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**Kaptain** · 08-23-2010, 11:24 AM

get on one of those good ass "Star Dust Bum" runs, starting today my man.....

lock and load....

**shoeman530** · 08-23-2010, 11:24 AM

Good luck bum

**StarDust Bum** · 08-23-2010, 11:41 AM

Titans host Cardinals on preseason MNF

Arizona (1-0) at Tennessee (0-1), Monday, 8:00 p.m. EDT Sports.com Line: Tennessee -3.5 Total: 37
Tennessee looks to even its pre-season record as they return home to face the Cardinals. Tennessee’s late rally came up short against Seattle, as the Titans fell 20-18. Vince Young saw some light work, going 5-6 for 78 yards with an interception. The majority of the reps were split between Chris Simms and rookie Rusty Smith. Chris Johnson had seven yards on five carries including a touchdown, but the Titans were led on the ground by second-year man Javon Ringer who had seven carries for 60 yards.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, completed their late rally from 16 down in the fourth to beat Houston 19-16 in their preseason opener. Matt Leinart got the start for Arizona, going 6-7 for 49 yards, but the Cardinals were rallied by Derek Anderson and John Skelton, a rookie out of Fordham. The Cardinals found a way to win despite being out-gained both in the air, and on the ground by the Texans.

The FoxSheets give the edge to Arizona:

Play Against - Favorites of 3.5 to 10 points (TENNESSEE) - after 1 or more consecutive wins against the spread, in August games. (49-22 over the last 10 seasons.) (69%, +24.8 units. Rating = 2*).

**StarDust Bum** · 08-23-2010, 11:45 AM

Diamond Trends - Monday

Rays at Angels – The Rays are 6-0 since May 04, 2010 after scoring 3 runs or less and winning as a favorite for a net profit of $600. The Angels are 0-5 since May 11, 2010 when Scott Kazmir starts at home for a net profit of $560 when playing against.

Yankees at Blue Jays – The Yankees are 0-6 since April 25, 2010 on the road after a win in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks for a net profit of $750 when playing against. The Blue Jays are 6-0 since April 19, 2010 when Brandon Morrow starts as a home favorite for a net profit of $600

Reds at Giants – The Giants are 8-0 since April 11, 2010 as a home favorite after allowing 6+ runs loss for a net profit of $800.

Cubs at Nationals – The Cubs are 0-5 since July 28, 2010 after a 5+ run loss for a net profit of $535 when playing against. The Nationals are 6-0 since May 04, 2010 when Livan Hernandez starts at home in the first game of a series for a net profit of $620

Astros at Phillies – The Phillies are 8-0 since July 27, 2010 as a 140+ favorite when they won the last two games their starter started for a net profit of $800.

Cardinals at Pirates – The Pirates are 0-8 since June 19, 2009 when Ross Ohlendorf starts after he had a WHIP of less than one his last start for a net profit of $820 when playing against. The Pirates are 0-6 since May 10, 2010 vs a team that has won at least their last two games and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $600 when playing against.

Twins at Rangers – The Twins are 15-0 since April 15, 2010 as a favorite when they came back from a deficit to win in their starter's last start for a net profit of $1500.

Mariners at Red Sox – The Mariners are 0-7 since June 09, 2010 as a road 140+ dog after a 5+ run loss for a net profit of $700 when playing against. The Red Sox are 6-0 since June 01, 2010 as a home 140+ favorite after a win in which they had fewer team-left-on-base than their opponent as a favorite for a net profit of $600

Braves at Rockies – The Braves are 0-10 since June 04, 2010 after a win in which they drew 5+ walks for a net profit of $1105 when playing against. The Braves are 6-0 since May 21, 2010 when Tim Hudson starts as a favorite after the team won his last two starts for a net profit of $600. The Rockies are 9-0 since April 24, 2010 at home when they are off a win in which they scored in at most two separate innings for a net profit of $900

Royals at Tigers – The Royals are 0-6 since July 20, 2010 as a dog after a one run win for a net profit of $600 when playing against. The Tigers are 7-0 since June 12, 2010 as a home favorite after a win in which they had 12+ hits for a net profit of $700

**StarDust Bum** · 08-23-2010, 11:46 AM

Monday Tips

The Monday baseball card has 10 games on display for bettors to place a wager on, including a trio of late first-pitches out west. The Reds start the third leg of their road trip at San Francisco, while the Angels return home to host the AL Wild Card-leading Rays. We'll start at Coors Field with Colorado trying to bounce back from a lousy trip as Atlanta comes to town.

