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  • MNF - Ravens at Colts
    August 20, 2018
    By Tony Mejia


    Baltimore (-1.5/43) at Indianapolis, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN: Since they participated in the Hall of Fame game, the Ravens are in a situation where they’re playing their third preseason game but would have otherwise had their traditional dress rehearsal game on Saturay at Miami. If nothing else, it gave John Harbaugh options regarding his approach to this one. Harbaugh has called this his team’s best camp ever “in terms of guys focused on improving every day and becoming one percent better at what they do from one day to the next.”

    Joe Flacco and Lamar Jackson entered the preseason seemingly placed against one another due to reports of a snub and the perception that Flacco was threatened by the rookie’s presence. If that’s been the case, it’s served to light a fire under the veteran, who looked great leading the Ravens down the field in his first drive against the Rams on Aug. 9 and has put together some excellent practices. Jackson has shown flashes of brilliance, so it will be fun to see both take snaps against defenses they’ve been working against. The Colts have first-year coordinators on both sides of the ball working under first-year head coach Frank Reich, so they’ll want to be competitive here and against San Francisco on Saturday night.

    Despite the new leadership, the return of a familiar face has been the central focus for the 2018 Colts since Andrew Luck has been able to throw the ball without pain once again and is on track to restore hope by opening the regular season under center. Luck led Indianapolis down the field against Seattle in his first action, converting on a 4th-and-1, taking his first live-action hits and leading the offense to a pair of field goals in finishing 6-for-9 for 66 yards.

    Luck isn’t running away from the fact that his downfield passing is not where it needs to be or that he’s more comfortable firing away on short throws, but he’s progressing and will look to take another step forward here.

    Indianapolis defeated the Seahawks 19-17 at CenturyLink Field, scoring their only touchdown on a two-play drive led by third-stringer Phillip Walker. With Brad Kaaya on the roster, the Colts have four quarterbacks but have thus far resisted every temptation to trade backup Jacoby Brissett, which can be considered proof that the team isn’t necessarily sold that Luck can survive the entire season or that either Walker or Kaaya can be quality backups, which makes this a huge week for everyone. Owner Jim Irsay has called Brissett the NFL’s top backup and a Boston Globe report that Seattle was rebuffed despite offering a second-round pick in return for his services would indicate he’s going nowhere, so both teams will have guys who can really test a defense at the controls for at least the opening half.

    Robert Griffin III can be added to that mix as well since the Ravens’ reclamation project has played well, completing 12-of-18 passes and throwing two touchdowns and an interception that wasn’t his fault.

    For veteran roster hopefuls like RB Kenneth Dixon and WR Breshad Perriman, Baltimore’s ability to move the ball effectively will give them a fair shot to try and stick around despite a crowded competition at the skill positions. Josh Woodrum, who was on the team’s practice squad last season and is well-versed in the system, would wrap up if Harbaugh opts to play four quarterbacks.

    The Colts saw Frank Gore leave for Miami, so they’ve got quite the competition going to ensure they have viable replacements in place. Marlon Mack is the heir apparent after appearing in 14 games as a result last season, while former Seahawks Robert Turbin and Christine Michael are also on board in addition to fourth-round pick Nyheim Hines (NC State) and Jordan Wilkins (Ole Miss) and veterans Tion Green, Branden Oliver and holdover Josh Ferguson.

    With Buck Allen and Alex Collins healthy and back in the mix at running back, Baltimore has Dixon attempting to fight off undrafted free agent Gus Edwards, who has led the team in rushing in each of the first two games. Another undrafted player, receiver Janarion Grant, is making a bid to hang on the roster due to his explosiveness and ability to also perform on special teams.

    A final Saturday joint workout with the Colts that featured a couple of fights which could make the atmosphere for this one spicy, especially given that the time to impress is dwindling. Week 2 of the preseason saw more questionable calls change games and penalties looking to crack down on lowering their helmet to initiate contact whistled often, but some of the games have been unwatchable due to stoppages on every play. We'll see how Reich, a University of Maryland alum, fares against Baltimore in his first home game. Harbaugh is 30-12 in exhibition games, sporting the second-highest winning percentage among head coaches with at least one season of experience behind only Minnesota's Mike Zimmer.

    The Colts opened as a 1.5-point favorite but has seen that number flip to favor the visiting Ravens. If you're betting Baltimore, a money line option (-120) may be the way to go as a result. The total moved from 41 to 43.
    Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

    Comment


    • MONDAY, AUGUST 20
      GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


      BAL at IND 08:00 PM
      IND +2.0
      O 43.0
      Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

      Comment


      • Ravens crash Luck's homecoming with 20-19 preseason win
        August 20, 2018


        INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Joe Flacco threw a touchdown pass in the first half, Lamar Jackson added another in the second half and the Baltimore Ravens ruined Andrew Luck's Indianapolis homecoming by topping the Colts 20-19 on Monday night.


        Flacco looked sharp, going 7 of 9 for 72 yards before departing.


        Jackson then showed flashes of what helped him win the 2016 Heisman Trophy. He was 7 of 15 for 49 yards and carried four times for 26 yards before giving way to another Heisman winner, Robert Griffin III, in the fourth quarter.


        But Colts fans wanted to see what Luck would do for an encore following a solid start in their preseason opener at Seattle.


        This time, Luck had a tough night. He threw an interception before logging his first completion, took a hard hit from Terrell Suggs on the first of two sacks and only led Indy on one scoring drive - setting up 45-year-old Adam Vinateiri for a 57-yard field goal.


        Luck was 6 of 13 for 50 yards with a quarterback rating of 24.5.


        The Colts (1-1) blew one red-zone scoring chance on Luck's pick and another when they turned the ball over on downs at the Ravens 3 in the third quarter. They got their first touchdown when Jordan Wilkins' fumble bounced right into the hands of Chester Rogers in the end zone.


        After Tarell Basham's fumble recovery at the Ravens 9 led to Phillip Walker's TD pass to Zach Pascal with 2:24 left, giving the Colts a chance to come back, Walker was stopped short on the 2-poiont conversion run.


        Baltimore recovered the onside kick to seal it.


        Flacco gave the Ravens a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter when he hooked up with John Brown for a 7-yard score.


