SPORTS WAGERS
GREECE +1.74 OVER Korea Republic
Greece hasn't won a match in 2010 of any kind. Granted they have only played exhibition matches since beating Ukraine in 2009 to qualify for this World Cup. Now they’ll open up against a very tricky Korea Republic who plays a very organized team game. Like Korea, Greece, when on it's game, plays a sound team game, as they have no choice without any real superstar in the lineup. Greece will try to score one goal and than frustrate the opposition with it's stifling defensive play. Greece will rely heavily on its captain and best player Giorgios Karagounis. As he goes so does Greece. Together he and the Greeks still quite possibly have one more good run left in them. In this close match, look for the Greeks to score a narrow victory. Play: Greece +1.72 (Risking 2 units).
DUNKEL INDEX
Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs
The Cubs look to bounce back from yesterday's 10-5 loss and build on their 5-0 record in Carlos Silva's last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in the previous game. The Cubs are the pick (-155) according to Dunkel, which has the Cubs favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-155)
Game 901-902: St. Louis at Arizona (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Ottavino) 14.780; Arizona (Haren) 15.568
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Arizona (-145); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-145); Under
Game 903-904: Houston at NY Yankees (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Rodriguez) 14.975; NY Yankees (Vazquez) 16.192
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1; 9
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-240); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-240); Under
Game 905-906: Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Buehrle) 14.341; Cubs (Silva) 15.513
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-155); No Run Total
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-155); N/A
Game 907-908: Philadelphia at Boston (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Blanton) 13.631; Boston (Matsuzaka) 15.857
Dunkel Line: Boston by 2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Boston (-150); 10
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-150); Over
Game 909-910: Washington at Cleveland (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Martin) 15.169; Cleveland (Carmona) 15.582
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-130); 9
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-130); Under
Game 911-912: NY Mets at Baltimore (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Takahashi) 14.914; Baltimore (Matusz) 14.306
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Baltimore (-115); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (-105); Over
Game 913-914: Pittsburgh at Detroit (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Maholm) 13.016; Detroit (Bonderman) 14.188
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Detroit (-180); 9
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-180); Over
Game 915-916: Florida at Tampa Bay (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Nolasco) 15.245; Tampa Bay (Garza) 16.343
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-180); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-180); Under
Game 917-918: Atlanta at Minnesota (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Lowe) 17.005; Minnesota (Blackburn) 16.148
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-120); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+100); Under
Game 919-920: Texas at Milwaukee (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Feldman) 16.695; Milwaukee (Parra) 15.478
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-110); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-110); Under
Game 921-922: Kansas City at Cincinnati (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Bannister) 14.408; Cincinnati (Cueto) 16.147
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-175); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-175); Over
Game 923-924: Toronto at Colorado (8:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Morrow) 15.893; Colorado (Hammel) 15.156
Dunkel Line: Toronto by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Colorado (-130); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+110); Under
Game 925-926: Seattle at San Diego (8:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Lee) 14.008; San Diego (LeBlanc) 15.031
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1; 6
Vegas Line: Seattle (-130); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+110); Under
Game 927-928: Oakland at San Francisco (9:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Sheets) 15.864; San Francisco (Zito) 16.666
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 7
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-130); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-130); Under
Game 929-930: LA Angels at LA Dodgers (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Kazmir) 16.412; LA Dodgers (Ely) 16.909
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-155); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-155); Over
WNBA
New York at Washington
The Mystics look to take advantage of a New York team that is coming off a 91-79 win over Atlanta last night and is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games following a SU win. Washington is the pick (-4 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Mystics favored by 7 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Washington (-7 1/2)
Game 601-602: New York at Washington (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New York 108.311; Washington 115.835
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 7 1/2; 153
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 4 1/2; 147 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-4 1/2); Over
Game 603-604: Tulsa at Phoenix (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tulsa 105.870; Phoenix 118.374
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 12 1/2; 185
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 9 1/2; 187
Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-9 1/2); Under
Red Dog Sports
Iowa at Bossier City
Play Iowa -1
The Barnstormers lost last week at home by 1 point after leading by 51-36 in the fourth quarter. Iowa has won a few games on the road this year. Bossier City Battle Wings are at home but are not very good. Look for Iowa to win by 7 and cover.
Marc Lawrence
Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers
Prediction: Los Angeles Angels
Another crosstown Interleague rivalry takes place Saturday night when the Angels take on the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles this evening. When they do they will send Scott Kazmir to the mound knowing he is 4-0 in his last four June team starts, and 6-1 in his last seven road starts in June. With the Halos 7-2 in Saturdays, their best day of the week this season, look for Kazmir to remain unbeaten in his career starts against the Dodgers here tonight. We recommend a 1-unit play on the Angels.