Braves at Rockies - 8:40 PM EST

Odd years have been special to Colorado, while even years just don't seem to work out for Jim Tracy's team. The Rockies haven't finished above .500 in an even year since 2000, as Colorado looks to buck that trend this season. The Braves, meanwhile, are eyeing their first playoff appearance since 2005 as Atlanta leads the NL East by 2 ½ games over Philadelphia.

Tim Hudson (14-5, 2.15 ERA) is the dark horse in the NL Cy Young Award race, as the veteran has given up four earned runs in his last six starts (6-0). The Braves haven't scored many runs for Hudson during this six-game winning streak, resulting in a 5-1 'under' run. Atlanta owns a 6-6 record in his 12 road starts, despite an ERA of 2.46 on the highway. Hudson is 3-2 in his career against the Rockies, but both losses came at Coors Field.

The Rockies send out Jason Hammel (8-7, 4.36 ERA), who is making only second home start since July 10. Colorado is 8-3 in his 11 starts at Coors, while the 'under' has cashed eight times. Hammel has not been profitable as an underdog recently, as the Rockies are 1-4 in his previous five outings at plus-money. Facing the Braves isn't a good spot for Hammel, who has allowed 15 earned runs in 10.2 innings against Atlanta in his career.

The Braves took two of three from the Rockies at Turner Field in mid-April, with the lone Colorado win coming from the Ubaldo Jimenez no-hitter in the second game of that series. The Rockies own a 5-3 mark the last eight matchups with the Braves at Coors Field.

Rays at Angels - 10:05 PM EST

Tampa Bay continues its trip through the Golden State, heading south to Anaheim after splitting a four-game set at Oakland. The Angels come back home following a tough stretch at Boston and Minnesota, losing five of six games. The Rays remain one game behind the Yankees in the AL East race, but still lead the AL Wild Card race.

Ex-Rays lefty Scott Kazmir (8-10, 6.40 ERA) takes the mound for the Halos, going for his third win in eight home starts. Kazmir has won just one outing since June 19, while losing his last start at Boston, 7-5. The southpaw gave up eight hits and four earned runs in five innings, the fifth time in seven starts he has lasted five innings or less. Kazmir lost to his old mates at home in May, giving up seven hits and three earned runs in five innings of a 7-2 setback.

James Shields (11-11, 4.82 ERA) is trying to build off a victory in his last start against the AL West-leading Rangers, limiting Texas to two runs (one earned) in seven innings. Consistency has been difficult for the Tampa Bay right-hander, who has put together consecutive quality starts only once since the start of June. The Southern California native returns home where he has been shelled in two career starts in Anaheim, allowing 12 earned runs in a pair of defeats.

Tampa Bay captured two of three meetings in Anaheim back in May, improving the Rays' to 2-6 the last eight matchups in Orange County. After getting swept by the Red Sox in late July, the Halos are 6-3 the last nine home contests.

Reds at Giants - 10:15 PM EST

A pair of upstart teams that are on the doorstep of the playoffs begins a crucial three-game series at AT&T Park. Cincinnati continues its run through the NL West, looking for a third series victory on this trip after taking series at Arizona and Los Angeles. San Francisco returns to the Bay following a subpar 2-4 road swing at Philadelphia and St. Louis.

Matt Cain (9-10, 3.11 ERA) looks to stop the bleeding for the Giants, who begin Monday's action two games behind the Phillies in the NL Wild Card race. Cain lost at Philadelphia his last time out, allowing five runs (two earned) in six innings of an 8-2 setback. The righty hasn't lost at home since a 4-2 defeat to the Dodgers on June 29, with San Francisco going 4-0 in his previous four outings at AT&T Park. Cain tossed a complete-game shutout at Cincinnati on June 8, scattering seven hits in a 3-0 victory.

The Reds send out Edinson Volquez (3-1, 4.98 ERA), who has been nearly an automatic win for Cincinnati since he was activated from the disabled list after the All-Star Break. Cincinnati is 6-1 in his seven starts, including a perfect 4-0 record as an underdog. Volquez hasn't been as sharp on the highway, owning an ERA of 6.00 in three road starts, but the Reds' offense has plated double-digit runs twice in three wins. The righty will be facing the Giants for the first time since 2008, as Volquez struck out 10 in seven innings of a 10-1 pounding of San Francisco at AT&T Park on April 27, 2008.

