
Team insiders are reporting that new defensive coordinator Jim Bates says he will utilize more blitz packages: "No. 1, the top priority is you have to play well against the run," Bates said. "You have to stop the run to get the sticks in our favor where it's third down-and-long." If they are able to get penetration against Buffalo’s vanilla offensive line then Buffalo could be in for a long day. EDGE: BRONCOS
The Broncos’ first-string defense surrendered six touchdowns and three field goals in 15 possessions during the first three games of preseason when starting offenses still were seeing action. EDGE: BILLS
The Broncos are 11-5 SU and ATS in their last 16 season openers, going 11-4 ATS in their last 15 road openers.
Denver is 10-6 SU & ATS its last 16 on the road but also just 3-10 ATS its last 13 as a favorite.
Buffalo is 8-3 ATS its last 11 as a dog and has the offense to hang in here.
The OVER is 25-18 in Buffalo's last 43 games.


Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (CBS | 1 PM ET)

Team insiders are concerned over the recent news that the Browns center LeCharles Bentley is on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, meaning he will miss at least the first six weeks of the season. The loss of Bentley and right tackle Ryan Tucker (getting suspended the first four games of the season because of steroid use) is not good news for an aging Jamal Lewis and this vanilla Cleveland offense. BIG EDGE: STEELERS
Team insiders are reporting that Pittsburgh first-year head coach Mike Tomlin is overseeing a defensive scheme change to a 3-4 alignment with elements of the 4-3 scheme. It may take awhile for opposing offensive coordinators to figure out how to attack the new scheme. EDGE: STEELERS
The Steelers are an incredible 18-8 SU & 16-10 ATS on the road in the last three years.
The Cleveland Browns are 15-23-1 ATS as an underdog and are 0-7 SU & 1-6 ATS its last 7 against Pittsburgh.


Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers (FOX | 1 PM ET)

Team insiders are still concerned with the Philadelphia run stopping unit that slipped to 26th last season. However, that won't be a big problem here as Green Bay has an unproven running game that will be without Ahman Green for the first time in eight seasons. SLIGHT EDGE: PACKERS
The Eagles have outscored the Packers by 57 points during the past three years, although all three games were at Philadelphia. SLIGHT EDGE: EAGLES
Last season's Green Bay defense was good on paper but really struggled when stepping up against playoff teams, losing 38-10 to the Jets, 35-0 to the Patriots, 26-0 to the Bears, 34-27 to the Saints and 31-9 to these Eagles. EDGE: EAGLES
Philadelphia is an incredible 33-18 SU & 31-19 ATS on the road the last 6 years.
The Packers are a disappointing 10-15 SU and 6-18-1 ATS the last three seasons at home.


Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans (CBS | 1 PM ET)

Team insiders are concerned about the Kansas City offensive line, which has lost their two best players (Willie Roaf, Will Shields) over the last two years. The concern is exacerbated because head coach Herm Edwards prefers a conservative ground game that may have trouble opening up the lanes for running back Larry Johnson, who missed the entire preseason and is not expected to see his usual workload in the season opener. EDGE: TEXANS
Kansas City scored just 32 points in the preseason and was the only team to total less than 40. EDGE: TEXANS
Kansas City is 9-18 SU & 9-17-1 ATS its last 27 road games.


Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS | 1 PM ET)

Team insiders are concerned about this Tennessee defense that has a lot of holes, with CB "Pac Man" Jones suspended off a defense that was dead last in the league in 2006. They allowed 144 yards rushing per game (30th) and allowed over 200 rush yards twice and over 170 yards 5 times. EDGE: JAGUARS
Team insiders believe that Jacksonville holds a fundamental matchup advantage when Tennessee is on offense. Tennessee prefers to run the football and the Jaguars are dominant up front against the run (3rd in total defense se in 2006, 5th against the run). EDGE: JAGUARS
Jacksonville team insiders are excited about new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter (former Boise St and Arizona St head coach) who implemented a new, wide-open offense. Jacksonville displayed their new look all preseason and should do well against a weak Tennessee secondary. EDGE: JAGUARS
The Jags are 14-8-2 ATS in their last 24 home games and beat Tennessee here 37-7 and 40-13 the last two years.
Jacksonville is 8-0 ATS in its last 8 season openers.


Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (FOX | 1 PM ET)

The offseason saga surrounding the Falcons is finally over, with QB Joey Harrington finally ready to take over for Michael Vick. "I don't need to fill Michael Vick's shoes," Harrington said."I'm not trying to be Michael Vick. I'm trying to be myself. If I can play like myself, people will believe in me." Harrington is 1-6 lifetime vs. Minnesota with 8 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. EDGE: VIKINGS & UNDER
Minnesota's top concern is improving an offense that set team records for fewest touchdown passes (13) and first downs (272) last season. The play of second-year QB Tavaris Jackson (47-of-81 for 475 yards with 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 4 games last season) will be the key to the offense's revival while rookie RB Adrian Peterson should help starter Chester Taylor stay fresh coming off the biggest workload of his career. SLIGHT EDGE: FALCONS & UNDER
Atlanta is 7-0 ATS in its last 7 season openers as an underdog.
Atlanta is also 8-1 in its last 8 season openers.
Minnesota is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games.


New England Patriots at New York Jets (CBS | 1 PM ET)

Some team insiders believe that the Jets’ 10-6 mark last year was a bit misleading considering they played an easy schedule, were out-gained by 415 yards and had 23 fewer first downs than their opponents. EDGE: PATRIOTS
Jets QB Chad Pennington struggled in the preseason and the offensive line play was poor after trading away disgruntled veteran G Pete Kendall two weeks ago. This could also be tough for new RB Thomas Jones, who missed most of the preseason with a calf strain but has practiced this week and should be ready to play. EDGE: PATRIOTS
New England’s quarterback Tom Brady has an impressive 10-2 SU career mark against New York.
New England was 8-2 SU & ATS on the road last season.
New England has also dominated this series with an 8-1 ATS mark.


Carolina Panthers at St. Louis Rams (FOX | 1 PM ET)

The Rams have the motivational edge looking for revenge after the Panthers held them scoreless for the first time since 1998 in a 15-0 victory last November 19th while sacking Marc Bulger seven times. EDGE: RAMS
The Panthers have a new offensive coordinator in Jeff Davidson, who has added more spice plus zone blocking by the offensive line. However, Carolina’s offense did struggle at times in the preseason as John Fox shuffled different combinations, something to keep an eye on in the opener. SLIGHT EDGE: RAMS
The St. Louis run defense has been brutal, giving up 4.9 yards per carry the last two seasons - worst in the NFL during that stretch. EDGE: PANTHERS
The Carolina Panthers are 15-9-1 ATS their last 25 road games.
The Rams are 6-10 ATS in their last 16 home games.
The OVER is 7-3-1 in the last 11 games for St. Louis along with 4-1 in the last 5 for Carolina.
Carolina is a stellar 15-2-1 ATS as an underdog.


Miami Dolphins at Washington Redskins (FOX | 1 PM ET)

This will be the first game for new Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron after being offensive coordinator of the Chargers in 2006. Considering Cameron was the brains behind the explosive offense in San Diego, some insiders were disappointed that Miami struggled to put points on the board for much of the preseason. SLIGHT EDGE: REDSKINS
A key for the Redskins will be the health of their offensive line, and whether or not they are able to stay together for the entire season. It is a very strong unit despite the loss of Derrick Dockery. Converted tackle Todd Wage will likely replace Dockery and has a very important job considering the team’s starting QB is a right-hander, making Wage’s position even more important as it is Jason Campell’s blindside. If Washington is able to keep Campbell on his feet, this team could go far. EDGE: REDSKINS
Miami is 18-14 ATS on the road the last four seasons.
The UNDER is 6-3 in Washington's last 9 games and 30-19 since head coach Joe Gibbs returned in 2004.


Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders (FOX | 4:15 ET)

Detroit got better offensively with WR Calvin Johnson joining Roy Williams (1,310 yards) and WR Mike Furrey (1,086 yards). Quarterback Jon Kitna will enjoy throwing downfield, though he missed the last two preseason games with back spasms. SLIGHT EDGE: LIONS
Team insider cannot believe how Lions GM Matt Millen could have actually made the 26th-ranked defense worse by trading away CB Dre Bly. The secondary was awful in preseason and will be the weak link on this team, along with a suspect offensive line. EDGE: RAIDERS
The Raiders will start former Detroit backup Josh McCown at QB, a move that should benefit them considering he went up against the Lions defense in practice everyday last season. EDGE: RAIDERS
Detroit is 2-13 SU & 6-9 ATS its last 15 road games.


