Announcement

**Udog** · 10-18-2012, 07:53 AM

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

Some NFL trends, with Week 7 here......

-- Cardinals covered eight of last ten tries as an underdog.

-- Cowboys are 4-17-1 in last 22 games as a favorite.

-- Texans are 8-2-1 in last 11 games as a home favorite.

-- Giants covered seven of last 24 tries as a home favorite.

-- Steelers failed to cover their last five road games.

-- Redskins covered seven of last nine divisional road games.

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Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind.......

13) Have to be some nervous people in the Browns’ coaching offices, with Mike Holmgren “retiring” at season’s end. Chances are, unless the squad gets hot in the last 10 games this season, the new owner will clean house and bring in his own people.

12) Now that Lance Armstrong has been dumped by Nike and doesn’t work with Livestrong, what does he do with himself? Is he a viable spokesman for anything?

11) Wedding receptions are big business; why don’t more people have divorce parties, to celebrate their new beginning? I don’t intend for that to be mean-spirited, either, just seems like a good way to start a new chapter in your life.

10) Every time I see Mitt Romney, a vision of Wink Martindale hosting High Rollers flashes into my head; I can’t help it.

Is it possible they’re related?

9) If you like the NFL in general and the Patriots in particular, read Greg Bedard in the Boston Globe; he has very astute analysis.

8) No pressure on new UConn coach Kevin Ollie or anything, but Huskies are $8M short of raising enough money to build a new $32M practice facility. Not lot of great D-I players in the Nutmeg State, UConn needs to a wider recruiting net than lot of Big East schools. Curious to see how the former NBA player does.

7) Sylvester Stallone will begin filming Rambo V soon; hope it turns out better than Rocky V, one of the worst movies ever made. Seriously, people are still going to go to theaters to watch another Rambo movie?

6) Southern Mississippi has had 18 straight winning football seasons, but new coach Ellis Johnson is 0-6 this year; a tough way to begin your head coaching career, especially at a school that’s been left standing in the musical chairs game of switching conferences.

5) Thought it was odd for Kansas hoop coach Bill Self to admit having interest in coaching in the NBA before he retires. Kansas just signed him to an extension for serious money, and he admits he has a better job than most NBA guys. Not sure why anyone would want to coach in the NBA, other than no longer having to recruit 17-year olds.

4) ACC-Big East-Big X leagues all had media days Wednesday; wouldn’t it be smarter to spread them out to maximize publicity?

3) Nine I-A teams lost to I-AA teams this season; why schedule these teams? If the game is close, it makes your program look weak and if you kill them, you’re ripping off your fans, charging them for a glorified scrimmage.

2) Speaking of which, ACC football teams have 25 non-conference wins; 13 of the 25 are against I-AA teams. They’re 12-14 vs I-A conferences.

1) I’m just guessing here, but it must be fun hanging out with ARod off the field, or am I missing something?

**Udog** · 10-18-2012, 07:55 AM

MLB
Dunkel

NY Yankees at Detroit
The Tigers look to build on their 9-3 record in Max Scherzer's last 12 starts. Detroit is the pick (-105) according to Dunkel, which has the Tigers favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-105). Here are all of today's picks.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18

Game 917-918: NY Yankees at Detroit (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Sabathia) 16.007; Detroit (Scherzer) 17.047
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1; 6
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-115); 7
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-105); Under

Game 919-920: San Francisco at St. Louis (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Lincecum) 17.364; St. Louis (Wainwright) 16.596
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 8
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

MLB
Long Sheet

Thursday, October 18

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NY YANKEES (98 - 72) at DETROIT (94 - 76) - 4:05 PM
C.C. SABATHIA (L) vs. MAX SCHERZER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
NY YANKEES are 23-27 (-10.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
DETROIT is 80-51 (+16.2 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 59-34 (+17.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 55-34 (+18.3 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.
NY YANKEES are 17-6 (+9.8 Units) against the money line in road games in day games this season.
NY YANKEES are 184-117 (+20.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 94-76 (-7.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
DETROIT is 90-73 (-7.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
DETROIT is 50-44 (-9.3 Units) against the money line after a win this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 7-6 (+0.6 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
7 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.8 Units)

C.C. SABATHIA vs. DETROIT since 1997
SABATHIA is 18-12 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 4.48 and a WHIP of 1.299.
His team's record is 22-15 (+0.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 21-16. (+3.6 units)

MAX SCHERZER vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
SCHERZER is 4-1 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 2.73 and a WHIP of 1.382.
His team's record is 4-1 (+4.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-4. (-3.3 units)