        After Indy made it 10-7 on Rogers' improbable score, Jackson led a masterful hurry-up drive at the end of the first half, which ended with Justin Tucker's 38-yard field goal with 2 seconds left.


        The Ravens' backup quarterback took advantage again after Colts rookie Nyheim Hines lost a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half.


        Five plays later, Jackson hooked up with Chris Moore on a 7-yard TD pass to make it 17-10 - a lead the Ravens never relinquished.


        Baltimore's Kaare Vedvik made a 48-yard field goal and Indy's Michael Badgley also made a 43-yarder in the fourth quarter.


        STAYING CALM


        Saturday's joint practice between the teams was marred by two skirmishes, one which resulted in both teams running from the sideline to the middle of the field.


        Though the officials called 21 penalties, including five that went for at least 15 yards, there were no such incidents Monday after Colts coach Frank Reich publicly criticized his team for being undisciplined in practice.


        NATIONAL ANTHEM


        There were no protests by either team during Monday's national anthem.


        During pregame warmups, Colts players donned T-shirts promoting their new message ''Breaking Barriers,'' a community effort team officials and players hope will promote equality and justice for everyone while unlocking more opportunities for those who don't always get them.


        The Colts say there are three key components: Creating dialogue within the community, inspiring local citizens to lead and funding community initiatives such as the team's newly established Social Justice Club Fund. The Colts also plan to award grants from the Players Action Fund, which was boosted by a $100,000 donation from team owner Jim Irsay when it formed last year.


        INJURIES


        Ravens: Right guard Marshal Yanda and cornerback Jimmy Smith did not play. Rookie Orlando Brown Jr. made the start on the offensive line. But the Ravens did not announce any significant injuries during the game.


        Colts: Indy played without receiver T.Y. Hilton (shoulder), running back Marlon Mack (hamstring), left tackle Anthony Castonzo (hamstring) and safety Malik Hooker (knee) - all projected starters. Starting safety Clayton Geathers saw his first game action since undergoing offseason knee injury. But after losing their top two running backs in Seattle - Mack and Robert Turbin (ankle) - they lost another one, Josh Ferguson (groin), on Monday. Ferguson did not return.


        UP NEXT


        Ravens: Visit Miami on Saturday,


        Colts: Host Seattle on Saturday.
        Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

        Comment


        • WEEK 3

          Thursday, August 23, 2018
          Time (ET) Away Home
          8:00 PM Philadelphia Eagles Cleveland Browns

          Friday, August 24, 2018
          Time (ET) Away Home
          7:30 PM New England Patriots Carolina Panthers
          7:30 PM New York Giants New York Jets
          7:30 PM Denver Broncos Washington Redskins
          8:00 PM Seattle Seahawks Minnesota Vikings
          8:00 PM Detroit Lions Tampa Bay Buccaneers
          10:30 PM Green Bay Packers Oakland Raiders

          Saturday, August 25, 2018
          Time (ET) Away Home
          1:00 PM Kansas City Chiefs Chicago Bears
          4:00 PM Houston Texans Los Angeles Rams
          4:00 PM Tennessee Titans Pittsburgh Steelers
          4:30 PM San Francisco 49ers Indianapolis Colts
          7:00 PM Atlanta Falcons Jacksonville Jaguars
          7:00 PM Baltimore Ravens Miami Dolphins
          8:00 PM New Orleans Saints Los Angeles Chargers

          Sunday, August 26, 2018
          Time (ET) Away Home
          4:00 PM Cincinnati Bengals Buffalo Bills
          8:00 PM Arizona Cardinals Dallas Cowboys


          *************************


          NFL PRESEASON RECORD:

          DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

          08/20/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
          08/18/2018 8-5-1 61.53% +12.50
          08/17/2018 3-7-0 30.00% -23.50
          08/16/2018 5-1-0 83.33% +19.50
          08/11/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
          08/10/2018 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
          08/09/2018 10-14-0 41.66% -27.00
          08/02/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50

          TOTALS...........31- 34........47.69%.....-32.00
          Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

          Comment


          • Who's Hot and Who's Not
            August 20, 2018


            Week of August 20th

            After touching on the fact last week that Week 1 of this year's NFL preseason brought about plenty of high-scoring games that cashed 'over' tickets (11-5 O/U), we predictably saw some regression to the mean in Week 2.

            We've still got a Monday Night Football game left between Baltimore and Indianapolis tonight to conclude Week 2, but O/U results so far for the week sit at 6-9 O/U as we saw some much better defense being played on the whole, as well as some missteps offensively as rotations get ironed out.

            With Week 3 rapidly approaching and many franchises still designating the week as the “dress rehersal” for the upcoming season, isolating situations were profits could be had is the goal of this piece this week as we look to add a few more units to our bankroll before the games actually mean something.

            So with the overall O/U mark for the entire NFL preseason (minus the HOF game) now sitting at 17-14 (pending MNF tonight) I'll be touching on a profitable total situation that paid dividends in Week 2 as well as another NFL preseason ATS trend that's worth being aware of. Let's get right to it:

            Who's Hot

            Longest tenured NFL coaches ATS in 2018 preseason (7-1 SU and ATS through two weeks)

            This trend was an odd one that came up during my research but I thought it was best to point it out simply because coaching experience can matter in the preseason on a multitude of levels. But through two weeks of the preseason in 2018, the four longest tenured coaches in the league – Bill Belichick (New England), Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati), Sean Payton (New Orleans) and Mike McCarthy (Green Bay) - are 7-1 SU and ATS as it appears as though these coaches that have “been there, done that” may have finally found a way to successfully navigate through a preseason with positive results and minimal health concerns.

            Laying out a preseason schedule can be very tough for NFL coaches as they try to find that perfect balance between improving their team, getting their guys in proper “football shape”, and staying healthy at the same time. Guys who've been around for awhile have tried many different things over the years with mixed results, but in 2018 it looks like all of that experience and experimentation has allowed those four coaches to find the ideal work/health balance for their team's this summer.

            Obviously that could change over the next two weeks as New England, Cincinnati, New Orleans, and Green Bay – three of which have highly experienced, and arguably the best QB's in the game – probably lean more towards the health and rest part the rest of the way, but it's hard to ignore the fact that the only coaches in the league that have been with their respective teams since at least 2006 are cashing at an 87% clip ATS.

