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**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:47 AM

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

Six of the more interesting football games this coming weekend........

-- Baylor (-8.5) @ West Virginia-- Dicey game for unbeaten Bears.

-- Georgia Tech (-2) @ North Carolina-- Option attack vs a putrid defense.

-- Georgia (-3.5) @ Arkansas-- Hogs got ten votes for top 25; they haven't won an SEC game in two calendar years.

-- Oklahoma State @ TCU (-9.5)-- Can Frogs bounce back from Baylor loss?

-- Notre Dame @ Florida State (-10.5)-- No shortage of hype for this one.

-- 49ers @ Broncos (-7)-- Patrick Willis missed second half Monday (toe).

**********

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

13) TCU-Baylor game Saturday had 198 offensive plays; it was wildly entertaining. 15 NFL games this week had an average of 130.9 plays per game. More action in the college game, that much is undeniable. Fewer commercials, too.

12) Arizona Diamondbacks did smart thing, hired Chip Hale as its new manager; he's a sharp guy, was recently bench coach for the A's and Mets.

11) I may be late with this, but ESPN's E:60 ran an interesting show Monday on a wildly successful high school football coach in Alabama, whose personal life was completely messed up; he had six kids, three by his wife, three by his girlfriend.

The guy quit his job, couldn't get hired by anyone, until a high school in Georgia hired him and he turned the school's program around, but not before he had throat cancer and beat that, too. Show ends when his new team goes back to Alabama to play his former team. Anyway, if you see it on TV, its worth a watch.

10) Two side notes to the program: The guy was such a good coach, he interviewed with Nick Saban to become an assistant at Alabama. Also, the woman who hired him in Georgia had this great quote-- picture a 60-ish woman with a southern drawl:

"We want a coach who can win foot-balllllllll games." Tremendous.

9) Now that ESPN's Bob Ley grew his beard, he looks like the old actor Raymond Burr, who played Perry Mason and Ironside on successful old TV shows. .

8) In their last three games, Washington Redskins lost field position by 25-18-15 yards. You cannot win this way, no matter how good you are.

7) Speaking of the Redskins: before last night, the last time an NFL team scored a 75+-yard TD in last 2:00 of the first half was in 1994, when Heath Shuler threw one for the Redskins, one of only 15 career TD passes for the future congressman.

6) A bank in Ann Arbor, MI wouldn't take Columbus Day as a holiday, because:

"We will not be closed for Columbus Day today because Columbus is in Ohio."

Seriously, this was the Bank of Ann Arbor. Glad I don't work there.

5) Four San Francisco Giant pitchers gave up homers Sunday night; the last time that happened? Back in 2005, when the Giant catcher was....Mike Matheny.

4) Paid crowd for the Florida Panthers' NHL game in south Florida Monday was 7,311, a new franchise low. I refuse to believe an NHL game in Saskatoon, Quebec
City or Hamilton wouldn't draw twice that much. Am I wrong?

3) Hopefully Jimbo Fisher recruited a QB to play next season, because he'll be lucky if he has Jameis Winston under center for the rest of this season; no way will Winston still be in Tallahassee at this time next fall.

2) 19 primetime NFL games this season: over is 15-4 in those games.

1) If you own an NFL team and want to host a Super Bowl in your city, well, your team better be willing to give up a home game to play in London the next season- thats how the league office is extorting teams who want the cash cow of hosting the Super Bowl. Fewer and fewer teams want to go to London to play.

**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:48 AM

NFL Opening Line Report: Cowboys' betting bandwagon as full as ever

Week 7 of the NFL season is highlighted by the rekindling of a traditional rivalry, with one team on the rise – the Dallas Cowboys – and the other mired in a mediocre fog -- the New York Giants.

Dallas (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) is undergoing a completely unexpected resurgence, having won five in a row SU. On Sunday, the Cowboys were 10-point underdogs at Seattle, but pulled out a stunning 30-23 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

New York (3-3 SU and ATS) looked as if it had gotten its season back on track, winning three in a row SU and ATS, but the Giants got completely shut down Sunday night at Philadelphia, losing 27-0 as a 1-point underdog.

John Lester, senior lines manager for bookmaker.eu, expects the game to attract a lot of betting attention, with two very public teams. He held off setting a firm line, to evaluate New York after its blowout loss Sunday, in which the Giants likely lost star wideout Victor Cruz for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
“We always have loads of action on this matchup,” Lester said. “The Cowboys are obviously coming off a big win, and their betting bandwagon is as full as ever. I’m envisioning at least a 4-point spread here.”