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SAN FRANCISCO (98 - 72) at ST LOUIS (94 - 77) - 8:05 PM
TIM LINCECUM (R) vs. ADAM WAINWRIGHT (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 5-4 (-0.1 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.7 Units)

TIM LINCECUM vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
LINCECUM is 5-1 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 2.89 and a WHIP of 1.157.
His team's record is 6-1 (+5.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-3. (+1.0 units)

ADAM WAINWRIGHT vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
WAINWRIGHT is 1-4 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 2.89 and a WHIP of 1.259.
His team's record is 2-4 (-3.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-2. (+1.7 units)

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MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, October 18

Wainwright is 1-2, 5.68 in seven starts since Sept 1; he is 1-1, 4.26 against the Giants this year. Cardinals won seven of their last ten home games. Lincecum hasn't started a game in 19 days; he has a 1.08 RA in three relief stints so far in playoffs, but allowed 12 runs in 10 IP in his last two starts. He didn't made a start vs St Louis this year, but pitched two hitless innings in Sunday's game at home. Giants won four of last six road games; visitors are 6-2 in their playoff games this fall. Beltran left early yesterday with a knee injury.

Scherzer is 5-1, 1.52 in his last 10 outings, but has been hampered by injuries; would expect quick hook on him once he gets past 5th inning; he allowed three runs in 4.2 IP in his only start vs Bronx this year. Sabathia is 4-0, 1.52 in his last five starts; he is 3-0, 4.15 in three starts vs Detroit this season. Bombers scored in only two of 30 series innings. Visiting teams are 16-11 in playoffs so far this month. Aside from Valverde, Tiger pitchers have allowed one run in their last 48.2 innings. Detroit won its last seven home games.

MLB

Thursday, October 18

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Trend Report
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4:07 PM
NY YANKEES vs. DETROIT
NY Yankees are 1-3-1 SU in their last 5 games ,when playing Detroit
NY Yankees are 2-3-1 SU in their last 6 games ,on the road
Detroit4-0-1 SU in its last 5 games
Detroit7-0-1 SU in its last 8 games at home

8:07 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. ST. LOUIS
San Francisco is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 7 games
St. Louis is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games

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**Udog** · 10-18-2012, 08:52 AM

MLB

Thursday, October 18

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ALCS betting preview: Yankees at Tigers
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New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers (108, 7)

Tigers lead series 3-0

The New York Yankees turn to CC Sabathia as they attempt to stave off elimination and extend the American League Championship Series when they take on the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 at Comerica Park on Thursday. The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but a band of strong showers forced Major League Baseball to postpone the game before it even began. The teams lose their travel day, with Game 5 - if necessary - scheduled for Friday afternoon.
New York dropped a 2-1 decision Tuesday as ace Justin Verlander tossed 8 1/3 superb innings to give Detroit a 3-0 series lead. Delmon Young belted a solo home run and Miguel Cabrera extended his LCS hitting streak to a major league-record 16 games with an RBI double for the Tigers, who are one victory away from their 11th World Series appearance. Wednesday's Yankee lineup had Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson on the bench - and that very well may be the case again Thursday.

TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for temperatures in the low-50s under partly cloudy skies. Winds will blow in from right field at 14 mph.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2-0, 1.53 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Max Scherzer (0-0, 0.00)

Sabathia registered two of New York's three victories over Baltimore in the AL Division Series, including a four-hitter in the decisive Game 5 on Friday. The 32-year-old, who is 3-2 with a 5.20 ERA in six career ALCS starts, went 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA against the Tigers this season and 2-0 at Comerica Park. But Sabathia struggled versus Detroit in last year's ALDS, allowing six runs over 8 2/3 innings in two starts and a relief appearance.

Scherzer pitched well in Game 4 of the ALDS against Oakland, allowing an unearned run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings while walking one and striking out eight. The 28-year-old, who finished second to Verlander for the major-league lead in strikeouts with 231, took the loss in his only start of the season against New York on April 29 after yielding three runs on seven hits and seven walks in 4 2/3 innings. Scherzer tossed six scoreless innings in a victory over the Yankees in Game 2 of last year's ALDS.

TRENDS:

* Tigers are 4-1 in Scherzer’s last five starts vs. Yankees.
* Over is 4-1 in Sabathia’s last five starts vs. Tigers.
* Yankees are 0-4 in their last four League Championship games.
* Tigers are 4-0 in their last four home playoff games.

UMP TRENDS- Gary Cederstrom

* Over is 4-0-1 in Cederstrom’s last five games behind home plate.
* Yankees are 7-0 in their last seven Thursday games with Cederstrom behind home plate.
* Tigers are 3-7 in their last 10 games with Cederstrom behind home plate.
* Yankees are 26-9 in their last 35 games with Cederstrom behind home plate.