            With the “dress rehearsal” coming, and those teams likely giving their starters at least a half or so to work with, I'd be keeping an eye on projected playing time reports from those squads this entire week. Knowing that these coaches are going to give their starters a full 1st half, three quarters, or just one quarter etc, could make all the difference in determining whether to play on them ATS or not this week.

            New England and Green Bay are the first of the four to kick things off (Friday) in Week 3 with road games in Carolina and Oakland respectively, and both the Pats and Packers are currently catching just under a FG in those games. Cincinnati and New Orleans are also on the road and listed as small road dogs as well, so with all four of these sides catching points, maybe some underdog ML plays on a few of these four teams is the best way to begin attacking the Week 3 preseason betting board.

            Who's Not

            'Overs' in NFL Preseason when a NFC team is hosting an AFC team (2-5 O/U in Week 2)

            It wasn't hard to expect a few more 'unders' cashing in Week 2 after the scoring barrage we saw in Week 1, but while the overall record for totals in Week 2 sits at 6-9 O/U, the best role for those nine 'unders' came when we had a NFC team hosting an AFC team.

            There were seven such games in Week 2 with the NFC side at home, and of those seven contests, five of them managed to cash 'under' tickets – including a perfect 0-3 O/U run on Saturday alone. The two outliers were the 85-point shootout we had between Pittsburgh and Green Bay, and the 47 points Miami/Carolina finished with thanks to a 22-point final frame on Thursday night.

            If it wasn't for that late scoring surge in that Dolphins/Panthers game, this number would be even better, and when you consider that of all the 14 'unders' we've seen cash through two weeks of the preseason, half of them (7) have come when a NFC team has hosted an AFC team, it's probably those contests you'll want to lean low with from the start.

            Week 3 brings us four such occurrences (Denver at Washington, New England at Carolina, Kansas City at Chicago, and Houston at L.A. Rams) and all of them have totals currently listed at 43 or higher. The New England/Carolina game is the highest of the bunch as it currently sits at 46 almost everywhere, and given that each of those teams are 2-0 O/U respectively, I wouldn't be surprised to see plenty of 'over' action push that number higher as the week goes on.

            However, New England already gave their starters the full 1st half last week in their Super Bowl rematch game vs Philly, so a full “dress rehearsal might be out of the question for them, and I'm not sure Carolina wants to risk Cam getting hurt at this stage of the summer by keeping him out there for too long this week. If bettors look to push this number up higher as the days go on, it will be a situation where the only way you should really be looking then is to go low.

            Of the four games that fit this scenario, this Patriots/Panthers game is probably the best candidate for an 'under' play regardless to keep this trend going, and it's one I'll be considering going heavy on over the next 48 hours.
            Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

            Comment


            • TNF - Eagles at Browns
              August 22, 2018


              Thursday Night Football Preview (FOX, 8:00 p.m. ET)
              Philadelphia Eagles vs Cleveland Browns


              Week 3 of the preseason gets going with the defending champs visiting the lone winless team from a year ago as this will likely be the last time fans get to see many of their team's starters until the games start to count for real. That's probably a good thing for Philadelphia fans as they've had plenty of injury scares this entire preseason, and a lot of their projected starters will be held out for this contest too.

              How that affects what we see from the Eagles on TNF remains to be seen, but I doubt we see the Eagles coaching staff push things too much for fear of another key body going down.

              Odds: Cleveland (-3); Total set at 41.5

              After making a run to the top overall seed in the NFC and parlaying that into a Super Bowl victory a year ago, the Philadelphia Eagles aren't about to rush things in the preseason just for the sake of getting better. The Eagles coaching staff has a great idea of what they've got in their roster and all the injuries they've suffered this summer are at least not long term in most cases and said players should be ready for September.

              However, that same Eagles coaching staff would like to see a bit more effort and progress from the guys that are out there in the preseason as Philly has been blown out in both preseason games so far (albeit by some very good teams in Pittsburgh and New England) as they allowed 30+ points in both defeats. That's a bit of an indictment on this Eagles defensive unit, one that has suffered the fewest injuries on the team and one that came into the year with plenty of question marks as well. So with HC Doug Pederson already stating that he'd like to see his (healthy) starters play at least a half, I do believe we see the Eagles defense look much better than they have all preseason. Yet, the question is whether or not improved play by the Eagles defense will be enough for them to cover this spread.

              Personally, I don't believe it will be as the Eagles offense is about as banged up as a unit can be. They are sending backup Nick Foles out there as a “starter” for the majority of the first half – a week after he narrowly missed a scary upper body injury himself – and they are only going to come into the game with two healthy RB's on the roster (Wendell Smallwood and Matt Jones). Neither of those guys are expected to get significant playing time once the games count for real, but they both could end up being the workhorses here.

              The Eagles WR depth is still quite thin at this moment and after Foles nearly was lost for awhile last week, I expect plenty of hand offs and running plays from this Eagles team that's just looking to get through this 60 minutes as healthy as can be. Compare all that with a Cleveland team that's basically got ongoing competitions for starting roles at nearly every position and you've got to lay the -3 with the Browns or pass all together on the side.

              The total is the wager I'm more interested in making though as with starters on both defensive units likely on the field for at least 30 minutes, points may turn out to be at a premium here. I've already touched on Philly's need to see some significant improvement on the defensive side of the ball which should show up here, but Cleveland's defense has been solid through two weeks as well and I don't see that changing either – especially with Philly's run-heavy, vanilla attack.

              Cleveland is already 0-2 O/U in the preseason this year, yet, because of Philly allowing 30+ in both games, the majority of early action on this total (75%) has come in on the high side of this number. But this total has actually dropped a full point since opening at 42.5 despite all that action, and that's a reverse line move I simply can't ignore.

              After last week's 19-17 loss at home to Buffalo cashed another 'under' ticket for the Browns, Cleveland is now on a 0-7 O/U run in home games during the preseason the past few years, and regardless of venue the last seven years during “dress rehearsal” Week 3 preseason games, the Browns as an organization are on a 1-4-2 O/U run with final scores averaging 36.8 points.

              Seeing this game finish with about 37 points is where I've got this one pegged finishing, and all things considered (situation, trends, reverse line move) it's the best way to attack this game.