Chicago Bears at San Diego Chargers (FOX | 4:15 PM ET)

The Chargers not only have a new head coach in Norv Turner, but also new offensive and defensive coordinators. Turner also has ties to the Bears as brother Ron is Chicago's offensive coordinator while San Diego LB coach Ron Rivera was the defensive coordinator of the defending NFC champs last season. EDGE: CHARGERS
Both the Bears and Chargers are coming off disappointing endings to last season with a lot left to prove this year. Chicago played last postseason without two of the team's best defensive players in safety Mike Brown and tackle Tommie Harris, both of whom should be ready to go in the season opener following injuries. The key to this game likely will be decided by the amount of pressure San Diego All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman can put on mistake-prone QB Rex Grossman. EDGE: CHARGERS
Chicago's offense is expected to be even more lethal this year with the addition of Devin Hester as a wide receiver and Bernard Berrian emerging as one of the best deep threats in the NFL. Grossman's ability to get the ball to the team's top playmakers against a suspect San Diego secondary could help the Bears pull off an upset here. EDGE: BEARS
Super Bowl losers are 1-10 ATS on the road the last 11 years in the opening game of the season.
San Diego is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games as a favorite.
The OVER is 16-5-1 in Chicago's last 22 games.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Seattle Seahawks (FOX | 4:15 PM ET)

Injuries decimated the Seahawks offense last year, as 2005 NFL MVP Shaun Alexander missed six games with a foot injury and QB Matt Hasselbeck was out four with a sprained knee and two broken fingers. This team still managed to break a string of five straight Super Bowl losers to miss out on the postseason, losing to Chicago 27-24 in overtime of January's divisional playoffs. They have high expectations of returning to the Super Bowl and must start out strong here. EDGE: SEAHAWKS
The Seattle secondary is a weak spot, something new Bucs QB Jeff Garcia and the Tampa passing game will look to attack. Garcia is the man head coach Jon Gruden targeted to lead his offense when he was with the Raiders, and some insiders believe his best days are behind him. SLIGHT EDGE: BUCS
Seattle is 16-3 SU & 12-6 ATS at home the last two years.
Seattle is 3-8-1 ATS in its last 12 season openers.
The OVER was 11-6 for Seattle in 2004, 12-7 in 2005 and 10-7 last season for a combined mark of 33-20 over the last three years.


New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (NBC | 8:15 PM ET)

The Giants are a team consumed with turmoil as head coach Tom Coughlin was nearly fired at the end of last season until Tiki (I am retired) Barber bailed him out. Not many believe Brandon Jacobs is the answer to fill the massive void left by the departure, and team insiders were very surprised to see the Giants basically sit out of the free agent market. A key for New York will be how well the defense holds it together through the first half of the season, needing to improve on a 25 th-ranked unit from a year ago. EDGE: COWBOYS
The Giants got battered and bruised in the preseason while going 1-3. LB Kawika Mitchell got banged up late in August and the secondary had all kinds of problems: Cornerback Sam Madison pulled his hamstring and missed Week 4, while safety Will Demps is expected to miss another week with a dislocated right elbow. WR Michael Jennings is out for the season. EDGE: COWBOYS
The Giants are 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog.
The Giants have a strong history - going 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings - and Dallas is just 1-6 SU in its last seven season openers.
Four of the last five games between these rivals have been decided by 4, 3, 7 and 3 points.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

College Football – Write up (Saturday games)

NCAAF
Write-up for Saturday games

Week 1

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday's college football info

Top 10 games

Miami covered just three of last ten on road, though they are 7-3 vs. spread in last ten tries as underdog; last week, in a 31-3 win vs. Marshall, ‘canes completed just nine of 21 passes, but had four INTs, 251-64 rushing edge. Oklahoma starts redshirt frosh QB, but they were 25-28/403 passing last week; they’re just 5-8 in last 13 tries as home favorite, though they did crush North Texas last week, 79-10.

Alabama won last 19 games vs. Vanderbilt (33-1 in last 34) but LY’s game was just 13-10 (341-235 TY, Bama). Tide covered 13 of last 22 on road; Commodores are 3-6 vs. spread in last nine as home dog, and 7-49 SU in SEC in this century-- with 18 starters back, including five senior starters on OL, this is Vanderbilt’s version of Super Bowl. Tide was 12-18-2 vs. spread in last 32 SEC games under Shula.

NC State’s O’Brien returns to Boston College without his best RB (out for year) and with Nebraska transfer at QB, who rallied Wolfpack from 25-3 halftime deficit last week, only to fail on the tying 2-pt conversion try in 25-23 loss to Central Florida. Dog is 31-15 vs. spread in State’s last 46 games. BC trailed 14-0 in first 5:00 vs. Wake last week, but Ryan was 32-52/406 passing, and Eagles won by 10.

Michigan looks to rebound from last week’s disaster, vs. more talented Oregon team that does lot of same things App State does; with only four starters back on defense, Wolverines are vulnerable there. Ducks upset Big Blue 31-27 in last meeting, at Autzen in ’03. Wolverines are 7-11 vs. spread as home favorite. Oregon beat Houston 48-27 LW, but Cougars ran ball for 310 yards, so Michigan could make hay there.

Washington crushed Syracuse LW 42-12 behind redshirt frosh QB Locker (20-23/199 passing), now is home dog vs. Boise State team that covered just four of last 12 away from blue carpet. I am impressed by 302-8 rushing edge in road game, but am unsure if it was Washington’s improvement, or just how dismal Syracuse is playing. Big game for revival of Washington program; they’re 5-13 SU in last 18 home games.

Hard to tell much about Fresno State, Texas A&M, since both opened with I-AA foes last week. Fresno has covered 10 of last 13 on road vs. BCS teams, is 23-11 vs. spread out of conference Texas A&M is 7-4 vs. spread in last 11 as home favorite, 5-3 in non-Big 12 games, but they were outgained LW vs. Montana State (game was 17-7 A&M at half). Would never give Pat Hill 17 points, that I know.

Spurrier has covered five of six as road dog at Carolina, eight of nine on road overall. Four of last six Georgia-So. Carolina games were decided by six or less pts, but Dawgs won 18-0 LY (-3), rare shutout for a Spurrier offense, and fith straight Dawg series win. UGa started two freshmen in opener LW (first time since ’64); they’re 5-10-1 vs. spread as home favorite. Carolina allowed 254 rushing yards to ULL last week; they get suspended Mitchell back to QB this important game.

Notre Dame waxed Penn State 41-17 LY (-8), as Quinn was 25-36/ 287 passing, and Irish had +3 turnover ratio, but now Quinn is gone, Irish are rebuilding- they lost 33-3 at home LW, gaining just 121 TY (Tech had 260-M9 edge in rushing yards). Penn St. crushed FIU 59-0 LW; they have senior QB, are 7-3-1 vs. spread in last 11 tries as home favorite. Irish are 9-5 vs. spread as road dog, since 2002.

Auburn struggled vs. K-State last week, trailing in last 3:00, had only 62 rushing yards, and were just 3-15 on 3rd down. In comes upstart South Florida, which has upset West Virginia, Louisville last couple years; Bulls are 7-4 vs. spread as dog last two years- they had good QB, but he is only a soph. Tuberville covered just three of last 11 outside of SEC. USF’s best RB transferred in from Alabama- interesting.

Virginia Tech struggled in emotional home game last week, now visits rabid Baton Rouge on a Saturday night. Hokies ran ball for only 33 yards LW, had three turnovers, Glennon was 22-33/ 245 passing, and they’ve covered five of six as a dog since ’01. LSU won 45-0 at Miss State in the opener, picking off six passes holding Bulldogs to 10 rushing yards; Tigers are just 8-12 vs. spread as home favorite since ’04.


Rest of the Card

-- West Virginia covered 12 of last 15 as road favorite; they won this in-state contest 42-10 LY, rushing for 312 yards. Marshall (5-0 as home dog) is hosting this game for first time since 1915. This is Herd’s Super Bowl.

-- Northwestern lost 31-21 in Reno LY (-7), thanks to -4 turnover ratio; they’ve covered only two of last 12 as home favorite. Nevada lost 52-10 at Nebraska last week; they’re 2-9 vs. spread in last 11 tries as a road dog.

-- Wake Forest QB Skinner separated shoulder LW; they blew early 14-0 lead in Boston. Nebraska has USC coming to Lincoln next week; they’re 6-2-1 vs. spread in their last nine road games. Wake is still 26-13 as dog under Grobe.