WALK-OFFS:

1. New York has scored all five of its runs in this series and 11 of its 21 in the postseason in the ninth inning.

2. Detroit's starting pitchers had tossed 37 2/3 straight innings in the series without allowing an earned run before Eduardo Nunez's homer off Verlander in the ninth Tuesday. It is the longest streak since the 44-inning run by the starters for the 1905 New York Giants.

3. Verlander came within three outs of becoming the first pitcher to throw consecutive playoff shutouts since Orel Hershiser accomplished the feat in 1988 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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MLB

Thursday, October 18

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NLCS betting preview: Giants at Cardinals
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San Francisco Giants at St. Louis Cardinals (Odds N/A)

Cardinals lead series 2-1

The St. Louis Cardinals hold a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series, but they could be without hot-hitting Carlos Beltran in Game 4. Beltran, who is batting .414 this postseason with three homers, is listed as day-to-day after exiting Wednesday’s game in the second inning with a strained left knee. Matt Carpenter replaced Beltran and promptly hit a two-run homer to help the Cardinals win 3-1 in a game that was delayed three hours and 28 minutes because of rain. After the loss, Giants manager Bruce Bochy announced that Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito will start the team’s next two games, with struggling Madison Bumgarner moving to the bullpen. Bumgarner is 0-2 with an 11.25 ERA in two postseason starts after ending the regular season with a 5.89 ERA in his last seven outings.

Giants right fielder Hunter Pence will likely keep his starting job, but he might be moved down in the batting order after going hitless in four at-bats in Game 3. Pence is 5-for-31 (.161) with four strikeouts and no RBI this postseason. First baseman Brandon Belt, who is 3-for-11 with no extra base hits in the NLCS, might be rested Thursday so Buster Posey can play first and Hector Sanchez can catch Lincecum. The Cardinals are hoping for a long outing from Adam Wainwright in Game 4 after using four relievers on Wednesday. The Cardinals’ bullpen has worked 37 1/3 innings in nine postseason games, and closer Jason Motte recorded the first two-inning save of his career in Game 3. He threw just 19 pitches, however, so he could be available in a save situation Thursday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for temperatures in the low-50s with a 30 percent chance of showers at Busch Stadium. Winds will blow out to center field at 14 mph.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (1-0, 1.08 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (0-0, 7.88)

Lincecum is set to make his first start of the postseason after allowing one run on three hits with nine strikeouts in three relief appearances. Beltran is 7-for-14 with a homer against Lincecum, who is 5-1 with a 2.89 ERA in seven career starts against St. Louis. The two-time Cy Young award winner had an uncharacteristically poor regular season, especially on the road, where he went 6-6 with a 6.43 ERA in 16 outings.

Wainwright looks to rebound from the shortest start of his career after allowing six runs over 2 1/3 innings against Washington last Friday in Game 5 of the Division Series. He’s 2-4 with a 3.04 ERA is six career starts against the Giants, including 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in two outings this season. Pence is 11-for-38 (.289) with a homer against Wainwright, who is making the first LCS start of his seven-year major league career.

TRENDS:

* Giants are 6-0 in Lincecum’s last six road starts.
* Cardinals are 8-2 in their last 10 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
* Under is 5-1 in Cardinals’ last six home games.
* Over is 4-0-1 in Lincecum’s last five starts overall.

UMP TRENDS:- Greg Gibson

* Under is 7-1 in Gibson’s last eight games behind home plate vs. St. Louis.
* Under is 9-2 in Gibson’s last 11 Thursday games behind home plate.
* Cardinals are 1-4 in their last five games with Gibson behind home plate.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Since 1985, 17 of the 21 teams to take a 2-1 lead in the NLCS have gone on to advance to the World Series.

2. Giants 2B Marco Scutaro started Wednesday after leaving Game 2 with a strained left hip and had two hits. He’s 6-for-13 with two RBI in the series.

3. Wednesday’s win gave the Cardinals 40 postseason victories in the last 10 seasons, tied with the Yankees for most in the majors during that stretch.

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**Udog** · 10-18-2012, 01:04 PM

MLB
Short Sheet

Thursday, October 18

American League

AL Championship Series, Game Four (Detroit Leads, 3-0)
NY Yankees at Detroit, 4:05 ET TBS
Sabathia: NY Yankees 9-17 SU on road after game with a combined score of 4 or less
Scherzer: Detroit 26-8 SU in home games after allowing 2 runs or less

Announcement

Thursday's Trends and Indexes - 10/18 (MLB, CFL, WNBA, Misc.)

Thursday's Trends and Indexes - 10/18 (MLB, CFL, WNBA, Misc.)

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