San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos

The Niners still have unfinished Week 6 business, playing in the Monday night game at St. Louis. San Fran (3-2 SU and ATS) bounced back from two consecutive SU and ATS losses to win and cover at home against Philadelphia and Kansas City.

The Broncos (4-1 SU, 2-3 ATS) have covered two in a row, getting a late interception for a TD on Sunday to claim a 31-17 win laying 10 points against the host New York Jets.

“The Broncos didn’t peek ahead to this one, playing a complete game against the Jets,” Lester said. “If the Niners take care of business Monday night, we’ll probably make Denver around a 6-point favorite. This should be a good litmus test for both teams.”

Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts (-3)

Two of the league’s rising young quarterbacks square off in a matchup of division leaders. Andrew Luck and Indy (4-2 SU, 5-1 ATS) will come in with a little extra rest, after traveling to Houston last Thursday and winning 33-28 as a 2.5-point road fave – the Colts’ fourth consecutive win and cover.

Meanwhile, Andy Dalton and Cincy (3-1-1 SU, 3-2 ATS)have cooled off after a 3-0 SU and ATS start, getting walloped on the road at New England, then settling for a 37-37 home tie Sunday against Carolina as a 7-point favorite.

“A lot of perceptions about these teams have changed over the last few weeks,” Lester said. “The Colts appear to be hitting their stride offensively, and Cincy’s defense has sprung some leaks. With extra time to prepare and being a great team in the dome, I wanted Indy a bit higher, but we settled at the key number (-3).”

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers (-4)

It’s on the Monday night marquee, but these two middling franchises aren’t living up to that billing. Houston (3-3 SU, 4-2 ATS) has lost two in a row SU, including last Thursday’s 33-28 home setback as a 2.5-point ‘dog against Indianapolis.

The Steelers (3-3 SU, 2-4 ATS) are much harder to explain. They lost at home earlier this season to hapless Tampa Bay, and they got smoked Sunday at Cleveland 31-10 catching 2.5 points.

“The casual bettor will be eager to side with the Steelers in this matchup. But that defense has certainly looked suspect the last couple of weeks,” Lester said. “The Texans can win this game if they run the ball well.”

**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:48 AM

NBA Southeast Division Betting Preview

Washington Wizards (2013-14: 43-38 SU, 42-38-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +180

Season wins total: 49.5

Why To Bet The Wizards: With Bradley Beal and John Wall, the Wizards have one of the best backcourts in the NBA. Dion Waiters might think otherwise, but I think Beal hit the nail on the head in his reply to Waiters when the two had a war of words on Twitter a few weeks back: "you gotta win a playoff game first before you can talk. You gotta be a starter first." The signing of Marcin Gortat gives Washington one of the best centers in the Eastern Conference for five more years, and at 29 years old the Polish Hammer is in the prime of his career. Paul Pierce may be well past his prime, but he proved in last season's playoffs that he can still be a difference maker.

Why Not To Bet The Wizards: They lost a key defender when Trevor Ariza signed with Houston this summer. Washington was mediocre at best defensively, ranking in the middle of the pack in opponent's field goal percentage last season. At the age of 37, it's asking a lot of Paul Pierce to chase around opposing small forwards night in and night out.

Season win total pick: Over 49.5 wins

Miami Heat (2013-14: 54-27 SU, 37-42-2 ATS)

Odds to win division: +230

Season wins total: 43.5

Why To Bet The Heat: Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade have a lot to prove this year, and both players have welcomed the challenge. While Luol Deng won't replace LeBron James, he still gives the Heat a formidable Big Three. The biggest thing this team might have going for it, is that they should be hungrier this year.

Why Not To Bet The Heat: Miami will be competitive if Wade can stay healthy, but that's a big if. He missed 28 games last year, and he's been plagued by knee injuries in recent seasons. The Heat didn't just lose LeBron James in the off-season, they also lost Ray Allen and Shane Battier. They are going to need Bosh to step up an carry the load as the first option on offense, while also counting on him to defend opposing centers while at a significant size disadvantage. It remains to be seen if Bosh can rise to the challenge.

Season win total pick: Over 43.5 wins.

Atlanta Hawks (2013-14: 38-44 SU, 37-43-1 ATS)

Odds to win the division: +410

Season wins total: 41.5

Why to bet the Hawks: They have been to the post-season in seven straight seasons, and they did it last year without Al Horford who went down with an injury in the first half of the season. With the acquisition of Thabo Sefolosha, and Horford back healthy, there is plenty of reason to expect improvement.

Why not to bet the Hawks: The bad news for Atlanta is that while they hope to be better, the competition in the East is going to be much tougher than it was last year, and 38 wins isn't likely going to be enough to get into the playoffs. The Hawks did little in the off-season to address their shortcomings on the boards. Altanta ranked 28th in the NBA averaging 40 rebounds per game last season.

