Saturday's Trends and Indexes - 5/14 (NBA, NHL, MLB, Misc.)

[Udog]

MLB


Saturday, May 14

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Trend Report
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1:05 PM
FLORIDA vs. WASHINGTON
Florida is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Florida's last 5 games on the road
Washington is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Florida
Washington is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

1:05 PM
SEATTLE vs. CLEVELAND
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Seattle's last 15 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Seattle is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Cleveland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Seattle
Cleveland is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games

1:10 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. ATLANTA
Philadelphia is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing Atlanta
Philadelphia is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games
Atlanta is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games

3:10 PM
SAN DIEGO vs. COLORADO
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Diego's last 6 games on the road
San Diego is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Colorado's last 12 games at home
Colorado is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games

4:05 PM
CHI WHITE SOX vs. OAKLAND
Chi White Sox are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games
Chi White Sox are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games at home
Oakland is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox

4:05 PM
NY METS vs. HOUSTON
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Mets's last 6 games on the road
NY Mets are 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing Houston
Houston is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing NY Mets
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 9 games when playing NY Mets

4:10 PM
BALTIMORE vs. TAMPA BAY
Baltimore is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Baltimore is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Baltimore
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games

4:10 PM
TORONTO vs. MINNESOTA
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 7 games
Toronto is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games at home

4:10 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. DETROIT
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Detroit is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

4:10 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. CINCINNATI
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

4:10 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. MILWAUKEE
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
Milwaukee is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games

4:10 PM
LA ANGELS vs. TEXAS
LA Angels are 8-15 SU in their last 23 games when playing on the road against Texas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Angels's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas's last 5 games at home
Texas is 15-8 SU in their last 23 games when playing at home against LA Angels

7:10 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. CHI CUBS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Francisco's last 7 games when playing Chi Cubs
San Francisco is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Chi Cubs are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games at home
Chi Cubs are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing San Francisco

7:10 PM
BOSTON vs. NY YANKEES
Boston is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 7 games when playing NY Yankees
NY Yankees are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games at home

7:10 PM
ARIZONA vs. LA DODGERS
Arizona is 1-7 SU in their last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona's last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of LA Dodgers's last 11 games
LA Dodgers are 13-4 SU in their last 17 games when playing Arizona


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[Udog]

MLB


Saturday, May 14

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Hot lines: Saturday's best MLB bets
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Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers (-130, 8.5)

The Tigers got off to a dreadful start in 2011, which included a seven-game losing streak that extended through late April and early May. To say they have turned the tide, would be an understatement.

Detroit has now won five in a row and eight of its last nine as of Friday evening. Part of the reason for the turnaround is starter Brad Penny, who is taking the mound against Kansas City on Saturday.

In his last two outings, Penny has pitched a combined 13.2 innings and allowed a mere two earned runs. He picked up the win over the Yankees on May 2 and again over Toronto last Sunday. Penny also recently fired a one-hitter while going seven innings in a 9-0 rout of the White Sox on April 23.

“He's pitched pretty well lately,” manager Jim Leyland told the Detroit Free Press after his righthander’s last outing. “It's kind of gone unnoticed. I think what you saw is exactly the reason we wanted to get him: give us some innings and give us a chance to win.”

The Royals, meanwhile, are a respectable 20-17 for the season but just 5-9 on the road. Saturday starter Jeff Francis has a 5.09 ERA and has given up five earned runs in three of his last four appearances.

Pick: Tigers



St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds (-120, 8.5)

Saturday’s showdown between National League Central rivals brings back memories of one of baseball’s uglier scenes from last season.

Johnny Cueto is going up against the Cardinals for the first time since facing them last Aug. 10, when a melee ensued in Cincinnati. During the bench-clearing brawl, Cueto kicked opposing catcher Jason LaRue and St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter with his spikes while he was pinned against the backstop screen.

“He could have done some real damage,” Carpenter said of Cueto. “He got [LaRue] in the side of his eye, he got him in his nose, he got him in his face. Totally unprofessional. Unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

The Cardinals may not want to see any of Cueto, because he followed up a solid 2010 campaign with a stellar first outing of this year last Sunday. Cueto, who had been on the disabled list with a biceps injury, went six innings against the Cubs and allowed no runs and five hits while striking out four.

Cincinnati has won six of its last eight games as of Friday evening and stand just 1.5 games back of St. Louis for the top spot in the division.

Pick: Reds


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[Udog]

NBA


Sunday, May 15

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Bulls vs. Heat: Eastern Conference finals preview and pick
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No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 2 Miami Heat

Series price: Chicago +165, Miami -190

OFFENSE

The Heat finished eighth in scoring during the regular season to Chicago’s 20th. It’s nothing short of taxing to guard a team that features Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. For the Bulls, Derrick Rose needs more help before his club can begin to think of itself as an offensive juggernaut. If Carlos Boozer plays like he did against Atlanta in Game 6, however, Chicago might keep pace.

Edge: Miami

DEFENSE

The Bulls were the second-best defensive team in the league behind Boston in terms of points allowed during the regular season. With a front line of Boozer, Joakim Noah, Omer Asik and Taj Gibson, Chicago should be able to force the “Big 3” to do its damage from outside the paint. Miami has the roster to play great defense and it’s allowing only 88.8 points per game during the playoffs. But the team’s commitment on that end of the floor can be hit-and-miss.

Edge: Chicago

SEASON SERIES

Chicago won all three tilts between the two powerhouses (2-0-1 ATS) in the regular season, but not one was decided by more than four points. It should also be noted that the streaky Miami squad was mired in one of its many swoons each time it went up against Chicago. The first game came during a four-game losing streak while the second and third contests came during a stretch in which the Heat lost six of seven.

Edge: Chicago

REBOUNDING

If the Heat want to get over the hump, they will have to do a better job on the glass against the best rebounding team in the NBA (Chicago blew away the field with a plus-5.74 differential during the regular season). The Bulls dominated the boards all three times: 42-30 on Jan. 15 (James was out with an ankle injury), 53-39 on Feb. 24, and 36-30 on March 8.

Edge: Chicago

HEAT INDEX

This was always going to be a tale of two seasons for the championship-or-bust Heat - a relatively meaningless regular season followed by the all-or-nothing playoffs. After taking care of Philadelphia in five games, Miami made surprisingly quick work of Boston, also in five games. Having won its last four games heading into postseason action, Erik Spoelstra’s bunch has now prevailed in 12 of its last 14 outings.

The case is somewhat the opposite for Chicago, which stunned the rest of league by compiling the best record in the NBA at 62-20. After winning 21 of their last 23 games, however, the Bulls have looked slightly vulnerable amidst one loss (and several near-losses) to Indiana and two setbacks against Atlanta (including Game 1 at home).

Edge: Heat

INJURIES

The good news for Chicago is that Rose is completely over the ankle issue suffered in Round 1 and Boozer is looking better and better as he battles a case of turf toe. With Miami also sitting pretty in the injury department, the stage is set for a blockbuster series.

Edge: Even

PREDICTION

While the Bulls may be the better team, in the true essence of the word, the question is if Rose has enough help to overcome the Heat’s conglomerate of stars. Don’t be surprised if the MVP has to do too much and eventually wears down at the end of the series for the No. 1 seed to get bounced.

Pick: Heat in six games


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