              Best Bet: Under 41.5 points
              Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

              Comment


              • THURSDAY, AUGUST 23
                GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


                PHI at CLE 08:00 PM
                CLE -3.0
                U 41.5
                Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                Comment


                • Foles throws 2 picks, champion Eagles lose 5-0 to Browns
                  August 23, 2018


                  CLEVELAND (AP) Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles threw two interceptions and Philadelphia's starting offense struggled again while waiting for quarterback Carson Wentz to return as the Eagles were beaten 5-0 on Thursday night by the Cleveland Browns.

                  Foles was hoping to bounce back from a rough outing against New England last week, when he also injured his right shoulder. His overall statistics were better (13 of 17 for 127 yards) against the Browns (2-1), but he made two poor decisions while throwing the first-half picks, was stripped for a fumble and sacked for a safety.

                  Foles emerged as an unlikely star last year when he replaced an injured Wentz and led the Eagles (0-3) to their first Super Bowl title. However, he's only starting now as Wentz recovers from knee surgery. Wentz recently began working in 11-on-11 drills, but he's not been cleared for contact and there's no clear timetable when he'll play.

                  The Eagles need him. They committed four turnovers, allowed seven sacks and missed a field goal.

                  Cleveland had a familiar quarterback scare.

                  Starter Tyrod Taylor injured his left hand in the first quarter, and the sight of him heading to the sideline sent a shiver through fans in FirstEnergy Stadium. Rookie Baker Mayfield replaced him for two series before Taylor returned. Cleveland's starter finished 11 of 16 for 65 yards.

                  Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick, played the entire second half and went 8 of 12 for 76 yards and an interception.

                  With Foles behind center, the Eagles' first-team offense, which was missing wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor and running backs Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles, hasn't scored a point in three exhibitions.

                  Foles floated a long pass that safety Briean Boddy-Calhoun easily intercepted . Then, with a chance to finally score, Foles forced a throw into a crowd near the goal line and was picked by linebacker Jamie Collins.

                  The Browns were driving for a score when Taylor got hurt.

                  On fourth-and-goal and from Philadelphia's 1, Taylor rolled left and fired an incompletion into the end zone before falling out of bounds on his left side without contact. He immediately grabbed his left hand and jogged to the sideline to be examined.

                  Taylor spent about 15 minutes in the locker room before coming back to the sideline. He had a brief conversation with coach Hue Jackson, who sent the 29-year-old back onto the field after Mayfield filled in.

                  The Browns intend for Taylor to start this season while Mayfield develops, with the only thing that might alter the plan being an injury - something Cleveland knows all too well while cycling through 28 starting QBs since 1999.

                  NATIONAL ANTHEM

                  Eagles starting safety Malcolm Jenkins remained in the tunnel during the national anthem, and defensive end Michael Bennett also was not on the field. Jenkins and Bennett have been among of the league's most outspoken players during the ongoing controversy over players expressing their political views during ''The Star-Spangled Banner.'' Jenkins previously stood on the sideline with a raised fist to protest social injustice.

                  WENTZ WATCH

                  Wentz worked out on the field hours before kickoff with a group of Eagles receivers. He looked good on his drops while rifling slant routes and quick-hitters.

                  TOUCH DOWN

                  Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was credited with sacking Foles in the end zone for the game's first two points.

                  Foles lost his footing while backing up, fell to one knee and was touched by Garrett. Foles completed a pass on the play, but the Browns challenged it and were awarded a safety.

                  GONZO


                  Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez helped his chances to keep his job with a 54-yard field goal. Gonzalez is competing with Ross Martin.

                  INJURIES

                  Eagles: Starting C Jason Kelce limped off after making a block during the opening series. He did agility and stretching drills under the guidance of the training staff and returned for Philadelphia's next possession.

                  Browns: First-round pick Denzel Ward suffered a back injury in the first quarter and did not return. Ward appeared to get twisted while tackling 250-pound tight end Zach Ertz. Ward, the No. 4 overall pick, was on the field for several minutes before walking off on his own power. ... Starting S Damarious Randall did not dress because of a knee injury. He was not on the team's original ''not expected to play'' list and may have gotten hurt during warmups. ... Rookie WR Antonio Callaway did not dress after missing three practices with a groin injury.

                  UP NEXT

                  Eagles: Host the New York Jets on Aug. 30.

                  Browns: Visit the Detroit Lions on Aug. 30.
                  Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                  Comment


                  • Friday, August 24, 2018
                    Time (ET) Away Home
                    7:30 PM New England Patriots Carolina Panthers
                    7:30 PM New York Giants New York Jets
                    7:30 PM Denver Broncos Washington Redskins
                    8:00 PM Seattle Seahawks Minnesota Vikings
                    8:00 PM Detroit Lions Tampa Bay Buccaneers
                    10:30 PM Green Bay Packers Oakland Raiders


                    ************************


                    NFL PRESEASON RECORD:

                    DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

                    08/23/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
                    08/20/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
                    08/18/2018 8-5-1 61.53% +12.50
                    08/17/2018 3-7-0 30.00% -23.50
                    08/16/2018 5-1-0 83.33% +19.50
                    08/11/2018 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
                    08/10/2018 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
                    08/09/2018 10-14-0 41.66% -27.00
                    08/02/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50

                    TOTALS...........33- 34........49.25%.....-22.00
                    Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                    Comment


                    • Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

                      From Covers, the best “under” umpires in the majors:

                      1. Dan Bellino 16-3

                      2. Mike DiMuro 12-3

                      t3. Ramon De Jesus 8-3
                      t3. Bruce Dreckman 16-6

                      5. Quinn Wolcott 15-6

                      t6. Mike Estabrook 17-7
                      t6. Doug Eddings 17-7

                      8. Jim Reynolds 14-6

                      **********

                      Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Random stuff with the weekend here……

                      13) Next weekend, after the last preseason games, NFL teams will cut their rosters from 90 guys to 53; thats 1,184 players who will be out of a job. Lot of them will move to other teams and make other guys unemployed; couple hundred will get signed to practice squads, but it is high drama and it is why the last episode of Hard Knocks (Sept 4) will be excellent TV.

                      12) 2019 baseball schedule notes:
                      In addition to the A’s-Mariners series in Japan next March, Monterrey, Mexico will host a couple of two-game series; Reds-Cardinals in April, Angels-Astros in May.

