Friday Trends and Indexes 8/28 (MLB, WNBA, CFL, Misc.)

[pm530]

MLB


Friday, August 28

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Tips and Trends
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No selections in baseball today for the "Tips and Trends" section.

There are selections for the NFL Preseason, see the thread: “NFL Trends and Indexes - Preseason Week 3 (8/27 – 8/31)”

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[pm530]

WNBA
Dunkel Index


New York at Chicago
The Liberty look to build on their 3-0 ATS record in their last 3 road games as an underdog of 3 points or less. New York is the pick (+2 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has Chicago favored by only 1. Dunkel Pick: New York (+2 1/2). Here are all of today's picks.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Game 651-652: Sacramento at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Sacramento 111.811; Minnesota 109.862
Dunkel Line & Total: Sacramento by 2; 160
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 2; 163
Dunkel Pick: Sacramento (+2); Under

Game 653-654: New York at Chicago
Dunkel Ratings: New York 110.208; Chicago 111.252
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 1; 156
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 2 1/2; 145
Dunkel Pick: New York (+2 1/2); Over

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WNBA
Long Sheet

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Friday, August 28
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SACRAMENTO (9 - 19) at MINNESOTA (11 - 16) - 8/28/2009, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SACRAMENTO is 5-12 ATS (-8.2 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
SACRAMENTO is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
SACRAMENTO is 18-5 ATS (+12.5 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 30-17 ATS (+11.3 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more this season.
MINNESOTA is 14-28 ATS (-16.8 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 4-14 ATS (-11.4 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 9-20 ATS (-13.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 7-2 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
SACRAMENTO is 6-3 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NEW YORK (11 - 16) at CHICAGO (13 - 15) - 8/28/2009, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 120-89 ATS (+22.1 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1997.
CHICAGO is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) after a non-conference game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 5-4 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 5-4 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Friday, August 28

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Lady Luck: Today's WNBA best bet
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Sacramento Monarchs at Minnesota Lynx (-2.5, 161.5)

The Monarchs’ postseason hopes were resuscitated after the club reeled of wins in four of five games. The hot streak came to an end against the Dream Tuesday night. Sacramento never led and Atlanta was able to get just about whatever it wanted offensively.

“We reverted back to where we were,” Monarchs coach John Whisenant told the Sacramento Bee. “We can’t play like that. We scored enough points. We just didn’t slow them down at all.”

Defense has been Whisenant’s sole focus since taking over the head coaching job last month. Look for Sacramento to regain its defensive swagger in Minnesota tonight.

The Lynx, who were a game above .500 at the start of the month, have dropped nine of their last 10.

Pick: Under


New York Liberty at Chicago Sky (-2, 145)

It’s been a rough few days for the Sky. The squad got run over by a hot Sparks team and lost another one at home to the disappointing Shock.

Sky center Sylvia Fowles has missed the last three games (all Chicago losses) and it’s still up in the air whether she’d be back for Friday’s tilt against New York.

The Liberty, meanwhile, have won three of their last four and are 5-2-1 against the spread in their last eight games.

Pick: Liberty

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[pm530]

CFL
Dunkel Index


Calgary at Toronto
The Stampeders look to build on their 4-0-1 ATS record in their last 5 games following a bye week. Calgary is the pick (-7) according to Dunkel, which has the Stampeders favored by 9 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Calgary (-7). Here are all of this week's CFL picks.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Game 441-442: Calgary at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: Calgary 112.943; Toronto 103.422
Dunkel Line: Calgary by 9 1/2; 58
Vegas Line: Calgary by 7; 53 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Calgary (-7); Over


SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

Game 443-444: Hamilton at Edmonton
Dunkel Ratings: Hamilton 108.289; Edmonton 113.722
Dunkel Line: Edmonton by 5 1/2; 45 1/2
Vegas Line: Edmonton by 7; 52 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Hamilton (+7); Under

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CFL
Long Sheet


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Friday, August 28
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CALGARY (3 - 4) at TORONTO (2 - 5) - 8/28/2009, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) in games played on turf over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-1 against the spread versus TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 4-1 straight up against TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Saturday, August 29
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HAMILTON (4 - 3) at EDMONTON (4 - 3) - 8/29/2009, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
HAMILTON is 4-1 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 3-2 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CFL
Write-up


Week 9 CFL games

All four CFL teams playing this weekend had last week off......

Friday, August 28

Calgary (3-4) @ Toronto (2-5)-- Argos (+7.5) got crushed 44-9 in Week 3 at Calgary, getting outscored 31-0 in second half, turning ball over five times (-3). Toronto lost four of last five games. Calgary is 3-0 when they give up 23 or less points, 0-4 if they give up 24+. Toronto scored 19 or less points in four of last five games- they're 0-3 at home, losing by 10-1-8 points. Stampeders are 2-4 as a favorite so far this season- they lost two of their three road games.


Saturday, August 29

Hamilton (4-3) @ Edmonton (4-3)-- Eskimos (-1) lost 28-21 to TiCats in Hamilton three weeks ago, their only loss in last four games. losing a 18-14 halftime lead, with a turnover margin of -3. Edmonton has a -14 turnover ratio this year, and hasn't picked off a pass yet (16 GA, 2 TA). TiCats won four of last six games (5-1 vs spread); underdogs covered the last six Hamilton games. TiCats won last three home games by 12-12-7 points, since losing home opener to Toronto.