San Francisco and Cincinnati split a four-game set at the Great American Ballpark in June, but the Reds have enjoyed success by the Bay with wins in four of their past six road games in this series. Following Sunday's win at Los Angeles, the Reds improved to 12-2 the last 14 contests on the highway.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-23-2010, 05:36 PM

Powerful bullpen system shows Nationals as play

With manager Lou Pinella announcing his accelerated retirement on Sunday, it’s become official…the Cubs’ season is an utter mess, and the immediate future, meaning Monday night’s game in Washington, doesn’t look any better. Chicago is up against one of the more powerful bullpen betting systems that ******* has to offer. It seems as if bettors are jumping on this opportunity too, as they have pushed what was an opening line of Washington -145 at Sportsbook.com all the way up to -160. It could go higher too, so turn your attention to this one before you miss out on a good price.

If you haven’t been following the Cubs lately, the 2010 season has become a train wreck. The roster has been decimated by trades, injuries, and overall poor play. At 23-games under .500, Pinella’s former team won just five of his last 25 games. In the most recent loss, yesterday at home to Atlanta, the Cubs’ bullpen was ravaged for nine runs in three innings of work. You have to wonder whether or not the 16-5 defeat may have made up Pinella’s mind earlier than expected.

At the same time, the Nationals’ bullpen has been pitching very well of late, and comes into Monday night’s contest with a respectable 3.55 ERA & 1.338 WHIP overall. In the last five games, the relief staff has yielded just three runs in 15 innings. That success leads to what has been a highly profitable ******* Super Situation that could impact Monday night’s game. It reads as follows:

Play Against - Road teams (CHICAGO CUBS) - after a game where the bullpen was rocked for 6 or more earned runs against opponent with a hot bullpen whose WHIP is under 1.000 the last 5 games.
(59-18 over the last 5 seasons.) (76.6%, +37.3 units. Rating = 4*)

The average money line posted in these games was: Team favored with a money line of: -120.6
The average score in these games was: Team 5.1, Opponent 3.7 (Average run differential = +1.5)

The situation's record this season is: (11-1, +8.5 units).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (31-12, +15.8 units).
Since 1997 the situation's record is: (148-89, +29.4 units).

In the Cubs' last visit to Nationals Park, they swept a Washington club playing its first series under interim manager Jim Riggleman. The Cubs are hoping for similar results in this season's trip to the nation's capital as they begin the post-Lou Piniella era. With coach Mike Quade taking over as interim manager, Chicago begins a six-game trip Monday against the Nationals.

With Quade moving from the third-base coaching box to the dugout for the rest of the year, the Cubs give the ball to rookie right-hander Casey Coleman (0-1, 7.82 ERA).

Coming off a 2-4 trip that ended with Sunday's 6-0 loss to Philadelphia, the Nationals (53-71) will counter with Livan Hernandez (8-8, 3.06) as they open a seven-game homestand. The veteran right-hander, though, is 0-3 with a 6.32 ERA in his last three starts at Nationals Park after going 4-1 with a 2.10 ERA in his first 10 home outings this season.

Hernandez, 11-6 with a 3.84 ERA against Chicago, receives among the lowest run support in the NL at 3.39 per game. Washington has scored four runs in his last three outings.

Washington has won four of six against Chicago since last season's matchup at Nationals Park.

Monday night’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET as part of a trimmed down betting board of 10 games for the night at Sportsbook.com.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-23-2010, 05:37 PM

Seattle's Fister faces stiff challenge tonight at Fenway

Seattle (49-75) at Boston (71-54), 7:10 p.m. EDT Sports.com Line: Seattle +185, Boston -200 Total: 9
With the second worst road record (20-43) in the American League behind only Baltimore, the Mariners have a tough task at Boston. Right-hander Doug Fister (4-8, 3.92 ERA) takes the hill for Seattle. Fister brings a bloated road ERA of 5.44 into this contest, compared with his 3.14 home ERA, in addition to an August ERA of 6.32.
The Red Sox will counter with right-hander John Lackey (11-7, 4.62 ERA), who is 8-3 at home this season compared to his 3-4 road record. His home ERA (4.83) is higher than his road mark (4.41). Though Lackey won his last start, a 7-5 decision over his former Anaheim team, the veteran allowed 10 hits and five runs over seven innings. Lackey has not won back-to-back starts since mid-June. However, Lackey is 12-9, 3.70 ERA in 26 career starts vs. Seattle, including total domination of the M’s in the last two starts (17 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 13 K).