                      AL East rivals New York-Boston are playing a two-game series in London in late June.

                      Royals-Tigers will play a game in Omaha, two days before the College World Series starts.

                      Pirates-Cubs are playing in the Little League Classic, in Williamsport.

                      11) The NL Wild Card race is so tightly bunched; someone came up with a scenario where eight teams in the NL would all wind up with the same record. How would those ties be broken?

                      Here’s the thing: right now, the current tie-breaking procedures don’t go any further than a four-way Wild Card tie. What if five teams tie? Its not likely, but it could happen.

                      From MLB.com:
                      “If MLB found itself in a situation not covered by the existing rules, it would be up to the Commissioner’s Office — likely with input from the Competition Committee — to determine the best course of action.”

                      10) Tampa Bay Rays swept a 3-game series in Kansas City May 14-16; of the 25 Rays who were in that series, only ten of them are still with Tampa Bay, and they’re somehow 66-61. Tremendous amount of turnover during the season for a major league team.

                      9) Browns 5, Eagles 0— Third week of exhibition games are supposed to be dress rehearsals for the regular season opener; this game was very, very ugly. Both teams have reason to worry about their offense.

                      Back in 1970, an NFL playoff game also ended 5-0; Dallas beat Detroit. I was 10 at the time, so not sure if that game was as bad as this one, but it was a more important one.

                      8) MGM is opening a new hotel/casino in Springfield, MA this weekend; they’ve been sending me lot of info, both online and in mail- I live 90 miles from Springfield. Aggressive marketing.

                      7) Bill Parcells turned 77 years old this week; as a player, he was a tackle drafted in the 7th round of the 1964 draft by the Detroit Lions.

                      The pick before Parcells? Cowboys drafted WR Bob Hayes, who was a very fast man- he played 11 years in the NFL and averaged 20 yards per catch.

                      6) Madison Bumgarner is also one of only five players in baseball to hit a home run off each of Jacob deGrom, Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Bumgarner, obviously, is the only pitcher to do that.

                      Other four: Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos González, Hunter Pence and Gregory Polanco

                      5) Royals’ 2B Whit Merrifield is the only player this season with three hitting streaks of 12+ games.

                      4) One thing I’ve learned from watching too much TV: everyone who rides one of those Peloton exercise bikes looks like a model or an Olympic athlete. Maybe I should get one; my current bike hasn’t improved my looks any (its a joke!!!)

                      Peloton must have an unlimited advertising budget; commercials are on all the time.

                      3) From Covers, the best “over” umpires in the majors:
                      1. Chris Guccione 16-4
                      2. David Rackley 14-5
                      3. Adrian Johnson 16-6
                      4. Brian Knight 15-6
                      5. Roberto Ortiz 7-3
                      t6. Ted Barrett 16-7
                      t6. Jim Wolf 16-7
                      8. Kerwin Danley 15-7

                      2) Urban Meyer gets suspended for the first three games of the season, for not firing one of his assistant coaches, who should’ve been fired. Buckeyes’ first three games are against Oregon State, Rutgers and TCU- that TCU game will be very interesting.

                      If you care about such things, Ohio State was -12 over TCU before Meyer’s suspension; they are now -10.

                      1) Interim coach at Ohio State is Ryan Day, who was once a college QB at New Hampshire, where the offensive coordinator was a guy named Chip Kelly. There are rumors that Day passed on the chance to be the Tennessee Titans’ OC this season, in order to stay at Ohio State. Interesting decision.
                      Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                      Comment


                      • Friday's Top Wager
                        August 23, 2018


                        By Kyle Markus

                        NFL Preview - Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers


                        Jameis Winston has been lighting it up this preseason, but he better soak it in, because he will have to sit down in a few weeks. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback is suspended for the first three games of the season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. With that in mind, Winston may play more in Tampa Bay’s third preseason game this week against the Detroit Lions than normal.

                        Keep an eye on that development, because an active Winston would give the Bucs a solid shot at covering the spread. The Lions have an established quarterback in Matthew Stafford who doesn’t want to get injured in a meaningless game. He has only thrown five passes during the exhibition slate and seems likely to play less than Winston.

                        The Buccaneers are 2-0 this preseason and seem to have a good shot at remaining undefeated against the Lions this week in NFL odds.

                        This NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida at 8 p.m ET on Friday, August 124th, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on CBS.

                        We'll have NFL football odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NFL season.

                        Odds Analysis

                        The Buccaneers are entering this matchup as a 3.5-point favorite. The majority of money is coming in on the Lions, since keeping the outcome to a field goal would result in a cover. The scoring total is listed at 45 points, with the “over” the more common choice by gamblers.

                        Tampa Bay is a -165 favorite on the moneyline, which is pretty high for a preseason game. The Lions are getting a lot of action as the +144 underdog in NFL gambling.

                        Last Time Out

                        The Buccaneers looked crisp in their second preseason game last week against the Titans, capturing a 30-14 victory. Winston was phenomenal, completing 13-of-18 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. He had a passer rating of 151.4 in the game and will aim to turn heads again.

                        Ryan Fitzpatrick will start the first three games of the season in Winston’s absence. He was just 5-of-13 for 46 yards last time out and will aim to build a better rhythm with the first starters heading into the regular season.

                        The Lions fell to the Giants by a score of 30-17 in Week 2 of the preseason. Stafford was only 2-of-5 for 51 yards and was sacked twice. He would like to find more success in this one but it doesn’t matter that much because he’s such a veteran that the preseason is basically meaningless.

                        Key Stat

                        73. That’s the number of receiving yards DeSean Jackson had last time out. He is still a huge big play threat and one or two connections in this one could alter the outcome. Winston likes to go vertical with his passes, so see if there are plans to play those two together in this preseason game.

                        Free NFL ATS Picks

                        The Buccaneers may struggle in the regular season, but for now Winston is throwing pinpoint passes and his receivers are hauling them in. Detroit does not care about this game too much and it’s easy to see why the spread is so high.

                        Look for the Buccaneers to jump out to a nice lead early and then hold on for the cover. Preseason games don’t usually generate drama but this one will for gamblers in NFL odds.