-- Minnesota trailed 21-0 at half LW to MAC’s Bowling Green, rallied to force OT but lost; Gophers are 16-9 in last 25 as home favorite, but learning all new systems. Miami, also of MAC, is
4-7 vs. spread in last 11 tries as road dog.

-- Temple was last favored in ’03 (vs. Rutgers); they were 21-29/ 199 passing LW, but gave up 361 rushing yards to Navy. Bulls gave up 563 yards in loss at Rutgers; both sides see this game as winnable, so very important contest between two struggling programs. Investing in this game? Might think about GA.

-- Ohio St is 13-6 vs. spread in last 19 as home favorite, 11-8 vs. spread in non-league games. Akron is 8-6 vs. spread as road dog under Brookhart; first road start for their new QB. Zips played in a bowl LY, so they’re OK, but you know Buckeyes are aware of what Michigan is going through now- they’ll be alert.

-- Virginia got outgained 474-108 at Wyoming LW; Groh now on hot seat. Duke led 14-11 at half, lost 45-14 to UConn; their winless streak is now 21. Cavs won last seven series games by an average score of 22-9- they held Duke to only 8 first downs in LY’s 37-0 win.

-- Central Michigan beat Toledo last two years, is favored over Rockets for first time since ’95; LY, they beat Toledo 42-20 LY, using +4 turnover ratio to offset being outgained 487-387. Both teams gave up 52 pts last week; Chippewas lost 52-7 at Kansas, Toledo 52-24 at home to Purdue.

-- Bowling Green won at Minnesota in OT last week, after blowing 21-0 halftime lead. Michigan State led outmanned UAB 45-3 at the half. Falcons covered nine of last 12 vs. "big boys" (BCS schools). Falcons gave up 246 rushing yards to Minnesota, despite leading whole game.

-- Hard to lay six with Baylor team that got shut out last week, but Bears are 4-3 as home fave since ’01, while Rice lost storm-delayed game to I-AA Nicholls State LW, 16-14. Owls are 16-12 as road dog since ’01, but have third HC in three years, which is tough on players.

-- Wyoming won 48-21 at Utah State LY, outgaining State 460-129 (221-55 rushing yards). Cowboys are 6-4 in last ten games as home favorite- they crushed Virginia LW, outgaining Cavs 474-108, holding them to five first downs. State got beat 23-16 at home by UNLV in its opener.

-- San Jose lost 45-3 at Arizona State, bad start after bowl season in ’06. Kansas State covered six of last seven as home favorite; they led at Auburn in final 3:00, before Tigers rallied for win- Wildcats threw 58 passes, ran 27 times, but their defense held Auburn to 62 rushing yards.

-- Upset alert for Cal team that got revenge win vs. Tennessee LW, now visits Colorado State club that blew 11-point lead in 4th quarter to rival Buffaloes. Rams beat Cal 23-21 in ’03, but they’re 0-3 as home dog since 2002. Hanie converted 11 of 19 on 3rd down LW. Cal is 8-6 as road favorite with Tedford.

-- Missouri blasted Ole Miss LY 34-7 (-10) in Columbia, running for 218 yards, passing for 253 (471-162 in total yards). Rebels had 20-0 halftime lead LW, with special teams, defensive score, then hung on for dear life at end in Memphis. Tigers gave up 34 pts to Illinois LW, still won on neutral field.

-- Ball State lost MAC home game to Miami LW, giving up winning TD in last minute, now is favored on road vs. Eastern Michigan team that was outgained 357-145 LW by Pitt team that is searching for QB. Ball is 2-5 vs. spread as a road favorite in this century.

-- UAB was horrible LW, trailing 45-3 at half at Michigan State; they’re 18 players under scholarship limit, and run into angry Seminole group here, five days after second half rally fell short at Clemson. FSU is just 13-21 vs. spread as home fave, since ’01.

-- Utah won last four games vs. Air Force, winning last two here,.49-35/38-35, but Utes lost their QB for month LW, and their best RB for season- they’re 3-6-1 vs. spread as home favorite. Air Force is 9-6 vs. spread as home dog since ’02; they’re more diverse on offense than they’ve been.

-- East Carolina played good defense at Virginia Tech LW, outrushing Hokies 142-33, but loss of their starting QB (susp-DUI) stung; Pirates are 5-1 as home fave under Holtz. UNC has just nine starters back from LY; new coach Davis has brought hope back to Chapel Hill.

-- UCLA QB Olson went to BYU, went on his LCD mission, then transferred to UCLA, so this has to be special game for him, but BYU beat Oregon (38-8), Arizona (20-7) in last two games, so they have to be confident being a dog vs. Pac-10 opponent.

-- Tennessee lost at Cal LW, has Florida on deck, so this becomes huge game; Vols have covered only 13 of last 41 at home, three of 17 if favored. Southern Miss is just 7-13 vs. spread as road dog since ’01; they have a senior QB, as do Vols. Ainge was 32-47/271 passing at Cal, despite broken pinky.

-- TCU has its Super Bowl here vs. Texas club that got outgained 397-340 by Arkansas State LW, winning 21-13, because ASU had four empty trips inside Texas red zone. Horned Frogs covered four of last five as a road dog; they shut Baylor out LW, picking off four Bear passes.

-- Visiting team won last two Miss State-Tulane games, with Wave winning 32-29 LY (429-350 TY); State is 5-9 vs. spread in non-SEC games since ’02. Tulane is 1-6-1 as home dog last two years- this is first game for new coach Toledo (the former UCLA coach), State threw six picks in 45-0 home loss to LSU.

-- Kentucky is 8-4-1 in last thirteen tries as home favorite, but has Louisville on deck, huge game for them- can’t look past Kent squad that won 23-14 at Iowa State LW, running ball for 205 yards. Flashes covered five of last six as road underdog.

-- UTEP beat New Mexico 10-6 LW, despite dismal 8-26/80 night passing; Lobos outgained them 383-209, but Miners won. Texas Tech is on short week after drilling SMU 49-9 Monday. Harrell was 49-65/470 passing, so Miners will need lot more than 10 points to win here.

-- San Diego State is just 6-9 in last 15 tries as road dog; game is in Seattle, not Pullman, but still road game for Long’s Aztecs. Wisconsin was 20-30/304 passing vs. Wazzu LW, as Cougars yielded 486 TY in loss at Madison. Wazzu is 9-17 vs. spread in last 26 tries as favorite.

-- Home side won three of last four Hawai'i-Louisiana Tech tilts, with Tech winning last game here, 46-14, but if they gave up 276 passing yards to Central Arkansas LW, what happens against Colt Brennan, whose Rainbow Warriors led 42-3 at half LW.

-- Iowa beat Syracuse in OT at Carrier Dome LY, stopping SU on seven plays from Hawkeye 2-yard line; starting QB Tate missed that game. Orange were outrushed 302-8 by Washington LW.

-- Indiana beat Western Michigan 39-20 LY (323-289 TY); IU has 16 starters back, four on OL- they're explosive. Western yielded 316 rushing yards at West Virginia LW, was outgained 542-277.

-- New Mexico won last four games vs in-state rivals by average score of 33-17; Lobos averaged 26.4 yards/reception, and a +5 turnover ratio in win, but they lost last week in El paso, despite holding the Miners to 10 points.

-- Wisconsin covered six of last seven non-league games, and is 3-0 in last three tries as road favorite; UNLV covered eight of its last 12 as home dog. Badgers covered 14-pt spread last week vs good Washington State team.

-- Colorado beat Colorado State in OT LW, in QB Hawkins' first college game, now they go up in class visiting Arizona St squad that hammered San Jose State 45-3 LW. ASU had balance, with 239 passing yards, 269 passing.

-- Short week for Clemson after beating Florida State for fourth time in five years; letdown likely vs UL-Monroe squad that lost 35-14 at home to Tulsa, after leading 17-14 at half.

-- Troy is spunky, going anywhere for big paychecks; last week, they lost 46-26 at Arkansas, covering in last minute, despite an awful passing performance (17-49/214). Florida has Tennessee on deck, so you won't see much of their playbook here.

-- Oklahoma State beat Florida Atlantic last two years, 23-3 and 48-8; LY, OSU outgained Owls 432-215. Cowboys covered ten of last fifteen tries as home favorite, were stung at Georgia in 35-14 loss last week. FAU won a league game last week.

-- UL-Lafayette ran ball for 254 yards at South Carolina last week and hung within 28-14 of Gamecocks (SC's starting QB Mitchell didn't play). Ohio U blocked three punts LW, but Gardner-Webb isn't I-A.ULL's coach comes from Va Tech; Ohio ain't blocking three kicks in this game.