Season wins total pick: Under 41.5

Charlotte Hornets (2013-14: 43-39 SU, 46-32-3 ATS)

Odds to win division: +335

Season wins total: 45

Why To Bet The Hornets: This appears to be a young team on the rise, coming off an inspiring post-season appearance last year. They acquired Lance Stephenson via free agency, and Noah Vonleh in the draft. Veteran Al Jefferson was a nice fit last season, averaging over 20 points and 10 boards, for his best season since 2009. He has a solid supporting cast with Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson and Cody Zeller all young players with their best years ahead of them.

Why Not To Bet The Hornets: Jefferson is as reliable as they come when healthy, but at this stage in his career it's more than likely that he will miss games with recurring plantar fasciitis, and other ailments. The loss of Josh McRoberts might leave a hole that proves difficult to fill, as his replacement Marvin Williams doesn't have the same play-making ability.

Season wins total: Over 45 wins

Orlando Magic (2013-14: 23-59 SU, 34-44-4 ATS)

Odds to win division: +5,500

Season wins total: 28

Why To Bet The Magic: It's not easy finding positive things to say about a team that finished with just 23 wins last season, and traded away it's leading scorer. That being said, they won't have to show much of an improvement to surpass expectations, simply because they have set the bar so low.

Why Not To Bet Magic: This team is clearly in a rebuilding stage, and nothing they did this summer would suggest that they have any intentions of competing this season. The plan for the future likely involves getting one of the top picks in the 2015 draft, and winning more than 28 games would put a wrinkle in that plan.

Season wins total pick: Under 28 wins

**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:50 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Baltimore at Kansas City
After sitting through a rainout on Monday, the Orioles look to pick up their first win in the series and come into Tuesday's game with a 6-0 record in Wei-Yin Chen's last 6 starts as a favorite. Baltimore is the pick (-115) according to Dunkel, which has the Orioles favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-115). Here are all of today's MLB picks.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14

Game 961-962: St. Louis at San Francisco (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Lackey) 14.763; San Francisco (Hudson) 16.349
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-125); 7
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-125); Over

Game 963-964: Baltimore at Kansas City (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Chen) 16.402; Kansas City (Guthrie) 14.831
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Baltimore (-115); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-115); Under

MLB
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 14

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ST LOUIS (94 - 74) at SAN FRANCISCO (93 - 76) - 4:05 PM
JOHN LACKEY (R) vs. TIM HUDSON (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN FRANCISCO is 5-4 (+1.4 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.1 Units)

JOHN LACKEY vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
LACKEY is 2-1 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.417.
His team's record is 2-2 (-0.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-3. (-2.3 units)

TIM HUDSON vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
HUDSON is 4-4 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 5.26 and a WHIP of 1.462.
His team's record is 6-7 (-3.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-10. (-10.4 units)

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BALTIMORE (99 - 68) at KANSAS CITY (95 - 73) - 8:05 PM
WEI-YIN CHEN (L) vs. JEREMY GUTHRIE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
KANSAS CITY is 95-73 (+10.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 20-7 (+11.9 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 this season.
KANSAS CITY is 15-5 (+9.7 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off this season.
KANSAS CITY is 91-70 (+9.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
KANSAS CITY is 69-48 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 6-0 (+7.5 Units) against the money line in playoff games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 55-40 (+10.7 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
KANSAS CITY is 21-11 (+10.2 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
KANSAS CITY is 49-35 (+13.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
KANSAS CITY is 22-15 (+8.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
GUTHRIE is 38-27 (+12.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
GUTHRIE is 19-12 (+7.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
GUTHRIE is 39-29 (+13.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
GUTHRIE is 29-18 (+18.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
GUTHRIE is 17-11 (+10.8 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. (Team's Record)
BALTIMORE is 100-68 (+37.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BALTIMORE is 48-35 (+23.4 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
BALTIMORE is 15-5 (+12.6 Units) against the money line when playing on Monday this season.
BALTIMORE is 39-21 (+21.0 Units) against the money line when playing with a day off over the last 3 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 89-61 (+31.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BALTIMORE is 73-38 (+40.4 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
BALTIMORE is 77-49 (+32.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
BALTIMORE is 43-25 (+20.7 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
BALTIMORE is 48-29 (+25.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
BALTIMORE is 34-17 (+21.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
CHEN is 20-12 (+8.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
CHEN is 20-8 (+12.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
CHEN is 18-9 (+10.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 6-3 (+2.8 Units) against BALTIMORE this season
4 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-1.1 Units, Under=-0.1 Units)