                        NFL ATS Pick:
                        Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Detroit Lions 20
                        Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                        Comment


                        • Friday's Top Parlay
                          August 23, 2018


                          By Tom Wilkinson

                          NFL Preseason Betting – Packers vs. Raiders


                          The Oakland Raiders are solid favorites at home on Friday night, as they host the Green Bay Packers on NFL Network. There is a good chance that the Packers will not play Aaron Rodgers on Friday, so it could Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer getting all of the work. On the other side, the Raiders are expected to give their starters at least a half on Friday. Let’s look at the matchup and NFL picks.

                          Date and Time: Friday, August 24, 2018, 10:30 p.m. ET
                          Location: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
                          NFL Odds: Raiders -6, O/U 41
                          Packers vs. Raiders TV Coverage: NFL Network


                          Normally teams give their starters a lot of work in the third preseason game, but the Packers don’t look like they are going to risk Rodgers any more in the preseason. He played one series last week against the Steelers and looked great. Rodgers has been taking snaps with the scout team in practice this week, while Hundley has been working with the No. 1 offense. The Packers are probably going to keep both Hundley and Kizer, so Thursday’s game will be an important one for both players as they look to win the backup job.

                          Head coach Mike McCarthy said that both players have made progress. “They both are making progress,” McCarthy said to the media, “I’m really pleased with the step Brett has made since last year. It’s very apparent just in his whole operation and production of the offense. DeShone comes from a whole different perspective as far as his starting point. He continues to get better. Very pleased with the progress of those quarterbacks.”

                          Hundley has completed 15 of 23 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and one interception in two preseason games. He also run for a TD. Kizer has completed 16 of 30 passes for 283 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Hundley will probably get the start in this game on Friday.

                          The Raiders are expected to give their starters the most work of the preseason, so expect to see David Carr for at least the first half. The Raiders offense has former Packer Jordy Nelson in the starting lineup and he will get a lot of attention on Friday.

                          Players to Watch

                          It will be interesting to watch Nelson play against his former team. Nelson has come into Oakland and won the starting job opposite Amari Cooper. It has already become clear that Nelson will be the receiver that Carr trusts on third down. Cooper is the player that everyone always expects to lead the Oakland wide receivers, but he simply drops too many passes. Nelson doesn’t drop passes and he runs precise routes.

                          The Raiders do need to find someone to go along with Cooper and Nelson, so the battle is on between Griff Whalen, Ryan Switzer and Seth Roberts for the third wide receiver spot.

                          Key Stats

                          This will be the first preseason meeting between the teams in Oakland since 2001. The teams have met twice in the past five years in the preseason, but both of those games were in Green Bay. The teams have split their last ten preseason games. The Packers are 7-3 in Week 3 of the preseason in the last ten years. The Packers have scored at least 20 points in five of their last six preseason games.

                          Packers vs. Raiders Picks

                          It is rare when a preseason game has a pointspread of nearly a touchdown. I know that Rodgers isn’t likely to play, but should the line be this high simply because he isn’t playing the first half? Hundley and Kizer have both played well and if the Packers can survive the first half, I think they will have the edge in the second half. The Raiders backup quarterbacks, Connor Shaw and EJ Manuel inspire no confidence. I think there is value on Green Bay plus the points in this game. I also can’t ignore the trend on Green Bay scoring a lot of points in the preseason, so I will also take the game over the total.

                          Packers vs. Raiders Pick: Packers +6 and Over 41
                          Packers vs. Raiders Score Prediction: Raiders 24, Packers 23
                          Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                          Comment


                          • Friday's Tip Sheet
                            August 23, 2018
                            By Kevin Rogers


                            Giants at Jets (-2.5, 42) - 7:30 PM EST

                            N.Y. Giants
                            Head Coach: Pat Shurmur (4-6 SU, 4-6 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Eli Manning, Davis Webb, Alex Tanney, Klye Lauletta (Rookie)
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Ralph Vacchiano


                            The Giants look to beat the Jets in the preseason for the third consecutive year as Big Blue has beaten its cross-stadium rival by one point in each of the past two exhibition matchups. The G-Men bounced back from an opening week loss to the Browns by dominating Detroit last week, 30-17 as three-point underdogs. Although both Eli Manning and Saquon Barkley didn't play, the Giants scored three touchdowns on the ground and backup quarterback Davis Webb threw for 140 yards and a score. Four of the past five preseason meetings between the Giants and Jets have sailed OVER the total, including last season's 32-31 win by Big Blue.

                            N.Y. Jets
                            Head Coach: Todd Bowles (7-7 SU, 8-6 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Josh McCown, Sam Darnold (Rookie), Teddy Bridgewater
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Rich Cimini


                            The Jets have posted 30 points in two preseason games, but have not allowed a touchdown so far. New York erased a 12-3 deficit at Washington last Thursday to take a late 13-12 lead before falling on last-second field goal, 15-13. Rookie Sam Darnold finished with 62 yards passing and an interception, but Teddy Bridgewater led the Jets to their only touchdown, while throwing for 127 yards. Dating back to Week 3 of the 2016 preseason, the Jets have seen the UNDER hit in seven of the last eight exhibition games, while allowing 16 points or less six times.

                            Broncos at Redskins (-3, 43.5) - 7:30 PM EST

                            Denver
                            Head Coach: Vance Joseph (4-2 SU, 3-2-1 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Case Keenum, Chad Kelly, Paxton Lynch
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Kyle Fredrickson


                            It's been a tough start for the Broncos through two weeks, who are 0-2 in spite of scoring 51 points. The only problem is, Denver has allowed 66 points in losses to Minnesota and Chicago. The Broncos grabbed a 20-7 lead over the Bears last week only to get outscored in the second half, 14-3 of a 24-23 setback. The three-headed monster of Case Keenum, Chad Kelly, and Paxton Lynch combined to throw for 192 yards as Denver's passing attack has failed to bust the 200-yard mark in two weeks. Denver is hitting the road for the first time in the preseason as the Broncos won each game away from Mile High Stadium last season at Chicago and San Francisco in the underdog role.