-- Florida International lost 59-0 at Penn State last week, so hard to tell anything about that. Steffy won Maryland's QB job when his competition was declared ineligible, so they're shaky at QB.

-- Arkansas State outgained Texas LW, lost because they were empty on four different drives in Longhorn red zone. Memphis trailed Ole Miss 20-0 at half LW, rallied to 23-21, but conversion to tie game in last 0:31 failed.

-- Short week for SMU club that got waxed 49-9 by Texas Tech Monday; very long week for North Texas club that lost 79-10 to an angry Oklahoma team. North Texas upset Mustangs 24-6 in 2006, but SMU covered five of last six as home favorite.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

Six-pack for Friday

-- Louisville led Middle Tennessee 21-14 less than 5:00 into Thursday night's game; it was 38-35 at half. Lousy defense.

-- Ichiro Suzuki has 49 infield hits this season, 22 more than any other American League player.

-- Oriole pitchers have walked 124 leadoff hitters this year, most in AL, and 56 of them scored (45.2%).

-- Garret Anderson has knocked in a run in eleven straight games, a new Angels' record.

-- Hard to believe Raiders have their fourth coach in the last five years; will today's players respect a 31-year old HC?

-- Stunned that Saints didn't score TD Thursday. Lot of the fantasy league guys will be scrambling to dump their guys.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

Friday's List of 13: Football knowledge for college........

13) Alabama has won 19 in row vs. Vanderbilt, but are favored by just 3.5 points in Nashville this week; you figure Saban, in time, will build Tide back into a national power, so is it now-or-never for the Commodores to end this hideous losing streak?

12) The new kickoff rules have helped improve average starting field position, but Nebraska has a kicker who can still reach end zone, and that’s a big weapon; he had five straight touchbacks vs. Nevada last week.

11) Fresno State has covered ten of last thirteen on road vs. BCS teams; they’re most dangerous as a dog, which they are at Texas A&M this week.

10) USC’s kicker died tragically during offseason; to honor him, after their first TD vs. Idaho, Trojans took field for PAT with ten men (no kicker) and took delay-of-game penalty, then kicked the PAT

9) Navy covered eleven of its last twelve tries as a road dog.

8) Air Force doesn’t just run the option anymore; they ran a play with five wideouts last week, then ran the option on the very next play.

7) Temple is favored this week for first time in four years, in their first-ever MAC game. This is bad news for Buffalo— being a dog to Temple means you’re not very good at all.

6) San Jose State is only I-A team in America playing its first four games on the road (Arizona State-Kansas State-Stanford-Utah State).

5) Texas Tech is 5-13 vs. spread in game after its last 18 wins.

4) QB issues: Maryland had a contender for starting QB
declared ineligible late in summer…….East Carolina had its starting QB suspended after a DUI arrest……..Utah lost its QB for three weeks, due to an injury—they also lost their best RB for season with an injury.

3) Georgia started two freshmen in their season opener last week, first time that happened since 1964.

2) Tennessee covered only three of its last 17 as home fave.

1) Since 1991, home favorites coming off a loss to I-AA team (in this case, Michigan) are 1-6 vs. spread.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

Baseball – Write up

MLB
Write-up


Friday, September 7

Hot Pitchers
-- Kim is 3-0, 3.63 in his last four starts for Florida.
-- Cubs won Hill's last four starts.
-- Arroyo is 2-1, 3.24 in his last four starts. Bush is 2-0, 3.44 in his last three starts.
-- Smoltz is 2-1, 3.10 in his last four starts.
-- Wainwright is 3-0, 1.75 in his last four starts.
-- Billingsley is 3-0, 1.71 in his last four starts.

-- Red Sox won last four Lester starts, scoring 26 runs.
-- Detroit won five of last six Verlander starts.
-- Jackson has 2.00 RA in his last three home starts.
-- Kennedy won first big league start, allowing three runs in his seven IP vs Devil Rays.
-- Westbrook has 2.47 RA in his last eight starts.

Cold Pitchers
-- Durbin has 8.49 RA in his last five starts.
-- Gorzelanny has 6.43 RA in his last four starts.
-- Pelfrey is 0-4, 6.38 in six home starts. Rodriguez is 1-6, 9.08 in his last eight road starts.
-- Hanrahan has 7.58 RA in his four road starts.
-- Webb is 0-2, 7.30 in his last couple starts.
-- Dessens has an 8.27 RA in four starts for the Rockies. Padres are 4-10 in Germano's last fourteen starts.
-- Sanchez lost his first start at Washington, allowing three runs in 5.1 innings.

-- Orioles lost four of last five Cabrera starts.
-- Batista is 0-3, 9.00 in his last three starts.
-- Toronto lost four of last five McGowan starts.
-- Haren is 1-2, 6.75 in his last four starts. Volquez allowed three runs in five IP in his first '07 start, but won the game.
-- Meche is 0-5, 4.79 in his last seven starts.
-- Silva is 0-3, 5.63 vs White Sox this season. Pale Hose were outscored 18-1 in last two Vazquez starts.
-- Lackey is 1-2, 5.06 in his last four starts.


Totals
-- Over is 5-2 in Phillies' last seven games.
-- Over is 5-1 in Pittsburgh's last six games.
-- Under is 10-3 in Mets' last thirteen games.
-- Four of last five Milwaukee games went over the total.
-- Over is 5-2 in last seven Washington road games.
-- Over is 11-1 in San Diego's last twelve road games.
-- Under is 6-1 in last seven St Louis road games.
-- Under is 5-2-1 in last eight San Francisco home games.

-- Over is 4-0-1 in Baltimore's last five home games.
-- Over is 5-2 in Seattle's last seven road games.
-- Four of last five Toronto road games went over the total.
-- Under is 12-3 in last fifteen Texas home games.
-- Over is 5-2 in last seven Bronx road games.
-- Over is 7-3 in Minnesota's last ten games.
-- Over is 5-2 in Angels' last seven home games.


Hot Teams
-- Phillies won their last five home games, scoring 41 runs.
-- Nationals won their last five games, outscoring foes 22-12.
-- Mets won five of their last six games.
-- Brewers won five of their last six games.
-- Cardinals won five of their last seven games.
-- Rockies won five of their last seven games.
-- Dodgers won eight of their last eleven games.

-- Red Sox won five of their last six games.
-- Detroit won five of its last seven home games.
-- Devil Rays won ten of their last thirteen games.
-- Rangers won four of their last five games.
-- Bronx won nine of last twelve home games. Royals are 11-6 in their last seventeen home games.
-- Cleveland won eleven of last thirteen games. Angels won eight of their last ten games.

Cold Teams
-- Marlins lost seventeen of their last twenty-one games.
-- Cubs are 5-8 in their last thirteen road games. Pirates lost seven of their last nine games.
-- Astros lost four of their last five games.
-- Reds lost five of their last six games.
-- Braves lost ten of their last fifteen games.
-- Arizona lost its last four home series openers.
-- San Diego lost three of its last four games.
-- Giants lost four of their last five games.

-- Orioles lost fourteen of their last sixteen games.
-- Mariners lost eleven of their last twelve games.
-- Toronto lost three of last four road games.
-- Oakland lost five of last six road games.
-- Twins lost eight of their last nine games. White Sox lost 12 of their last 15 games.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

Baseball - Tips & Trends

MLB

Friday, September 7

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tips and Trends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates (7:05 PM ET)

Chicago’s Rich Hill is a solid 5-2 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 home starts this season. The Cubs have won his last four starts at Wrigley Field, but they’ve outscored their opponents by just five runs over that span. EDGE: CUBS
Hill has been dominating at times over his last three starts, striking out 24 batters and walking just five in his last 19 innings of work. The left-hander has allowed just one home run over that span. EDGE: CUBS
Pirates left-hander Tom Gorzelanny is an even 1-1 with a sparkling 0.60 ERA in two career starts versus the Cubs. He’s allowed just eight hits and fanned 12 in 15 innings of work against them. EDGE: PIRATES
Gorzelanny has tallied a 5-4 record and 3.65 ERA in 12 home starts this season. The southpaw starter has struggled a bit in his last two starts at PNC Park, allowing nine earned runs and 17 hits over 11 innings. SLIGHT EDGE: PIRATES
The OVER is 7-1 in the Pirates last eight games as a favorite.


Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers (7:05 PM ET)

Seattle’s Miguel Batista is 6-4 with a 4.87 ERA in 14 road appearances in 2007. The right-hander is coming off a great start at the Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays, giving up just one run and five hits over seven innings. SLIGHT EDGE: MARINERS
Batista has made just eight career appearances versus Detroit, posting a 1-2 record and 3.72 ERA. He picked up a 6-4 home victory against the Tigers on July 14, allowing just single run and five hits over six innings. SLIGHT EDGE: TIGERS
Detroit right-hander Justin Verlander is a solid 7-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 14 home starts this season. The Tigers blew out the Yankees 16-0 in his last home start, as he allowing just three hits and fanned six in seven innings of work. EDGE: TIGERS
Verlander is a perfect 3-0 with a 3.26 ERA in three career starts versus Seattle. He ended up with a 11-7 road victory over the Mariners on July 15, giving up four runs and eight hits over seven innings. EDGE: TIGERS
The Mariners are 10-1 in their last 11 games following an off day.


Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds (7:10 PM ET)

Milwaukee right-hander Dave Bush is an even 1-1 with a 6.68 ERA in six career starts versus Cincinnati. He suffered a 6-5 loss in his last start at the Great American Ball Park, allowing four runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. SLIGHT EDGE: REDS
Bush has a winning 4-3 record on the road, even though he possesses a high 5.47 ERA. He’s allowed 93 hits and issued 20 walks in just 74 innings away from Miller Park. SLIGHT EDGE: REDS
Reds starter Bronson Arroyo is 5-3 with a 3.58 ERA in 11 career games versus the Brewers. The right-hander tallied a 8-3 victory over the Brewers at Miller Park on August 17, giving up three runs and nine hits over 7 1/3 innings. EDGE: REDS
Cincinnati has picked up back-to-back losses with Arroyo on the mound, with the offense managing to score just four runs in those games. SLIGHT EDGE: BREWERS
The Brewers are 1-5 in Bush’s last six starts as a road underdog.


Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox (8:11 PM ET)

Minnesota’s Carlos Silva is a dismal 4-9 with a 5.63 ERA in 17 career appearances versus Chicago. The right-hander has gone 0-3 with a 5.06 ERA in three starts against the White Sox in 2007, allowing 10 runs and 21 hits over 16 innings. EDGE: WHITE SOX
Silva posted a losing 1-2 record in the month of August, but posted a solid 3.13 ERA. He issued just four walks and struck out 17 batters over 31 2/3 innings. SLIGHT EDGE: TWINS
White Sox right-hander Javier Vazquez is just 3-5 with a 4.94 ERA in 11 career starts versus the Twins. He’s tallied a perfect 2-0 record and 1.59 ERA in three starts against Minnesota this year, allowing just four runs and 13 hits over 22 2/3 innings. SLIGHT EDGE: WHITE SOX
Chicago has picked up consecutive losses with Vazquez on the hill, with the right-hander allowing 10 earned runs and 14 hits over his last 12 innings. EDGE: TWINS
The OVER is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings.


St. Louis Cardinals at Arizona Diamondbacks (9:40 PM ET)

St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright is an even 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four career games versus Arizona. The right-hander picked up a 3-2 home victory over the Diamondbacks on July 5, allowing two earned runs and five hits over seven innings. SLIGHT EDGE: CARDINALS
Wainwright has posted a solid 6-2 record and 3.57 ERA in 12 road starts this season. The Cardinals have won four of his last five starts away from Busch Stadium, outscoring opponents 31-14 in the process. EDGE: CARDINALS
Arizona’s Brandon Webb has gone 6-5 with a 3.11 ERA in 13 home starts this season. He’s struck out 83 batters and walked just 34 in 89 2/3 innings at Chase Field. EDGE: D-BACKS
Webb has posted an even 8-8 record and 3.22 ERA in 22 career starts during the month of September. Opposing batters are hitting just .210 against him during the month – his lowest opponents’ average of any month in his career. EDGE: D-BACKS
The Cardinals are 3-8 in their last 11 road games versus a right-handed starter.


Cleveland Indians at Los Angeles Angels (10:05 PM ET)

Cleveland right-hander Jake Westbrook is 2-5 in seven career starts versus Los Angeles, but carries a very good 3.24 ERA. He’s shown great control against the Angels, issuing just 10 walks and striking out 31 in 50 innings of work. SLIGHT EDGE: INDIANS
After posting a solid 4-1 record and 1.90 ERA in six starts during the month of August, Westbrook has struggled over his last two starts. The right-hander has allowed seven runs and 21 hits over 11 2/3 innings. SLIGHT EDGE: ANGELS
Angels starter John Lackey has a losing 3-5 record and 3.03 ERA in nine career starts versus the Indians. He went 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA in three starts against them in 2006, allowing 21 hits in 17 2/3 innings. SLIGHT EDGE: INDIANS
Lackey is 6-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 13 home starts this season. The Angels have lost his last two starts at Angel Stadium, as the right-hander has been knocked around for seven runs and 15 hits over 13 2/3 innings. SLIGHT EDGE: ANGELS
The UNDER is 25-9 in Lackey’s last 34 home starts versus a team with a winning record.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[pm530]

Baseball Today - September 7

SCOREBOARD
Friday, Sept. 7
N.Y. Yankees at Kansas City (8:10 p.m. EDT). Ian Kennedy makes his second career start for the Yankees.

STARS
Thursday

-- Rick Ankiel, Cardinals, had a career-high seven RBIs, leading St. Louis to a 16-4 victory over Pittsburgh in a game shortened to eight innings because of rain.

-- Andre Ethier, Dodgers, hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the ninth inning of a 7-4 victory over the Cubs.

-- Jason Varitek, Red Sox, singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning of a 7-6 victory over Baltimore.

LUCKY SEVEN

Rick Ankiel homered twice and had a career-high seven RBIs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 16-4 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday in a game shortened to eight innings because of rain. Brought up Aug. 9 in his first major league appearance since he pitched for the Cardinals in 2004, Ankiel is batting .358 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 23 games. He also homered twice against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 11.

IN THE CLUTCH

Sean Casey and Placido Polanco hit run-scoring singles off White Sox closer Bobby Jenks in the ninth inning, leading Detroit to a 3-2 victory over Chicago on Thursday night. The Tigers, who closed within three games of the wild card-leading New York Yankees, trailed 2-1 entering the ninth. ... Pinch-hitter Jason Varitek singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning to lead Boston to a 7-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. ... Pinch-hitter Andre Ethier hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Ryan Dempster in the ninth inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-4 victory over the Cubs. Chicago dropped into a first-place tie with idle Milwaukee in the NL Central. The Dodgers closed within 3 1/2 games of NL West-leading Arizona.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs and had four RBIs for the Cubs in a 7-4 loss to the Dodgers on Thursday.

SNAPPED

Baltimore ended Tim Wakefield's string of 22 straight scoreless innings with a run in the first inning of a 7-6 loss to Boston on Thursday night.

DREADFUL

Baltimore lost 7-6 at home to Boston on Thursday and with their 10th straight defeat at home, they matched an Orioles record set in 1954 -- the club's first season in Baltimore -- according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

HEAVENLY

Garret Anderson extended his streak to a club-record 11 games with at least one RBI, driving in three runs and leading the Los Angeles Angels past the Cleveland Indians 10-3 on Thursday night. Anderson had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the eighth, breaking the previous franchise mark of 10 consecutive games with an RBI that was shared by Fred Lynn (1984) and Wally Joyner (1986).

SPEAKING

"Marvel is a good word. It's kind of amazing, isn't it? Clutch, too." -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on Rick Ankiel. Ankiel had a career-high seven RBIs, leading the St. Louis over the Pittsburgh Pirates 16-4 Thursday in a game shortened to eight innings because of rain.

SEASONS
Sept. 7

1908 -- Walter Johnson pitched his third consecutive shutout in four days with a 4-0, two-hit victory over the New York Highlanders.

1911 -- Rookie Grover Alexander of the Philadelphia Phillies took a 1-0 thriller from 44-year-old Cy Young, who was closing out his career with the Boston Braves.

1916 -- The New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 4-1 to start their 26-game winning streak, a major league record.

1923 -- Howard Ehmke of the Boston Red Sox tossed a 4-0, no-hit victory over the Philadelphia Athletics. Philadelphia's Slim Harriss hit a ball to the wall for a double, but was called out for missing first base, preserving the no-hitter.

1962 -- Maury Wills of Los Angeles stole four bases and set a National League record with a total of 82 for the season. The Dodgers lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-1.