WEI-YIN CHEN vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
CHEN is 1-1 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 4.17 and a WHIP of 1.418.
His team's record is 3-3 (-0.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-1. (+3.9 units)

JEREMY GUTHRIE vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
GUTHRIE is 2-1 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 2.67 and a WHIP of 1.222.
His team's record is 2-2 (+0.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-3. (-3.4 units)

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MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 14

Cardinals-Giants
Lackey is 2-1, 1.69 in his last three starts, but 0-2, 6.14 in his last three starts on road. Lackey is 7-5, 2.92 in 17 postseason starts. He didn't pitch against the Giants this season.
Hudson is 0-4, 7.45 in his last six starts, 1-3, 3.19 in ten playoff starts. Hudson threw seven shutout innings in his only start against St Louis this season.

Giants won seven of their last nine games, three of last four at home.

St Louis won five of its last seven games, but are 3-4 in last seven road tilts.

Lackey 12-9/7-5.........8-33 first inning
Hudson 19-14............8-33 first inning

Orioles-Royals
Chen is 0-2, 6.89 in his last three starts, 1-0, 5.40 in two playoff starts, 1-0, 2.19 in his two starts against the Royals this season.

Former Oriole Guthrie is making first postseason appearance after 11 years and 1,616 IP; he is 3-0, 1.33 in his last three starts, was 0-1, 3.60 in two starts vs Baltimore this year. Guthrie was an Oriole from 2007-11.

Orioles allowed 14 runs in losing first two series games; they've lost three of their last four road games.

Royals won seven games in row and 12 of last 14, with 11 of those 14 on road. KC won its last three home games.

Chen 20-12..........10-32 first inning
Guthrie 19-13......12-32 first inning

MLB

Tuesday, October 14

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Trend Report
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4:07 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. SAN FRANCISCO
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games
St. Louis is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
San Francisco is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against St. Louis
San Francisco is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games

8:07 PM
BALTIMORE vs. KANSAS CITY
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Baltimore's last 7 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Baltimore is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Kansas City's last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Kansas City's last 8 games

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MLB

Tuesday, October 14

Cardinals keep injured Molina on active roster

The St. Louis Cardinals plan to keep catcher Yadier Molina on their active roster, at least for now, despite the strained left oblique muscle he suffered in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday.

If Molina is removed from the active roster he would be ineligible to play in the World Series, if the Cardinals get that far.

The best-of-seven NLCS against the San Francisco Giants is tied 1-1.

Molina flew along with the team to the Bay Area on Sunday night and had an MRI exam.

The team arrived at San Francisco's AT&T Park on Monday, and Molina then met with team doctors in the visitors' clubhouse.

Manager Mike Matheny said Molina was able to throw Monday, but he did not swing a bat.

"I didn't think there was any possibility, having that injury myself," Matheny said. "It's just great having him with us in any capacity."

Molina said he was moving better Monday than he was Sunday night.

Giants get wide-eyed at home with this ump working

Umpire Gerry Davis will be in charge for Tuesday's NLCS clash between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants in the Bay Area.

The Giants have loved having Davis behind the plate at AT&T Park lately, as they've gone 5-1 in their last six at home with him calling balls and strikes.

San Fran is currently -122 moneyline favorites with a total of seven.

Orioles struggling vs. Game 3 umpire

After heavy rains in the Kansas City area postponed Game 3 of the ALCS to Tuesday, the Royals and Orioles will be hoping Mother Nature is working in their favor this time.

Wei-Yin Chen and Jeremy Guthrie are scheduled to take the bump after getting an extra day's rest.

Ron Kulpa will handle umpiring duties, which could spell trouble for Baltimore. The Birds are 1-4 in their last five games with Kulpa calling balls and strikes.

Tillman and Shields could pitch Game 4 of ALCS

In the wake of Game 3 of the ALCS getting postponed to Tuesday due to heavy rains in the Kansas City area on Monday, there might be a different pair of starters on the mound for Game 4, per NBC Sports.

Shields and Tillman faced off in Game 1, with the Royals coming out on the winning end of that matchup. O's manager Buck Showalter has already said that Tillman is a possibility for the Orioles in Game 4 even before Monday's contest got postponed.

Miguel Gonzalez was initially scheduled to pitch in Game 4, but considering Tillman would have the opportunity to pitch on regular rest, it's up in the air. There has been no word from Royals manager Ned Yost on a pitching adjustment yet.

Game 4 will now go Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.