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CFL


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Trend Report
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Friday, August 28

7:30 PM
CALGARY vs. TORONTO
Calgary is 12-6 ATS in its last 18 games
Calgary is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Calgary
Toronto is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Calgary


Saturday, August 29

7:00 PM
HAMILTON vs. EDMONTON
Hamilton is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
Hamilton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 6 games
Edmonton is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

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CFL


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Canadian bacon: CFL Week 9 preview and picks
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Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts (+7, 54)

Last time these two teams met, the Stampeders stomped all over the Argonauts 44-9. Calgary’s defence scored three touchdowns on turnovers. Since then, Cody Pickett has taken over and will get a second straight start at QB for the boatmen. But one can wonder if his offensive line will do better than they did in the July 17 game where Kerry Joseph was sacked six times. The Stamps have won they’re last four games against the Argos, a streak that started on the last game of the 2007 season.

Some stats to consider: They have the second best record for most points scored with 238. The Argos are dead last with only 134. The Stamps lead the CFL with an average of 34 points scored per game. The Argos, again, are last with an average of 19.1 points a game. Calgary has scored 22 touchdowns so far this year, while the Argos only scored 11.

Both teams are coming off a bye week and show a losing record, but the Stampeders have lost a few close ones against division rivals like Saskatchewan and Edmonton, two teams that have to be considered quite superior to the Argos who should extend their club record losing streak at home to 10.

Pick: Calgary -7


Hamilton Tiger Cats at Edmonton Eskimos (-7.5, 53)

The Tiger Cats could match their highest victory total of the last five years with a win in Edmonton - and they still will have 10 games to play this season. Hamilton has improved, no doubt about it, but they still have many issues to resolve and that starts at the QB position. Quinton Porter is the starter but has he been replaced three times already during the course of a game by veteran Kevin Glenn. In order to win consistently, the Tiger Cats need better performances from Porter.

The Eskimos are one of the rare teams in the CFL this year where there’s no doubt about the identity of the starting QB. Ricky Ray is currently the third-best QB in the league, stats wise, behind Anthony Calvillo and Henry Burris. He can also count on two excellent receivers in Fred Stamps and Maurice Mann, while running back Arkee Whitlock has established himself as a threat on the ground after a rocky start in the CFL.

But the TiCats have allowed the second-fewest points per game and they are the best when it comes to avoiding turnovers with only 14 giveaways. I still think Edmonton will win this one at home but it won’t be a walk in the park for the Eskimos.

Pick: Hamilton +7.5

(Last Week 1-1, season 17-13)

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[pm530]

Len’s Top Five


Friday, August 28

Len's Top 5

TGIF everyone, here's my Top 5 for August 28, 2009 from Len Berman Sports.

1. Quick Hits

* Michael Vick makes his Eagles debut. He went 4-4 passing for 19 yards as Philadelphia beat Jacksonville 33-32.

* Sergio Garcia is one of the first round tri-leaders at 6-under at the Barclays in Jersey City. Both Tiger and Phil shot 1 under 70's.

* The New York Post reports Derek Jeter and actress Minka Kelly are planning a fall wedding. I'm thinking late fall works better.

2. Much ado about Nothing

When Michael Vick entered the game last night in Philadelphia he got a standing ovation. There were very few protesters on hand. And this in the city that made booing Santa Claus an art form. Vick went to jail, served his time and now life goes on. That's the way it should be.

3. Sign of the Times

A year ago, incoming students at NYU business school took a field trip to a Mets game. This year, they went instead to the Staten Island Yankees. Some viewed it as a "serious downgrade." But perhaps the school wanted to instill confidence in the students by taking them to actually see a winning team.

4. Friday Mailbag

Subscriber H.L. agrees with me that Pete Rose should be in Cooperstown: " His omission makes the Hall a joke. His gambling was really a disease - which is more than I can say about the CHOICE the steroid users made."

A frustrated Mets fan, R.B. writes: "The Mets keep coming up with new and unique ways to lose...first it was the Castillo dropped pop...now the Francoeur triple play...what's next...Santana pitches the Mets first no-hitter and loses?"
Editor's note: If he's not injured.

When I mentioned the opening day of classes at George Steinbrenner High School and said "there's no truth to the rumor that the principal has already been fired." S.F. twittered "I'm sure students will be clean shaven too!"

From R.B. "Just wondering...On Groundhog day next year, if Brett Favre sees his shadow, will that mean 6 more weeks of retirement?"
Editor's Note: Good one.

R.H. passes along an incredible horse race from Saratoga last weekend. A 6-horse photo finish in the 9th race. If you'd like to watch the video, here's the link.
New York Racing Association - Saratoga
R.H. says unfortunately, he left after the 8th race and missed it!
Editor's Note: Spanning the World lives! One hilite at a time.

5. School of Hard Knocks

Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre is eligible to come off the disabled list today. You might recall he took a ground ball to his cup, but he doesn't wear one. Ouch. Major testicular hurt. He said he'll probably wear a cup when he returns. Proving once again it takes balls to wear cups.

Happy Birthday: Sweet Lou. Cubs manager Lou Piniella. 66.
Bonus Birthday: Actor Jack Black. 40.

Today in Sports: Ken "Hawk" Harrelson signs as a free agent with the Red Sox after he was released by Oakland for calling A's owner Charlie Finley "a menace to baseball." 1967.
Bonus Event: Love those brown shorts. UPS opens up shop in Seattle. 1907.

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[Dennis14072]

Thanks Guys, good luck tonight!