1984 -- Dwight Gooden of the Mets struck out Ron Cey of the Chicago Cubs in the second inning for No. 228 to set a National League record for a rookie. Gooden passed Grover Cleveland Alexander, who set the mark with 227 in 1911. New York coasted to a 10-0 victory behind Gooden's one-hitter.

1993 -- Mark Whiten of the St. Louis Cardinals had the greatest game at the plate in major league history in the nightcap of a doubleheader with Cincinnati. In the 15-2 win, Whiten hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs to become the only player to accomplish both feats in one game.

1998 -- Ken Griffey Jr. homered twice against Baltimore, giving baseball three 50-homer players in a season for the first time. Griffey joined Mark McGwire and Babe Ruth as the only players to hit 50 or more in consecutive seasons. Ruth did it in 1920-21 and 1927-28, and McGwire hit 50 or more the last three years.

2001 -- Alex Rodriguez broke his own American League record for homers by a shortstop with his career-best 43rd as Texas beat Kansas City 8-2.

Today's birthdays: Mark Prior 27; Brian Stokes 28; David Newhan 34; Jason Isringhausen 35.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Udog]

MLB
Streaking Pitchers


Friday, September 7


HOT


Jon Lester (Boston Red Sox) – What a story Lester has been. Since returning from a battle with cancer, the southpaw has yet to take a loss with the Red Sox. He’s 3-0 in seven outings, while Boston has lost just one of the seven games. Tonight he will face the Orioles with oddsmakers setting the BoSox as –125 favorites. Lester is 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA in his career against the O’s.

Adam Wainwright (St. Louis Cardinals) – The right-hander is a big reason the Cards are back in the race for the division title. Wainwright is 3-0 over his last three starts and hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of those games. St. Louis has be victorious the last four times he’s taken to the mound with the under cashing three times. The Cardinals are +143 underdogs against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight.

Chad Billingsley (Los Angeles Dodgers) – Billingsley has been a model of consistency for the Dodgers recently. The youngster has three wins in his last three starts, pitching seven innings in each. All three games played under the total. Billingsley was almost untouchable in those three games, allowing a total of just four earned runs on 16 hits. Tonight Los Angeles is a –130 favorite against the San Francisco Giants.


COLD


Miguel Batista (Seattle Mariners) – Usually, when a team is in a slump, you need look no further than the starting rotation to find the problem. The Mariners are no different. Batista has been awful lately, going 0-2 in his last three starts including two starts in which he allowed a total of 14 runs in just eight innings of action. Oddsmakers have taken notice, pricing the M’s as +152 underdogs against the Detroit Tigers tonight.

Daniel Cabrera (Baltimore Orioles) – Cabrera is 0-2 with an ugly 6.35 ERA over his last three starts and has one win in his last five. Of those five starts, over bettors have cashed in four times. The O’s have dropped 14 of their last 16 games including a nine-game losing streak. If that’s not bad enough, Cabrera will face the Red Sox tonight, a team he is 1-8 against with a 7.88 ERA in his career. Books have Baltimore listed as a +117 underdog.

[Udog]

MLB
Dunkel


LA Dodgers at San Francisco
A stretch that saw the Dodgers lose 13 of 16 in early August appeared to doom their chances of making the postseason. But Grady Little's club has responded by winning 14 of their last 21 to pull to within 2 1/2 games of the Padres in the Wild Card. Still very much alive, the Dodgers will head to AT&T Park tonight, which has been a home away from home as L.A. has won its last 11 on the Giants home field. Helping the cause will be Chad Billingsley, who has won his last three starts while limiting opponents to just four runs and 16 hits over his last 21 innings. Los Angeles looks like a good pick (-130) according to Dunkel, which has the Dodgers favored by 2. Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-130). Here are all of today's games.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Game 951-952: Florida at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Kim) 14.592; Philadelphia (Durbin) 14.298
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-155); 11 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Florida (+147); Under

Game 953-954: Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago Cubs (Hill) 14.260; Pittsburgh (Gorzelanny) 15.255
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-106); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-102); Under

Game 955-956: Houston at NY Mets
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Rodriguez) 14.400; NY Mets (Pelfrey) 15.698
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1 1/2; 11
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-155); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (-155); Over

Game 957-958: Milwaukee at Cincinnati
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Bush) 15.788; Cincinnati (Arroyo) 15.427
Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1/2; 11
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-115); 10
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (+107); Over

Game 959-960: Washington at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Hanrahan) 15.165; Atlanta (Smoltz) 16.471
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1 1/2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-216); 9
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-216); Over

Game 961-962: San Diego at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Germano) 14.662; Colorado (Dessens) 15.123
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1/2; 12 1/2
Vegas Line: San Diego (-106); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-102); Over

Game 963-964: St. Louis at Arizona
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Wainwright) 15.069; Arizona (Webb) 15.016
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Arizona (-155); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (+147); Over

Game 965-966: LA Dodgers at San Francisco
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Billingsley) 16.782; San Francisco (Sanchez) 14.615
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 2; 8
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-130); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-130); Under

Game 967-968: Boston at Baltimore
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lester) 15.327; Baltimore (Cabrera) 14.439
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1; 11 1/2
Vegas Line: Boston (-130); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-130); Over

Game 969-970: Seattle at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Batista) 14.063; Detroit (Verlander) 15.706
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Detroit (-165); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-165); Under

Game 971-972: Toronto at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (McGowan) 15.170; Tampa Bay (Jackson) 16.037
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1; 12
Vegas Line: Toronto (-124); 10
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (+116); Over

Game 973-974: Oakland at Texas
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Haren) 15.337; Texas (Volquez) 15.886
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Oakland (-135); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (+128); Over

Game 975-976: NY Yankees at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Kennedy) 15.105; Kansas City (Meche) 16.587
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-150); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+142); Under

Game 977-978: Minnesota at Chicago White Sox
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Silva) 13.860; White Sox (Vazquez) 16.078
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 2 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-120); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (-120); Over

Game 979-980: Cleveland at LA Angels
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Westbrook) 15.204; LA Angels (Lackey) 15.999
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1; 10
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-150); 9
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-150); Over

[Udog]

MLB
Long Sheet


Friday, September 7


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


FLORIDA (60 - 80) at PHILADELPHIA (73 - 66) - 7:05 PM
BYUNG-HYUN KIM (R) vs. J.D. DURBIN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
FLORIDA is 60-80 (-16.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
FLORIDA is 57-80 (-20.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
FLORIDA is 44-63 (-16.0 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 39-25 (+14.5 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
FLORIDA is 12-6 (+10.2 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +150 this season.
FLORIDA is 220-233 (+37.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.
PHILADELPHIA is 14-22 (-15.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Friday over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
FLORIDA is 8-7 (+1.7 Units) against PHILADELPHIA this season
10 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+8.3 Units)

BYUNG-HYUN KIM vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
KIM is 1-1 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 5.87 and a WHIP of 1.739.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-1. (+2.1 units)

J.D. DURBIN vs. FLORIDA since 1997
DURBIN is 0-1 when starting against FLORIDA with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.000.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.3 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CHICAGO CUBS (71 - 68) at PITTSBURGH (61 - 79) - 7:05 PM
RICH HILL (L) vs. TOM GORZELANNY (L)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO CUBS are 71-68 (-14.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 11-18 (-9.4 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 71-68 (-14.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 14-21 (-13.9 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 68-77 (-20.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 49-33 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in home games after allowing 10 runs or more since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 5-4 (+3.3 Units) against CHICAGO CUBS this season
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.5 Units)

RICH HILL vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
HILL is 1-0 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 1.69 and a WHIP of 0.938.
His team's record is 2-1 (+0.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.0 units)

TOM GORZELANNY vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
GORZELANNY is 1-1 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 0.60 and a WHIP of 0.800.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.2 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOUSTON (62 - 78) at NY METS (78 - 61) - 7:10 PM
WANDY RODRIGUEZ (L) vs. MIKE PELFREY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 62-78 (-18.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 32-44 (-13.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
HOUSTON is 26-45 (-14.8 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
HOUSTON is 62-78 (-18.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
HOUSTON is 41-58 (-18.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
HOUSTON is 34-43 (-11.2 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
NY METS are 181-130 (+19.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 42-24 (+8.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
NY METS are 22-7 (+12.5 Units) against the money line in home games when playing with a day off over the last 3 seasons.
NY METS are 179-129 (+18.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
PELFREY is 2-8 (-8.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
PELFREY is 2-8 (-8.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 2-2 (+0.0 Units) against HOUSTON this season
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.9 Units)