**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:51 AM

MLB

Tuesday, October 14

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NLCS betting preview: Cardinals at Giants
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St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants (-122, 7)

The St. Louis Cardinals will be without standout catcher Yadier Molina when the scene shifts to San Francisco for Wednesday’s Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. Kolten Wong’s ninth-inning homer to end Sunday’s Game 2 allowed the Cardinals to even the series at one win apiece, but St. Louis lost Molina to an oblique injury earlier in the contest. The injury could sideline the six-time All-Star for the rest of the postseason.

The Cardinals will be attempting to make it through the rest of the series with catchers Tony Cruz and A.J. Pierzynski, which represents a huge drop-off from Molina. “It stinks,’ Giants catcher Buster Posey said of Molina’s injury. “You hate to see anybody go down, especially a guy like him that means so much to their team. It’s too bad.” Wong one was of four St. Louis players to hit homers in Sunday’s 5-4 win, joining Matt Carpenter, Oscar Taveras and Matt Adams.

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FS1

LINE HISTORY: The Giants opened as -117 faves, but that line has since moved to -122. The total for the game opened at seven, which is where it currently sits.

WEATHER: The forecast is calling for sun and clouds at gametime with a 20 percent chance of precipitation. The temperature is expected to be 66 degrees Fahrenheit in the Bay, with winds of up to 13 mph.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH John Lackey (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (0-0, 1.23)

Lackey was acquired due to his postseason experience, and manager Mike Matheny is expecting he will rise to the occasion. “Every time he was on the mound, he is one of those guys that is going to come into a big situation and into a hostile environment, and we love what San Francisco brings,” Matheny told reporters. “The excitement they bring, and the city is fired up for the matchup.” Lackey is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two career starts against San Francisco.

Hudson lost his final four starts of the regular season before rebounding with a strong outing against Washington in the NL Divisional Series, as he gave up one run and seven hits over 7 1/3 innings in a no-decision. The 39-year-old veteran merely was average at home during the regular season, going 5-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 14 starts. Hudson is 4-4 with a 5.26 ERA in 13 career outings against St. Louis but defeated the Cardinals this year when he gave up three hits over seven scoreless frames.

TRENDS:

*Cardinals are 4-1 in their last five meetings in San Francisco
*Giants are 1-4 in their last five games with umpire Gerry Davis behind the plate
*Under is 4-0 in John Lackey's last four starts
*Giants are 1-5 in Tim Hudson's last six starts

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**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:51 AM

MLB

Tuesday, October 14

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ALCS Betting Preview: Orioles at Royals
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Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals (+102, 7.5)

The Kansas City Royals spent 28 years watching the postseason from home, and now that they’ve gotten back, they just can’t lose. The Royals go for their seventh straight win this postseason and a 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series when they host the Baltimore Orioles in Game 3 on Tuesday. The Orioles have lost the battle of the bullpens in the first two games and will need to make some history in order to win the series.

No team ever has come back from a 2-0 deficit in the ALCS after losing the first two at home, a fact Baltimore has the talent to change. Adam Jones hit his first postseason homer in the Orioles’ 6-4 loss in Game 2 and insisted after the contest that the series was not over despite back-to-back late-inning meltdowns. If Baltimore hopes for a comeback, getting setup man Darren O’Day and closer Zach Britton on track would be one key, as the two have combined to allow four runs on four hits and three walks in the first two games.

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

LINE HISTORY: The Royals opened as slight -110 favorites, but the money has been coming in on the Orioles with the Kansas City moving all the way to +102. The total is set at 7.5.

INJURY REPORT: Royals - SP Yordano Ventura (day-to-day, shoulder).

WEATHER: It is expected to rain at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. The forecast is calling for a 100 percent chance of rain and a chance of thunderstorms. There will also be a strong 15 mile per hour wind blowing in from left field.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, 12.27 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (2014: 13-11, 4.13)

Chen was bailed out by the offense in Game 2 of the AL Division Series against Detroit after allowing five runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. The Taiwan native surrendered two or fewer earned runs in each of his final five regular-season turns and held Kansas City to three runs over 12 1/3 frames in two starts earlier in 2014. Chen yielded a pair of home runs in his ALDS start and was reached for 29 blasts in 32 regular-season outings.

Guthrie missed out on the fun in the wild-card game and the ALDS but gets the nod against his former team in Game 3. The veteran spent five seasons at the top of Baltimore's staff without making the playoffs before leaving via free agency following the 2011 campaign. Guthrie finished the regular season strong, allowing a total of one earned run in 20 1/3 innings over his last three starts, but has not pitched since Sept. 26.

TRENDS:

* Orioles are 0-4 in their last four meetings with the Royals.
* Under is 4-0 in Chen's last four starts versus the Royals.
* Under is 5-1-1 in the last seven meetings in Kansas City.
* Orioles are 2-5 in their last seven meetings in Kansas City.