                            Washington
                            Head Coach: Jay Gruden (12-6 SU, 11-7 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Alex Smith, Colt McCoy, Kevin Hogan
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Les Carpenter


                            The Redskins have not scored a touchdown in the last six quarters, as they were held scoreless in the second half of a loss to New England, followed by a five field goal effort against the Jets last week. Three of the field goals came from 28 yards or closer, as Washington had plenty of opportunities in the red zone but couldn't cash them in for touchdowns. Washington improved to 13-2 in its previous 15 home preseason games, while the Redskins have finished UNDER the total in seven of the past eight exhibition contests since 2016.

                            Patriots at Panthers (-1.5, 46) - 7:30 PM EST

                            New England
                            Head Coach: Bill Belichick (52-43 SU, 46-42-1 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Danny Etling (Rookie)
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Ben Volin


                            Even though it won't technically count as a "revenge spot," the Patriots drilled the Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch last week, 37-20. Tom Brady threw a pair of touchdown passes as New England has won more games this preseason than in 2017, when it finished 1-3. The Patriots also extended their preseason OVER streak to six games, as New England faces Carolina in the preseason for the first time since beating the Panthers, 19-17 as three-point underdogs in Week 3 of the 2016 exhibition campaign.

                            Carolina
                            Head Coach: Ron Rivera (17-13 SU, 16-13-1 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Cam Newton, Garrett Gilbert, Taylor Heinicke
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Joe Person


                            The Panthers are facing their third consecutive AFC East opponent in the preseason after beating the Bills and Dolphins. Carolina's ground game got going early against Miami as Christian McCaffrey busted out for a 71-yard touchdown run less than five minutes in, helping the Panthers rack up 226 rushing yards. The Panthers have started 2-0 in the preseason for the frist time since 2015, while seeking its first 3-0 start in exhibition play for the first time since 2006. Carolina is riding a strong OVER run in the preseason by going 5-1 to the OVER since the start of 2016.

                            Lions at Buccaneers (-3, 45.5) - 8:00 PM EST

                            Detroit
                            Head Coach: Matt Patricia (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Matt Stafford, Matt Cassell, Jake Rudock
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Dave Birkett


                            The Lions have not been able to get their offense going through two preseason losses by scoring a total of 27 points in setbacks to the Raiders and Giants. Detroit has reached the end zone in the first half once through two games, while picking up a garbage-time touchdown in the final minute of last week's 30-17 defeat to New York. Although this is Patricia's first season as head coach, the Lions are winless in their last two "dress rehearsal" games, as Detroit allowed 30 points in each of those losses. Interesingly enough, this is the first time ever the Lions and Buccaneers are meeting in the preseason.

                            Tampa Bay
                            Head Coach: Dirk Koetter (5-5 SU, 5-5 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston, Ryan Griffin
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Rick Stroud


                            The Buccaneers return home following a pair of road victories at Miami and Tennessee, while cashing the OVER each time. Tampa Bay cruised past Tennessee last week, 30-14 as three-point underdogs, led by Jameis Winston's 226 yards passing and two touchdowns. The Bucs struggling in both home preseason games last season by losing to Cleveland and Washington, while scoring a total of 19 points in those contests. In the last six preseason games as a favorite since 2015, Tampa Bay has covered only twice, while losing four times outright at Raymond James Stadium.

                            Seahawks at Vikings (-3.5, 39.5) - 8:00 PM EST

                            Seattle
                            Head Coach: Pete Carroll (32-19 SU, 34-16-1 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Russell Wilson, Austin Davis, Alex McGough (Rookie)
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Mike Vorel


                            The Seahawks are off to their first 0-2 start in the preseason since 2015 after falling to the Colts and Chargers. The offense hasn't clicked so far (31 points), while the defense allowed over 21 points in an exhibition game for the first time since the 2015 opener in last Saturday's setback at Los Angeles. Seattle looks for a better peformance this week as the Seahawks are riding a perfect 6-0 SU/ATS run in its last six "dress rehersal" contests since 2012. The Seahawks defeated the Vikings in Week 2 of the 2017 preseason, while falling to Minnesota two years ago with both games finishing UNDER the total.

                            Minnesota
                            Head Coach: Mike Zimmer (14-4 SU, 13-6 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Kirk Cousins, Trevor Siemann, Kyle Sloter
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Andrew Krammer


                            The Vikings were preseason gold for three seasons from 2014-16 by compiling an incredible 12-1 mark. However, Minnesota has taken a step back the last preseason and a half by posting an average of 3-3 record, while coming off a 14-10 home defeat to Jacksonville last Saturday. Newly acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins has attempted only 12 passes through two games, while Minnesota held the ball for less than 24 minutes in last week's loss. Minnesota cruised to an impressive 11-1 ATS record from 2014 through the 2017 preseason opener, but the Vikings have stumbled to a 1-4 ATS mark in their last five exhibition contests.

                            Packers at Raiders (-7, 41) - 10:30 PM EST

                            Green Bay
                            Head Coach: Mike McCarthy (28-22 SU, 28-21-1 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Brett Hundley, DeShone Kizer, Tim Boyle (Rookie)
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Rob Demovsky


                            This line skyrocketed on Tuesday from 3 to 7 as the assumption is Aaron Rodgers will likely sit out for Green Bay. The Packers dropped 51 on the Steelers in last week's 17-point blowout over the Steelers to improve to 2-0 in the preseason. Rodgers connected with tight end Jimmy Graham for an 8-yard touchdown early in the first quarter, while DeShone Kizer tossed a pair of touchdown passes for Green Bay. The Packers have won eight of their last 10 exhibition contests since 2016, as Green Bay last faced Oakland in the preseason two seasons ago and won, 20-12.