WANDY RODRIGUEZ vs. NY METS since 1997
RODRIGUEZ is 2-0 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 1.89 and a WHIP of 0.895.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.3 units)

MIKE PELFREY vs. HOUSTON since 1997
PELFREY is 0-2 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 7.84 and a WHIP of 1.549.
His team's record is 0-2 (-2.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-1. (-0.1 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MILWAUKEE (71 - 68) at CINCINNATI (63 - 77) - 7:10 PM
DAVE BUSH (R) vs. BRONSON ARROYO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 71-68 (-4.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 20-40 (-18.0 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 26-42 (-16.4 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 69-67 (-5.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
MILWAUKEE is 44-47 (-8.0 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
MILWAUKEE is 19-43 (-22.1 Units) against the money line in road games after a win over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 41-40 (-5.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
MILWAUKEE is 13-23 (-14.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season this season.
BUSH is 8-20 (-14.6 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BUSH is 9-20 (-12.1 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BUSH is 17-29 (-16.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CINCINNATI is 30-18 (+15.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 35-35 (+5.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CINCINNATI is 22-14 (+11.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
CINCINNATI is 193-232 (-66.1 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997.
ARROYO is 10-19 (-11.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
ARROYO is 3-10 (-8.9 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season. (Team's Record)
ARROYO is 10-19 (-11.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 6-3 (+3.2 Units) against MILWAUKEE this season
6 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.9 Units)

DAVE BUSH vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
BUSH is 1-1 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 6.68 and a WHIP of 1.670.
His team's record is 2-4 (-2.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-6. (-6.7 units)

BRONSON ARROYO vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
ARROYO is 5-2 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 3.51 and a WHIP of 1.286.
His team's record is 6-2 (+3.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-4. (-0.7 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WASHINGTON (63 - 77) at ATLANTA (71 - 69) - 7:35 PM
JOEL HANRAHAN (R) vs. JOHN SMOLTZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 63-77 (+11.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 47-29 (+33.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
WASHINGTON is 19-17 (+12.2 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
WASHINGTON is 20-13 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in September games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 60-74 (+7.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
WASHINGTON is 29-33 (+8.2 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
ATLANTA is 71-69 (-11.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 70-76 (-19.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 36-35 (-10.7 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
ATLANTA is 39-42 (-14.3 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 2-9 (-9.4 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Friday this season.
ATLANTA is 71-66 (-8.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ATLANTA is 50-51 (-12.7 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
ATLANTA is 53-50 (-15.7 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 32-37 (-12.2 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
ATLANTA is 37-35 (-10.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 5-7 (+1.6 Units) against ATLANTA this season
7 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.6 Units)

JOEL HANRAHAN vs. ATLANTA since 1997
No recent starts.

JOHN SMOLTZ vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
SMOLTZ is 10-4 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 2.47 and a WHIP of 0.955.
His team's record is 15-6 (+4.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 10-11. (-1.8 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SAN DIEGO (76 - 63) at COLORADO (72 - 67) - 9:05 PM
JUSTIN GERMANO (R) vs. ELMER DESSENS (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 72-67 (+9.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
COLORADO is 41-27 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
COLORADO is 72-64 (+13.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
COLORADO is 52-45 (+10.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
COLORADO is 54-45 (+15.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
COLORADO is 37-29 (+10.6 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
COLORADO is 39-31 (+17.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
DESSENS is 39-34 (+14.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997. (Team's Record)
SAN DIEGO is 82-69 (+16.4 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 80-68 (+15.4 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 64-46 (+21.1 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 39-28 (+11.7 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN DIEGO is 7-5 (+0.8 Units) against COLORADO this season
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.1 Units)

JUSTIN GERMANO vs. COLORADO since 1997
GERMANO is 0-2 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 8.15 and a WHIP of 1.811.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-2. (-0.3 units)

ELMER DESSENS vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
DESSENS is 2-4 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 7.51 and a WHIP of 1.669.
His team's record is 3-7 (-5.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-7. (-4.8 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ST LOUIS (69 - 68) at ARIZONA (78 - 63) - 9:40 PM
ADAM WAINWRIGHT (R) vs. BRANDON WEBB (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 98-112 (-30.5 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 29-38 (-13.5 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
ARIZONA is 78-63 (+15.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ARIZONA is 43-29 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
ARIZONA is 78-63 (+15.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ARIZONA is 60-42 (+18.5 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
ARIZONA is 55-47 (+7.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
ARIZONA is 47-30 (+16.8 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
ARIZONA is 37-33 (+6.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ST LOUIS is 19-11 (+10.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
ARIZONA is 61-67 (-33.8 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Friday since 1997.
ARIZONA is 34-39 (-26.3 Units) against the money line in home games when playing with a day off since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 3-1 (+1.9 Units) against ARIZONA this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.9 Units)

ADAM WAINWRIGHT vs. ARIZONA since 1997
WAINWRIGHT is 1-0 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.143.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

BRANDON WEBB vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
WEBB is 1-4 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 4.67 and a WHIP of 1.269.
His team's record is 1-5 (-4.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-3. (-0.5 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LA DODGERS (74 - 66) at SAN FRANCISCO (63 - 77) - 10:15 PM
CHAD BILLINGSLEY (R) vs. JONATHAN SANCHEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 607-486 (+89.2 Units) against the money line in night games since 1997.
LA DODGERS are 19-11 (+9.6 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
LA DODGERS are 31-16 (+13.8 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 36-26 (+10.2 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 92-55 (+26.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 63-77 (-14.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 22-32 (-11.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 63-77 (-14.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 42-54 (-12.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 31-45 (-12.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 7-5 (+0.6 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.7 Units)

CHAD BILLINGSLEY vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
BILLINGSLEY is 1-0 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.18 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.0 units)

JONATHAN SANCHEZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
No recent starts.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BOSTON (85 - 56) at BALTIMORE (60 - 79) - 7:05 PM
JON LESTER (L) vs. DANIEL CABRERA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BALTIMORE is 29-28 (+6.5 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
BOSTON is 61-35 (+12.3 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
BOSTON is 20-9 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
BALTIMORE is 60-79 (-18.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BALTIMORE is 30-38 (-14.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
BALTIMORE is 30-38 (-14.9 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field this season.
BALTIMORE is 70-84 (-27.1 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last 3 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 36-55 (-22.6 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 31-45 (-14.7 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
BALTIMORE is 23-45 (-17.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BALTIMORE is 44-93 (-38.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
CABRERA is 0-6 (-8.2 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 10-5 (+2.2 Units) against BALTIMORE this season
8 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.1 Units)

JON LESTER vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
LESTER is 2-0 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 4.91 and a WHIP of 1.909.
His team's record is 2-0 (+2.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-1. (-0.1 units)

DANIEL CABRERA vs. BOSTON since 1997
CABRERA is 1-8 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 7.88 and a WHIP of 2.058.
His team's record is 2-8 (-5.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-5. (-0.2 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SEATTLE (74 - 64) at DETROIT (75 - 65) - 7:05 PM
MIGUEL BATISTA (R) vs. JUSTIN VERLANDER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 29-55 (-19.7 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 179-137 (+16.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 103-62 (+25.5 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
VERLANDER is 40-21 (+16.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SEATTLE is 74-64 (+14.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SEATTLE is 35-25 (+12.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
SEATTLE is 69-57 (+16.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SEATTLE is 55-43 (+14.4 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
BATISTA is 34-26 (+12.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BATISTA is 60-40 (+23.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 since 1997. (Team's Record)
BATISTA is 18-11 (+12.5 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BATISTA is 32-23 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BATISTA is 11-5 (+10.1 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
DETROIT is 23-39 (-23.9 Units) against the money line in September games over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 50-51 (-11.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 4-3 (-0.0 Units) against SEATTLE this season
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+4.2 Units)

MIGUEL BATISTA vs. DETROIT since 1997
BATISTA is 1-1 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 3.75 and a WHIP of 1.208.
His team's record is 2-2 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.0 units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. SEATTLE since 1997
VERLANDER is 3-0 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 3.26 and a WHIP of 1.293.
His team's record is 3-0 (+3.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-0. (+3.2 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TORONTO (71 - 68) at TAMPA BAY (58 - 82) - 7:10 PM
DUSTIN MCGOWAN (R) vs. EDWIN JACKSON (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 45-64 (-41.5 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -150 since 1997.
TORONTO is 30-40 (-14.2 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
MCGOWAN is 2-11 (-9.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season. (Team's Record)
TAMPA BAY is 40-39 (+12.3 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 107-69 (+21.7 Units) against the money line in games played on artificial turf over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 43-76 (-27.3 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 6-6 (+1.9 Units) against TORONTO this season
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.5 Units)