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**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:52 AM

NHL

Dunkel

Dallas at Columbus
The Stars head to Columbus tonight to face a Blue Jackets team that is coming off a 5-2 win over the Rangers and is 7-1 in their last 8 games after scoring 5 goals or more in their previous game. Columbus is the pick (-130) according to Dunkel, which has the Blue Jackets favored by 2 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Columbus (-130). Here are all of today's picks.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14

Game 1-2: NY Islanders at NY Rangers (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Islanders 10.442; NY Rangers 11.893
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-145); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (-145); Over

Game 3-4: San Jose at Washington (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Jose 13.665; Washington 12.014
Dunkel Line & Total: San Jose by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Washington (-110); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-110); Under

Game 5-6: Anaheim at Philadelphia (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Anaheim 13.782; Philadelphia 11.209
Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 2 1/2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Anaheim (-115); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (-115); Over

Game 7-8: Dallas at Columbus (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 10.210; Columbus 12.639
Dunkel Line & Total: Columbus by 2 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Columbus (-130); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Columbus (-130); Under

Game 9-10: New Jersey at Tampa Bay (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Jersey 10.774; Tampa Bay 12.610
Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 2; 4
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 11-12: Colorado at Toronto (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado 12.901; Toronto 10.442
Dunkel Line & Total: Colorado by 2 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 13-14: Buffalo at Carolina (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 11.110; Carolina 10.098
Dunkel Line & Total: Buffalo by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 15-16: Calgary at Nashville (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Calgary 10.901; Nashville 12.882
Dunkel Line & Total: Nashville by 2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Nashville (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Nashville (-175); Over

Game 17-18: Edmonton at Los Angeles (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 11.367; Los Angeles 12.861
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 1 1/2; 4
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles (-200); 5
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (-200); Under

**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:56 AM

NHL
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 14

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NY ISLANDERS (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) at NY RANGERS (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY RANGERS are 8-13 ATS (-12.2 Units) in home games first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 44-57 ATS (-44.1 Units) in home games on Tuesday nights since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 108-112 ATS (-56.5 Units) in home games vs. division opponents since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 4-9 ATS (-9.8 Units) in home games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
NY RANGERS are 155-188 ATS (-110.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1996.
NY RANGERS are 59-78 ATS (-35.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY RANGERS is 6-3 (+1.5 Units) against the spread versus NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
NY RANGERS is 6-3-0 straight up against NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.5 Units)

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SAN JOSE (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) at WASHINGTON (1-0-0-1, 3 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 130-175 ATS (-64.1 Units) in non-conference games since 1996.
WASHINGTON is 12-23 ATS (-23.1 Units) in home games after shutting out their opponent in their previous game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 1-1 (+0.7 Units) against the spread versus SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 1-1-0 straight up against SAN JOSE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.0 Units)

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ANAHEIM (2-1-0-0, 4 pts.) at PHILADELPHIA (0-2-0-1, 1 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ANAHEIM is 63-35 ATS (+14.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 31-14 ATS (+13.2 Units) first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 11-3 ATS (+14.3 Units) when playing on back-to-back days over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 174-143 ATS (+27.8 Units) after a non-conference game since 1996.
ANAHEIM is 27-8 ATS (+15.6 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 33-12 ATS (+13.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
ANAHEIM is 16-3 ATS (+11.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 63-68 ATS (-58.8 Units) in home games when playing with 2 days rest since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
ANAHEIM is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against the spread versus PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
ANAHEIM is 2-0-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.0 Units)

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DALLAS (0-1-0-1, 1 pts.) at COLUMBUS (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 2-11 ATS (+14.8 Units) in road games after allowing 4 goals or more over the last 2 seasons.
COLUMBUS is 29-14 ATS (+43.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 165-134 ATS (+24.1 Units) in road games first half of the season since 1996.
DALLAS is 186-121 ATS (+40.1 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLUMBUS is 3-1 (+2.3 Units) against the spread versus DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
COLUMBUS is 3-1-0 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.2 Units)

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NEW JERSEY (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) at TAMPA BAY (2-0-0-1, 5 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 7:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 3-3-0 straight up against NEW JERSEY over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.2 Units, Under=-0.7 Units)

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

COLORADO (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) at TORONTO (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 7:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 1-1 (+0.3 Units) against the spread versus COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 1-1-0 straight up against COLORADO over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+0.0 Units)

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

BUFFALO (0-3-0-0, 0 pts.) at CAROLINA (0-2-0-0, 0 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 7:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CAROLINA is 5-1 (+4.1 Units) against the spread versus BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
CAROLINA is 5-1-0 straight up against BUFFALO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+3.3 Units)

