With the knockout pitch being delivered Thursday night, as the Yanks clinched, Boston could have its guard down tonight, while the Orioles might want to secure a moral win over the BoSox. The Orioles are 7-1 in their last eight games, while Lopes has been solid in three straight starts, winning two and giving up just four earned runs in 22 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Boston's Tim Wakefield hasn't been too impressive in his last trio, giving up a total of 14 earned runs in 15 innings - that's an 8.40 ERA, and that's simply not going to cut it. The O's aren't scared of the knuckler, as they raped him for seven runs over four innings on the 20th, and the past five times he's faced them, they've drilled him for 15 earned runs in 31 innings. Meanwhile, Lopez has won his last three decisions over Baltimore, and given up only one earned run in each of his last three starts against Boston. Let's take the money here and cash with an easy underdog winner.
50* Blue Jays and Reds -
I'm taking a shot here, as the Yankees are definitely hung over after last night's celebration of their 7th straight A.L. East title. New York beat potential first-round opponent Minnesota three straight times to win the division - including a win over Johan Santana - and now hit the road with nothing to play for except to stay healthy and rest up for the postseason. Toronto starter Bush is 3-0 at home this season, and in his lone start against the Yankees this season - on Aug. 26 - he produced six solid innings for the Jays at home. Career-wise, El Duque is 2-3 against the Jays and sports a not-so impressive (for him) 3.04 ERA. He did have three consecutive shutout performances, over 17 innings in three starts, against the Jays this season, and then was shelled in six innings, giving up five earned runs. Let's take a shot with Toronto.
Cincy starter Paul Wilson finally got win No. 10 out of the way, in his last outing on the 25th - against this Pirates team. And with the pressure gone, and this being his final start of the season, and it being at home - I love this price against Pittsburgh's Williams, who has a 12.27 ERA on the road this season. The Pirates are closing out the year in dismal fashion, as they've dropped seven of their last nine, while the Reds are headed in the opposite direction, heading into this season-ending series on a 7-2 run. Wilson is 5-3 at home this season, and in his last two starts is boasting a 1.20 ERA and a 2.05 ERA in his last three starts. Against the Bucs, Wilson has had success this season, winning two of three starts - and with the loss coming at home - redemption is an added bonus on our side with this cheap price. Lay it early, and watch for the money move.
300* WINNER
UTAH
Fuckin Revenge!!!
That is what this game is all about, dammit!
Utah hasn't lost a game in nearly one calendar year. The sight of New Mexico should refresh that memory, and the Utes know exactly who tuned em up last time they suffered a setback.
Ranked 14th in the country, Utah will pull off its first 5-0 start in 10 years, while avenging the last loss it had.
Including a 17-0 victory over Southern Mississippi in the Liberty Bowl, Utah has won eight straight games, as its last loss - and only MWC defeat last season - was a 47-35 defeat to New Mexico on Oct. 25.
Utah has never beaten New Mexico (2-2) as a ranked team, losing 23-21 in Albuquerque on Nov. 5, 1994 as No. 9, and last season when the Utes were No. 24.
And if you don't think this game has been earmarked since training camp broke, and that newspaper cllippings are strung up everywhere, and that thes players haven't been reminded - think again.
The Utes wanted revenge on two teams this season: Texas A&M and New Mexico. One down, one to go.
Tonight is the completion, and the midway point to a perfect campaign. Look for the Utes to blast the Lobos.
Jeff Benton
20,000 winner 5,000 WINNER
20,000 winner
New Mexico
5,000 winner
Anaheim Angels
That is the way to heat up baby. It looked pretty gloom after Monday with that terrible call on Washington. Completed a 1-10 Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
However, as I always do in this business, I battle back. 2-0 Tuesday, Marshall Wednesday and Navy and Uconn last night. Over 48,000 in profit the last 3 days. No stopping now. Lets win tonight.
Now, watching that Air Force game, I kept asking my self how in the world A.Force scored 35 points on Utah.
I mean, thats ridiculous. What that tells me is Utah is not very good or not as good as everyone thinks.
New Mexico lost their opener to Washington State by 3 in a game they should have won. 5 turnovers will do that to you. They have since covered 3 in a row. Big win over Texas Tech 27-24, tough loss at Oregon 17-7 and they blew out New Mexico State 41-3. They are ready for this game tonight.
New Mexico is 45-27 as a dog in conference play and 29-15 ATS as a dog against a team off a SU win. New Mexico catching 10 on their home field is the way to go here. Oh, did I mention New Mexico is also 12-4 ATS last 16 as a home dog?
Grab the points and don't be suprised to see an outright win by the Lobos.
Play on New Mexico
BASEBALL
NO PLAY ON FLORIDA
Pitching change. Weathers instead of Beckett, who had to attend his grandmothers funeral.
NO PLAY ON FLORIDA
Love the Anaheim Angels to blast the A's and Mulder tonight. I mean, blast. Mulder has struggled late in the year. He hasn't won since an August 24 start against Baltimore and is 0-3 with an 8.23 ERA in five starts in September. The lefthander dropped his third consecutive start last Sunday in Anaheim, allowing four runs and six hits in just 3 2/3 innings. He struck out two batters while walking three.
The 27-year-old is 5-6 with a 3.60 ERA in 14 career starts against the Angels. It gets no better tonight.
Play on Anaheim
I hope you are ready for a huge weekend. A huge weekend.
Matt Rivers
100,000* FRIDAY NIGHT LOCK OF THE MONTH
Your winner here is on New Mexico!
Too many points to lay on the road. Utah is the best team in the Mountain West Conference no doubt but they still cannot be this big of a road chalk, this is just wrong.