Despite Boston’s rash of injuries this season, they are still in the Wild Card chase while Seattle is simply playing out the string. Also consider this favorable FoxSheets trend for Boston based on Fister’s propensity to throw strikes: BOSTON is 23-8 (+14.1 Units) against the money line vs. a starting pitcher with good control (less than 1.75 BB's/start) this season. The average score was BOSTON 5.5, OPPONENT 3.3 - (Rating = 2*).

**StarDust Bum** · 08-23-2010, 05:40 PM

On the Strip - Betting Notes

NFL Preseason Notes
Week 2 of the preseason saw the largest line move yet with the Giants opening as a pick’em at home against the Steelers. Once all the news started filtering in about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger starting, Eli Manning and back-up Jim Sorgi not playing, the Steelers quickly rose to a six-point favorite. Giants third-stringer Rhett Bomar took all the snaps, but couldn’t overcome the solid second half play of Steelers backups Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon. The Steelers won 24-17 negating any possible middle opportunities with such a large line movement.

The total in the Steelers game also dropped three points from the opener down to 33 ½. The highest total of the week was the Texans and Saints opener of 40 ½, which was then bet to 41 ½ by game time. Preseason totals over 40 are rarely seen, but in this case, both the oddsmakers and players were right as the Saints won 38-20.

Overall, the books did very well with Saturday’s 11 preseason games. All the action is relatively small, but the money added up to big wins when the players parlays went bye-bye thanks to the Steelers, Rams and Lions winning.

This weekend’s games will be as close to regular season games that we’ll see during preseason. Week 3 is where actual first-string game plans are put into action with all the starters playing through at least half-time. Some of the backups and hopefuls to make the team even perform better in the second half as they are now more acclimated within their team system. The effort and hustle of these players during the second half can rarely be questioned during Week 3 because most are fighting for their livelihood and dreams of making it in the NFL. For many, this is their last chance to impress, if not for their team, then for all the others who may see something in their style of play.

I never take preseason too seriously from a betting approach, but I always look for certain things that stand out and are transferable to the regular season. I like to find the nuggets of gold with the second and third-string players while watching the second half of games. I also like to look at the early rotations and cohesions of the first-strings play, not necessarily scoring points, but the play-calling and the affective nature of those attempting to execute from the linemen, prominent new players and who the quarterback targets.

Through three preseason games thus far, the Bengals have looked to get three new receivers involved and acclimated into their offense and they all look better than Chad Ochocinco, who only has three receptions and isn’t being targeted by quarterback Carson Palmer. Terrell Owens (9 receptions), Jordan Shipley (8) -- a Wes Welker clone, and tight-end Jermaine Gresham (6) have all looked better than the reality TV star.

The Lions might be a good play to OVER five wins at local sportsbooks just because of their defensive line with the additions of Kyle Vanden Bosch and second overall pick Ndamukong Suh. In their first two preseason games, the Lions D-line have absolutely beat up on the Steelers and Broncos O-lines. With an improved and more confident Matt Stafford not having to play behind so much due to pressure on the opposing quarterback, the Lions could be a thorn in the side to the NFC North playoff hopefuls.

The Raiders are another team that could be worth a shot at betting OVER on season total wins at six. It’s been kind of nice seeing the Raiders being able to move the ball after three years of Jamarcus Russell’s game. With Jason Campbell throwing affectively -- and smart -- all over the field and Michael Bush’s hard running, the Raiders offense should be vastly improved to go along with an already stout defense.

I had initially thought that the Bears would be much better under Mike Martz offensive system and almost had visions of Jay Cutler doing some of the things Kurt Warner did, but the combination of inexperienced receivers and a bad offensive line should see the team mimic last years floundering squad. I would look for the UNDER eight wins on the season that the books have posted not only because of the bad Bears offense and defense look, but how vastly improved the Lions should be.

I’m still undecided about how the Broncos will fare this year. I’m looking at seven wins while most of the sports books have them at 7 ½ for the season. However, QB Kyle Orton has looked to be one of the more impressive quarterbacks of preseason. He looks more confident than he has at any stage of his career, including Purdue. Through two preseason games at just over three quarters of play, Orton has a 116.5 QB rating with four touchdown passes. His favorite target thus -- taking over for Brandon Marshall -- far has been Jabar Gaffney, a big possession receiver who had six catches for 98 yards against Detroit Saturday. For fantasy players, Gaffney could be a nice steal at the late rounds of your draft.

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The Bum's Monday's Best Bets MLB-NFL !

The Bum's Monday's Best Bets MLB-NFL !

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