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CALGARY (1-2-0-0, 2 pts.) at NASHVILLE (2-0-0-0, 4 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NASHVILLE is 16-9 ATS (+27.6 Units) after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 88-88 ATS (+196.5 Units) in road games after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
NASHVILLE is 3-2 (+0.8 Units) against the spread versus CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
NASHVILLE is 3-2-0 straight up against CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
5 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+5.2 Units)

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EDMONTON (0-1-0-1, 1 pts.) at LOS ANGELES (1-1-0-1, 3 pts.) - 10/14/2014, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 13-31 ATS (+52.5 Units) first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 6-1 (+4.8 Units) against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 6-1-0 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+4.3 Units)

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**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:57 AM

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 14

Hot teams
-- Islanders won first two games, scoring nine goals.
-- Ducks won their last two games, allowing three goals.
-- San Jose won its first two games, allowing no goals.
-- Columbus won its first two games, allowing three goals.
-- New Jersey won its first two games, scoring 11 goals. Lightning won two of first three games, allowing six goals.
-- Nashville won its first two games, allowing three goals.

Cold teams
-- Rangers lost last two games, allowing 11 goals.
-- Flyers lost first three games, outscored 12-8.
-- Washington split first two games, despite allowing only two goals.
-- Dallas Stars lost first two games, scoring three goals.
-- Avalanche lost two of first three games, scoring two goals; Maple Leafs lost two of first three. .
-- Carolina lost its first two games, allowing nine goals. Sabres lost first three games, outscored by a total of 14-4.
-- Flames lost two of their first three games.
-- Edmonton lost its first two games, allowing ten goals. Kings lost two of first three games.

Series records
-- Rangers won five of their last seven games with the Islanders.
-- Ducks won five of last six games with Philly.
-- Sharks won five of last six games with Washington.
-- Blue Jackets won their last four games with Dallas.
-- Road team won last four Colorado-Toronto games.
-- Home side won six of last seven New Jersey-Tampa Bay games.
-- Sabres lost five of last six games with Carolina.
-- Predators won four of last five games with Calgary.
-- Kings won 13 of their last 15 games with Edmonton.

Totals
-- Five of last seven Islander-Ranger games stayed under total.
-- Three of last four Anaheim-Philly games went over total.
-- Four of last six San Jose-Washington games stayed under.
-- 12 of last 17 Columbus-Dallas games stayed under.
-- First three Colorado games stayed under total; first three Toronto games went over.
-- Last three Devil-Lightning games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 4-1-1 in last six Buffalo-Carolina games.
-- Last seven Calgary-Nashville games went over total.
-- Under is 8-1-1 in last ten Edmonton-Los Angeles games.

**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:57 AM

NHL

Tuesday, October 14

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
ANAHEIM vs. PHILADELPHIA
Anaheim is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Anaheim's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing at home against Anaheim
Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Anaheim

7:00 PM
DALLAS vs. COLUMBUS
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Dallas's last 18 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Dallas's last 10 games when playing on the road against Columbus
Columbus is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Columbus's last 18 games when playing Dallas

7:00 PM
NY ISLANDERS vs. NY RANGERS
NY Islanders are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
NY Islanders are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of the NY Rangers last 10 games when playing at home against NY Islanders
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the NY Rangers last 7 games when playing NY Islanders

7:00 PM
SAN JOSE vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 6 games when playing Washington
San Jose is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing at home against San Jose
Washington is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against San Jose

7:30 PM
BUFFALO vs. CAROLINA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 6 games when playing Carolina
Buffalo is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Carolina
Carolina is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Buffalo
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Carolina's last 5 games when playing at home against Buffalo

7:30 PM
COLORADO vs. TORONTO
Colorado is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado
Toronto is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games

7:30 PM
NEW JERSEY vs. TAMPA BAY
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Jersey's last 6 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
New Jersey is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against New Jersey
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing at home against New Jersey

8:00 PM
CALGARY vs. NASHVILLE
Calgary is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Calgary is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Nashville
Nashville is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Nashville is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

10:30 PM
EDMONTON vs. LOS ANGELES
Edmonton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Edmonton is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Los Angeles is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games

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**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:58 AM

NHL

Tuesday, October 14

Long-term results show Sharks dominating Caps

If you look at the long-term history between the San Jose Sharks and the Washington Capitals, you'll see the results are completely lopsided.

The Sharks have absolutely dominated the Caps, going 19-3-1 in their last 23 games versus Washington. The teams will face off again in Washington Tuesday.

San Jose is presently slight -107 faves with an O/U of 5.5.

Blue Jackets sizzling on the Over at home

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been lighting up the scoreboard at home, evidenced by the Over going 5-0 in their last five games at Nationwide Arena.