                            Oakland
                            Head Coach: Jon Gruden (31-17 SU, 26-20-2 ATS in preseason)
                            Quarterback Rotation: Derek Carr, Connor Cook, E.J. Manuel
                            Beat Writer Twitter Follow: Vic Tafur


                            Through two games in the second Jon Gruden era with the Raiders, the Silver and Black have totaled 31 points. After edging Detroit in the opener, the Raiders fell behind the Rams last week, 16-0 before losing, 19-15. Derek Carr didn't suit up against Los Angeles, as the Raiders' starting quarterback looks for more action this week. Oakland is riding a four-game UNDER streak in the preseason dating back to 2017, but the Raiders own a dreadful 1-8 SU/ATS record in their last nine exhibition contests.
                            Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                            Comment


                            • FRIDAY, AUGUST 24
                              GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


                              NYG at NYJ 07:30 PM
                              NYJ -2.5
                              U 41.0


                              DEN at WAS 07:30 PM
                              WAS -3.0
                              O 43.5


                              NE at CAR 07:30 PM
                              NE +1.0
                              O 45.0


                              SEA at MIN 08:00 PM
                              MIN -3.5
                              U 39.5


                              DET at TB 08:00 PM
                              TB -2.5
                              O 44.0


                              GB at OAK 10:30 PM
                              OAK -6.0
                              O 40.5
                              Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

                              Comment


                              • Adrian Peterson impresses for Redskins; Darnold solid again
                                August 24, 2018


                                LANDOVER, Md. (AP) Adrian Peterson showed the Washington Redskins what they needed to see in his debut by rushing for 56 yards on 11 carries in a 29-17 loss to the Denver Broncos on Friday night in each team's third preseason game.

                                Peterson carried the ball seven consecutive plays on one possession, and the 2012 MVP later picked up 15 yards on fourth-and-1. The Redskins (1-2) signed Peterson on Monday after injuries to three running backs and were eager to see what the 33-year-old had in the tank.

                                They got their answer: enough to likely earn the starting job Week 1 at the Arizona Cardinals. After only three practices, Peterson looked to have passed Rob Kelley, Kapri Bibbs and injured backs Samaje Perine and Byron Marshall on the depth chart.

                                Peterson's play was a bright spot for the Redskins as they were carved up by Case Keenum and Denver's first-team offense, and Alex Smith was an unimpressive 3 of 8 for 33 yards in four series. Keenum was 12 of 18 for 148 yards before giving way to backup Chad Kelly for the Broncos (1-2).

                                The Broncos' first-team offense scored two touchdowns and added a field goal in five series of work, led by dual-threat receiver Emmanuel Sanders. He was responsible for all 75 of Denver's yards on its second touchdown drive, catching passes of 15 and 33 yards from Keenum and scoring on a 27-yard end-around.

                                GIANTS 22, JETS 16

                                EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Sam Darnold led the Jets on two touchdown drives, moving closer to securing the starting quarterback job in a loss to the Giants.

                                The No. 3 overall draft pick made his second consecutive start, finishing 8 of 16 for 86 yards - including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Terrelle Pryor.

                                Darnold is competing with Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown for the Jets' starting job, but the rookie is being given every chance to be under center when New York (1-2) opens the regular season at Detroit on Sept. 10.

                                Bridgewater came in on the Jets' second offensive possession of the second half, while McCown never played. Bridgewater was 11 of 15 for 104 yards.

                                Darnold got off to a solid start, leading an 11-play, 75-yard drive on the Jets' opening series that was capped by Bilal Powell's 10-yard touchdown run.

                                The Giants' starters played just the first two quarters, with Eli Manning going 17 of 23 for 188 yards in what was likely his final tuneup before the regular season. Sterling Shepard had seven catches for 78 yards for the Giants (2-1).

                                PANTHERS 25, PATRIOTS 14

                                CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Cam Newton gave the Panthers an early injury scare before returning to help Carolina defeat New England in a preseason game.

                                On the game's opening drive, Newton scrambled out of the pocket on third-and-9 before recklessly diving head-first - this is the preseason, after all - and landing on his head after getting upended by cornerback Jonathan Jones.

                                Newton was forced to leave the game to be evaluated for a concussion, but returned four plays later to a loud ovation and played the remainder of the first half.

                                He finished 11 of 17 for 142 yards passing and led three scoring drives - all resulting in field goals - as the Panthers built a 9-3 lead at halftime.

                                Running back Christian McCaffrey continued to be a major player on offense, touching the ball 10 times for 51 yards on Carolina's opening drive which lasted nearly 10 minutes.

                                The Panthers (3-0) had 203 yards in the first half, but couldn't find the end zone.

                                It was a quiet night for Tom Brady, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 102 yards in the first half. The five-time Super Bowl champion didn't get much help from his receivers, who dropped multiple passes. The Patriots (2-1) never did get in sync offensively and were limited to 130 yards in the first half.

                                VIKINGS 21, SEAHAWKS 20

                                MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Kirk Cousins helped Minnesota's offense make some progress by passing for 182 yards in the first half, and third-stringer Kyle Sloter threw for two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Vikings rallied for a victory over Seattle.

                                Sebastian Janikowski kicked field goals from 35 and 55 yards in the first half for the Seahawks (1-2), who kept their starters in past halftime. Russell Wilson led one scoring drive against the vaunted Vikings defense, finishing 11 for 21 for 118 yards.

                                Chris Carson carried seven times for 26 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 20 yards for the Seahawks, who are trying to regenerate the power running attack that helped them reach two straight Super Bowls.

                                For the Vikings (2-1), Sloter's touchdowns went to Jake Weineke and Chad Beebe, before the go-ahead 2-point conversion completion to Weineke again.

                                LIONS 33, BUCCANEERS 30

                                TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Brandon Powell scored on an 80-yard punt return and Jake Rudock threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Lucas with 30 seconds remaining to give Detroit a preseason victory over Tampa Bay.

                                The Lions (1-2) rallied from a 21-point third-quarter deficit, long after most of the starters from both teams had left the game. Theo Riddick scored on a 10-yard run and Matt Cassel threw a 3-yard TD pass to Bradley Marquez to begin the comeback.

                                Adam Humphries returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a touchdown for Tampa Bay, which led 20-6 at halftime.

                                Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick was sharp in what may have been his final tuneup for the regular season, which the Bucs (2-1) will begin in two weeks without suspended quarterback Jameis Winston, who's banned three games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Fitzpatrick, entering his 14th season, went 6 for 7 for 82 yards before he was replaced by Winston early in the second quarter.

                                Winston also worked one quarter, throwing a 10-yard TD pass to Chris Godwin and finishing 6 of 10 for 60 yards with no interceptions.

                                Matthew Stafford played into the third quarter for the Lions, producing a pair of field goals in his most extensive work of the preseason. Stafford completed 8 of 14 passes for 101 yards and was sacked three times.

                                PACKERS 6, RAIDERS 13
                                Remember the 3 G's Gambling, Golf, Girls not in any particular order.....

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