DUSTIN MCGOWAN vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
MCGOWAN is 0-0 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 4.63 and a WHIP of 1.285.
His team's record is 1-1 (-0.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

EDWIN JACKSON vs. TORONTO since 1997
JACKSON is 0-1 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 3.50 and a WHIP of 1.111.
His team's record is 1-2 (+0.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-3. (-3.4 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


OAKLAND (69 - 72) at TEXAS (65 - 74) - 8:05 PM
DAN HAREN (R) vs. EDISON VOLQUEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 69-72 (-7.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
OAKLAND is 28-39 (-16.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
OAKLAND is 30-38 (-11.3 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
OAKLAND is 33-35 (-11.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
TEXAS is 65-74 (+5.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
TEXAS is 39-32 (+8.4 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
TEXAS is 62-67 (+9.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
TEXAS is 49-54 (+4.9 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
TEXAS is 46-51 (+6.3 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
OAKLAND is 79-76 (+14.4 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 25-10 (+15.6 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 151-128 (+12.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 58-51 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 27-12 (+14.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
VOLQUEZ is 1-10 (-10.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
VOLQUEZ is 1-10 (-10.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 6-6 (+0.9 Units) against OAKLAND this season
8 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.6 Units)

DAN HAREN vs. TEXAS since 1997
HAREN is 3-3 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 4.03 and a WHIP of 1.188.
His team's record is 4-4 (-1.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-3. (+0.4 units)

EDISON VOLQUEZ vs. OAKLAND since 1997
VOLQUEZ is 0-2 when starting against OAKLAND with an ERA of 7.00 and a WHIP of 1.889.
His team's record is 0-2 (-2.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-2. (-2.0 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NY YANKEES (78 - 62) at KANSAS CITY (62 - 77) - 8:10 PM
IAN KENNEDY (R) vs. GIL MECHE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
NY YANKEES are 78-62 (-18.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
NY YANKEES are 28-27 (-10.1 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
NY YANKEES are 6-13 (-14.6 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -150 to -175 this season.
NY YANKEES are 31-35 (-15.6 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
NY YANKEES are 10-16 (-10.7 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
NY YANKEES are 9-14 (-13.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday this season.
NY YANKEES are 70-55 (-16.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
NY YANKEES are 99-74 (-24.8 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 62-77 (+5.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 26-24 (+18.6 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 55-68 (+5.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
KANSAS CITY is 95-122 (+26.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 45-55 (+5.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
KANSAS CITY is 39-44 (+12.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
KANSAS CITY is 43-54 (+18.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
MECHE is 51-41 (+22.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
NY YANKEES is 6-1 (+4.5 Units) against KANSAS CITY this season
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.0 Units)

IAN KENNEDY vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
No recent starts.

GIL MECHE vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
MECHE is 3-4 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 4.80 and a WHIP of 1.417.
His team's record is 4-7 (-0.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-8. (-5.5 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MINNESOTA (69 - 71) at CHI WHITE SOX (59 - 81) - 8:10 PM
CARLOS SILVA (R) vs. JAVIER VAZQUEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 69-71 (-12.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 23-34 (-16.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
MINNESOTA is 44-49 (-15.3 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
MINNESOTA is 33-39 (-14.0 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
SILVA is 0-8 (-8.0 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHI WHITE SOX are 191-136 (+41.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 59-81 (-17.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 10-17 (-9.2 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 29-37 (-11.4 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 52-74 (-17.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 92-98 (-19.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 32-48 (-11.5 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 29-38 (-10.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 22-25 (-13.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
VAZQUEZ is 26-33 (-15.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
VAZQUEZ is 23-28 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
VAZQUEZ is 13-19 (-14.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
VAZQUEZ is 2-9 (-12.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 7-5 (+1.8 Units) against CHI WHITE SOX this season
7 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.8 Units)

CARLOS SILVA vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
SILVA is 4-9 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 5.86 and a WHIP of 1.530.
His team's record is 5-10 (-3.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 8-6. (+1.6 units)

JAVIER VAZQUEZ vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
VAZQUEZ is 3-5 when starting against MINNESOTA with an ERA of 5.21 and a WHIP of 1.223.
His team's record is 5-7 (-3.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-7. (-3.9 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLEVELAND (81 - 59) at LA ANGELS (83 - 57) - 10:05 PM
JAKE WESTBROOK (R) vs. JOHN LACKEY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 141-128 (-13.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 108-105 (-17.0 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
LA ANGELS are 83-57 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA ANGELS are 48-23 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
LA ANGELS are 11-0 (+11.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Friday this season.
LA ANGELS are 80-51 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
LA ANGELS are 37-15 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in home games in night games this season.
LA ANGELS are 68-41 (+17.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
LA ANGELS are 37-22 (+14.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
LA ANGELS are 20-10 (+11.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
LACKEY is 59-33 (+17.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
CLEVELAND is 88-69 (+20.2 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 63-49 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA ANGELS is 4-3 (+0.7 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.6 Units)

JAKE WESTBROOK vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
WESTBROOK is 2-5 when starting against LA ANGELS with an ERA of 3.24 and a WHIP of 1.240.
His team's record is 2-5 (-2.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-5. (-3.7 units)

JOHN LACKEY vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
LACKEY is 3-5 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 3.03 and a WHIP of 1.382.
His team's record is 4-5 (-2.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-3. (+1.4 units)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Udog]

MLB
Hot Lines


Friday, September 7


Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates (-106, 8 ½)

The Cubs start an all-important 17-game stretch against teams in their own division today when they take on the NL Central's cellar-dwelling Pirates.

Chicago has struggled on the road lately, losing eight of their last 13 away from Wrigley Field. They've lost seven of their last 11 at Pittsburgh's PNC Park, splitting six games there so far this season.

The Cubs are fresh off losing three of four to the L.A. Dodgers this week, and now must face Pirates ace Tom Gorzelanny (13-7, 3.57). Gorselanny is 4-1 with a 3.65 ERA over his last six outings, and 1-1 with a 0.60 ERA in two career starts against the Cubs.

Pick: Pirates -106



San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies (-108, 10 ½)

The Padres are locked in a battle with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the NL West title. After dropping two of three to the D-Backs this week, they need to bounce back in this weekend’s three-game series at Colorado.

San Diego has held its own against the Rockies this season, winning seven of 12 meetings and splitting the six games in Denver. The Padres are batting .303 at Coors Field this year.

Today, their lineup faces Colorado starter Elmer Dessens (2-2, 7.39). Dessens is 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA in four starts since being acquired by the Rockies in mid-August. He's 2-6 with a 5.90 ERA in 27 career games against San Diego.

Pick: Padres +100



Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Devil Rays (+116, 10)

The Devil Rays won their fourth consecutive series with a blowout 17-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Tampa Bay now has a realistic chance of beating the club record of 70 wins in a season.

The Rays are averaging nine runs per game over their last 13 outings, with Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford and Jonny Gomes particularly hot at the moment. Crawford is available to play against the Jays as he appeals a suspension, which is bad news for Toronto's pitchers. Crawford is batting .388 with five homers and 13 RBIs against them this season.

The Blue Jays are 6 ½ games back in the AL wild-card race and are looking to rebound after dropping two of three to Boston this week. The Jays have lost four of their last five meetings with the Devil Rays.

Pick: Devil Rays +116

[Chado1]

CFL
Hot Lines


Makin’ Canadian bacon: Week 11 CFL picks


Calgary Stampeders at Edmonton Eskimos (+2 , 55 ½)
Friday, Sept. 7, 9 p.m. ET

The reasonably close final score from Monday’s game and the shift in venue to “The (former) City of Champions” maintains Calgary’s value to some degree, which is great news.

The Stampeders were easily the better team last week. Calgary’s offense is reaching its potential and the Eskies need more than a five-day break to figure it out. Henry Burris was the best player on the field in each of the last two games and his receiving corps finally has the swagger it lacked earlier this summer.

Edmonton was the beneficiary of Calgary’s multiple turnovers and bad penalties in last Monday’s opening half. What we saw after the break was a dominant Stampeders team.

The visitors won in their last trip to Commonwealth Stadium with a last-second Sandro DeAngelis field goal. That was back when the Stamps were still hammering out some difficulties. They don’t need much more hammering these days. Calgary should roll in Edmonton.

Pick: Stampeders -2

I agree with this guy tonight!!!

Dont know about the rest of the weekend however..

Thanks for posting Udog/pm......