The Jackets host the Dallas Stars in NHL action Tuesday.

Columbus is presently -126 moneyline faves, with the total sitting at 5.5.

Road team coming out on top in Rangers-Isles clashes

The battle of New York has been dominated by the road team in recent Rangers-Islanders games.

The visiting club is 7-1 in the last eight meetings between the two teams. That trend will appeal to Islanders backers, as the Isles invade Madison Square Garden for a date with the Rangers Tuesday.

The Rangers are currently -142 moneyline faves with a total of 5.5.

Anaheim loves facing Philadelphia

The Anaheim Ducks have had the Philadelphia Flyers' number in recent games.

Anaheim has won five out of the last six contests between the two teams. They'll renew acquaintances Tuesday in Philly.

The Ducks are currently -110 faves on the moneyline with a total of 5.5.

**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 08:58 AM

NHL

Tuesday, October 14

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NHL roundup: Flyers' Lecavalier to miss two weeks
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The Philadelphia Flyers said Monday that forward Vincent Lecavalier will miss two weeks with a lower-body injury.

Lecavalier appeared to sustain an injury to his left foot when he blocked a shot taken by defenseman Mark Streit during a 4-3 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. He played a season-high 16:10 Saturday and was one of the Flyers' four shooters in the shootout. Lecavalier walked out of Wells Fargo Center with a boot on his left foot, according to Philly.com.

The 34-year-old has a goal and two assists in three games this season.

The Flyers also announced defenseman Samuel Morin, the 11th pick of the 2013 draft, will miss approximately four to five weeks with a fractured jaw.

---The Buffalo Sabres will host the 2016 NHL draft at First Niagara Center, the Sabres and the NHL announced.

The 2016 draft will be held over two days -- Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25, 2016.

---The Chicago Blackhawks activated forward Brandon Mashinter from injured reserve and assigned him to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.

Mashinter, 26, agreed to a two-year deal with the Blackhawks in March, but had been sidelined by an undisclosed injury.

---The Dallas Stars reassigned left winger Curtis McKenzie to Texas of the American Hockey League.

Dallas had recalled McKenzie on Sunday. McKenzie, 23, posted a goal in Texas' season-opening game Saturday night against Iowa.

---Center Matthew Lombardi signed a contract Monday to rejoin Geneve-Servette of Switzerland following last week's release from the New York Rangers.

Lombardi, 32, left the Swiss league during the offseason to sign with the Rangers in the hopes of reviving his NHL career. He suffered a lower-body ailment which sidelined him for a good part of training camp and the preseason.

---Boston Bruins center David Krejci made his season debut Monday after missing three games with an undisclosed injury.

--- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson was not expecting disciplinary action from the league for his elbow on Minnesota's Erik Haula. Johnson was ejected after Haula fell to the ice grabbing his face.

---Buffalo Sabres left wing Marcus Foligno was scratched for Monday's game due to an unspecified injury.

---Anaheim Ducks defenseman Bryan Allen was scratched Monday because of a lower-body injury, but he might return sometime during the team's four-game road trip.

---Marc Methot, who is normally on Ottawa's top defense pairing with Erik Karlsson, has yet to play this season due to a back injury, and there is no announced timetable for his return.

--Florida Panthers right wing Jimmy Hayes, inactive for the first two games, made his season debut Monday.

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**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 09:57 AM

NHL

Tuesday, October 14

Away favorites heating up the ice

We are a week into the new NHL season and it has been away favorites who have found the most success so far.

Road favorites are now an impressive 9-1-1 straight up this year, good for a success rate of almost 82 percent.

Currently Anaheim (-117) at Philadelphia is the only road favorite on the board for Tuesday's action.

**Udog** · 10-14-2014, 10:00 AM

MLB

Tuesday, October 14

O's producing high totals on grass

After getting rained out Monday, Game 3 of the ALCS goes Tuesday and after jumping out to a 2-0 lead, the Kansas City Royals will look to keep the momentum going as the series shifts to Missouri.

The Royals have now won six straight playoff games. Despite their recent struggles, the O's have had no problem producing high totals on grass surfaces, as the Over is 7-1 in Baltimore's last eight games on grass. Over bettors will hope that trend continues when the two teams face off at Kauffman Stadium - a natural surface.

Wei-Yen Chen will get the ball for Baltimore, while Jeremy Guthrie counters on the bump for K.C.

The Orioles are currently -115 faves on the moneyline with a total of 7.5.

Announcement

Tuesday's Trends and Indexes - 10/14 (MLB, NHL, CFL, Misc.)

Tuesday's Trends and Indexes - 10/14 (MLB, NHL, CFL, Misc.)

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