New Mexico is a good team. They do not have the talent of the Utes but the home field is so advantageous in the college game and will neutralize Alex Smith and company a bit.
The Lobos won 47-35 at Utah a season ago as the 7 point dog and certainly can repeat the feat at home.
Last week the Utes trailed 14-0 at home to a mediocre Air Force squad. Utah came back and won going away but just maybe they are showing some chinks in their armor.
Utah should be a field goal favorite here on the road not a double digit chalk!
100,000* NEAR PICK-EM NO-BRAINER Plus Bonus Lock
Your winners here are on:
1. 100,000* Marlins
2. 50,000* Braves
1. Last week the Phils went into Florida and swept the series. Florida has not been playing well at all as you saw in that series as well as in last night's loss but in my opinion this game tonight is a total 50-50 game. David Weathers is now getting the call for Josh Beckett who will be up against a mediocre Cory Lidle. Then you throw in the fact that Jim Thome has been out for awhile and the lefty bat is the main cog in that lineup.
Without Thome the Phils give you Abreu and maybe Rollins and not much else. The Jason Michaels' and Pat Burrell's of the world just do not scare me. The Marlins may be underachievers as well but they do still have more high powered bats like Lowell, LoDuca, Cabrera, etc. and in this situation getting a decent amount is fine with me.
2. How in the world can the Braves be such a big dog to a team right now in the Cubs which is flat out terrible!?!? Sammy Sosa and the rest of the Cubs are just not hitting right now and have pretty much quit. They just lost 3 straight games at home to a Reds team which isn't even an average club right now and that came on the heels of losing at Shea to guys like Victor Diaz and Eric Valent of the Mets.
Chicago is no better than awful right now. Sure they have a stud in Kerry Wood on the hill but Mike Hampton is solid as well as he showed in that last shutout over Carl Pavano and the Marlins.
Do not fear the Braves because they have already clinched. They are not going to tank this game, this is a professional club run by one of the best managers in the game in Bobby Cox. Plus the Bravos still need a win or two more because they would rather have homefield advantage in the playoffs.
Anytime a Braves team is getting this much with a quality hurler there is absolutely no downside at all. Think about it, we are getting the better team plus this much money. Um, ok!
Scott Delaney
Baseball
5,000,000* Giants
SAN FRANCISCO(RUETER) over Los Angeles(Weaver)
Football Delaney Decision
10,000,000* - Utah
UTAH by 17 over New Mexico
The Utah Utes have one solid football coach in Urban Meyer. Since becoming a head coach (Bowling Green and Utah), Meyer's teams are 31-8 SU and 25-13 ATS. With revenge, Meyer is 12-3 SU and 11-4 ATS including a perfect 5-0 SU and ATS in his last five in that role, as a guest! Last season, New Mexico handed Utah its only conference loss and the Utes haven’t forgotten about that blemish. Payback tonight in a big way, on national TV, as UTAH wins by at least 17 points!
Tony Darden
250,000* BEST BETS
Reds w/ Wilson
Phillies w/ Lidle
A's w/ Mulder
The Reds have won three in a row, all at Wrigley, and starter Wilson beat his foe tonight, Williams, last week in Pittsburgh by a score of 7-4. Wilson for his career is 2-1 against the Pirates and is 1-0 with a 2.05 ERA his last three starts overall. Reds cruise tonight.
The Phils' Lidle is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in three career starts against the Fish, with his team victorious in all three of those games. Lidle is also 2-0 his last three starts, and beat Dontrelle Willis and the Fish 4-2 last week down in Miami. Tonight the Phils win again.
Best of three for the AL West crown - doesn't get much better than that. If there was ever a time to get on track for Mulder, it is here and now. He does have a career ERA of 3.60 against the Angels compared to Colon's which is almost at five against the A's. Expect the A's to get a leg up with a win today.
FRIDAY COLLEGE GAME OF THE YEAR
Utah
The talent here between these two teams is no question - Utah has much more of it than the Lobos. Last year, Utah lost to New Mexico at home, and do those eight offensive and seven defensive returning starters remember that game? You betcha.
Utah is 2-0 SU and ATS as a road favorite this year, and New Mexico since 1992 is only 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS as a dog of three and a half to 10 points. Utah's QB Smith is simply the best player on the field when the Utes offense matches up against the Lobos D. I expect Smith to make plays and for the Utes to win easy tonight by three or four TD's.
Trace Adams
1500* MW GAME OF THE YEAR - Utah 500* MLB BONUS - Minnesota
The Lobos are a tough bunch, and giving them double digits at home is not always a wise move, BUT I believe Utah will be more than ready to come out firing against a New Mexico team that cleaned their clock last year in Salt Lake City by double digits.
Utah has already exacted revenge on Texas A&M by 20 points on National TV, and I expect the Utes to be primed to do it again tonight. QB Smith of Utah is light years ahead of Lobo sophomore McKamey. Also, the Wolves top running back Dontrell Moore has a banged up knee and is listed as questionable. That won't help matters.
Can't see the Lobos trading points with the Utes for the full 4 quarters (even at home). When New Mexico gets behind (and they will), expect the Utah defense which already has 10 takeaways in their 4 wins to make the difference.
Lay the lumber as Utah avenges another loss!
1500* Utah
In baseball, Minnesota will defeat Cleveland.
The Twins still have a chance to secure home-field edge for the first round of the postseason, and with a 5-1 home mark against the Indians this year, I'd say tonight's price is fairly cheap.
Mulholland has been hit around of late, but the Twins bats should be ready to go after dropping 3 at New York. Cleveland starter Scott Elarton has not won on the road this year, but is coming off of 7 stellar frames of 1 run ball against the Twinks in a no decision. That game was at the Jake, this one is in the Dome.
Comment