Matt Fargo
New York Mets vs. Baltimore Orioles
Play: New York Mets
The Mets won the opener of this series last night behind a strong performance from R.A. Dickey. He pitched very well but a lot of the success came because of the lack of success Baltimore has had on the offensive side of things. The Orioles are on a horrible skid with the bats as over their last 15 games, they have scored three runs or fewer 11 times, averaging only 2.3 rpg over that 15-game stretch. To no surprise, Baltimore is 2-13 over this span and it is once again being asked to lay a favorite price. Last night with Jeremy Guthrie, who has pitched solid, the Orioles may have deserved to be a small favorite but not tonight with Brian Matusz. He is 2-6 with a 5.10 ERA and 1.58 WHIP on the season with Baltimore going just 3-9 in his 12 starts. This includes a 1-8 record in his last nine outings and like most starters, run support is a huge issue. The Orioles have averaged only 3.4 rpg in his 12 starts including a mere 2.6 rpg in five home games, where they are 1-4. Hisanori Takahashi started the season by allowing no runs in his first two starts covering 12 innings but he has been roughed up the last two times he has made the trip to the mound. Facing the Orioles means it is a great opportunity to bounce back. He started the season out of the bullpen where he posted a solid 2.58 ERA so the last two outings may be considered aberrations as he has been really productive the majority of the season. Over the last 10 games, the Mets are hitting .298 against left-handed pitching while Baltimore is hitting just .211 against southpaws over the same span. The Mets are 8-1 in their last nine after scoring five runs or more in their previous game. The Orioles meanwhile are 12-39 in their last 51 games against teams with a winning record including 7-30 this season. 3* New York Mets
Craig Trapp
Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres
Play: Seattle Mariners
This is great value on the best pitcher in the AL this year. In fact Cliff Lee has been great going 25 innings in L3 starts only giving up only 5 runs. His WHIP is #1 in the AL at a pretty amazing .92. This SD team is not a great hitting team and LEE is definitely thinking a complete game shutout win. SEA has been hitting much better lately and they try to keep it up today. Leblanc goes for SD and he has only had one win in last 6 starts. He will have to pitch near perfect today and thats unlikely with his last months record. Great value on the much better pitcher.
Rob Vinciletti
Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres
Play: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners blew it late last night losing 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th as SD. rallied for 2 runs. Tonight the Mariners should bounce back with their ace on the mound. C. Lee makes the start tonight and he has been real good of late. On the road he has a stellar 1.95 era. Not bad in the American League. The Padres have W. Leblanc making the start tonight. In his starts vs Seattle he has been awful allowing 12 runs in 4+ innings with 3 homers allowed, good for a 24.94 era. The Mariners are 5-2 in San Diego and should get game 2 tonight.
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 +120
After getting beat in a slug fest yesterday, I like Tampa Bay to bounce back strong behind a strong outing from Garza, who is 2-0 lifetime against the Marlins with an ERA of only 1.13. When the Rays faced Nolasco at home last season, they lit him up for 8 runs in just 2 innings. I expect them to have his number again tonight. Tampa Bay is 24-8 when playing against a team with a losing record this season, winning these games by an average score of 5.4 to 2.7. In addition, plays on all favorites with a money line of -150 or more with an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better on the season, against a team whose hitters strike out 7 or more times per game on the season, are 151-52 the last 5 seasons. Team is this situation are winning by an average score of 5.8 to 3.8. The Rays have won 12 of the last 15 meetings between these two teams, and I'll take them on the run line here.
Jack Jones
Minnesota Twins -119
I'll take the Twins as a slim home favorite to beat the Atlanta Braves again Saturday. Nick Blackburn has not been spectacular this season overall, but at home he is a completely different pitcher. Blackburn is 4-0 with a 3.31 ERA and 1.217 WHIP in 5 home starts this season, and the Twins are a perfect 5-0 in those 5 outings. The same can be said about Derek Lowe as he hasn't been spectacular this season, either, especially on the road.
Lowe is 8-5 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.453 WHIP in 13 starts this year. He has pitched decently at home, but on the road he's a completely different pitcher going 3-3 with a 6.82 ERA and 1.831 WHIP. Not only is he terrible away from home, but Lowe has never beaten the Twins in 6 career starts vs. Minnesota. Lowe is 0-4 with an 8.31 ERA and 1.702 WHIP in those 6 starts vs. the Twins, and Minnesota has gone 6-0. The Twins are a superb 22-5 against the money line when the money line is -100 to -150 this season. Blackburn is an excellent 9-1 against the money line at home when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last 2 seasons. Finally, the Twins are 13-2 in Blackburn's last 15 home starts vs. a team with a winning record. Bet Minnesota Saturday.
Jim Feist
Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants
Play: San Francisco Giants
The Bay Area Interleague battle finds two light hitting teams with very different home/road breakdowns. The Giants are very strong at home, while the A's are poor away from their home park. Oakland, a weak offensive team, loses the DH for this one. San Fran is 2-1 the last three starts made by Barry Zito (6-2), who is 4-1 with a 2.85 ERA at home. Ben Sheets is terrible on the road at 0-3 with a 7.79 ERA. Play the Giants.
Black Widow
1* on New York Mets +105
Hisanori Takahashi has been solid this season for the Mets, going 4-2 with a 3.80 ERA while striking out 50 batters in 47.1 innings. He should be able to mow down this free-swinging Orioles line-up tonight. Baltimore is 17-44 in all games this season, owners of the league's worst record, yet they are favored Saturday. The Orioles are hitting .235 while scoring a mere 3.1 runs/game against left-handed starters this season. Meanwhile, the Mets are 12-7 vs. left-handed starters this year, hitting .269 and scoring 4.7 runs/game. Orioles starter Brian Matusz is 2-6 with a 5.10 ERA this year, and the Mets are 3-9 in his 12 starts in 2010. The Mets are 7-0 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game. Baltimore is 12-39 in their last 51 vs. a team with a winning record. The Orioles are 1-8 in Matusz's last 9 starts overall. Take the Mets on the Money Line.
EZWINNERS
Chicago Cubs -142
What can you say about the Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Silva? Silva just keeps rolling along and has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2010 Major League Baseball season. Silva is 8-0 this season with an ERA of just 2.93 and is the first Cubs starter to go 8-0 since left hander Ken Holtzman was 9-0 to start the 1967 season. Everyone seems to be waiting for the wheels to fall off for Silva, but he has been even better over his last three starts where he is 3-0 with an ERA of only 1.86. The White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle is supposed to be the ace of the staff along with the newly acquired Jake Peavy, but Buehrle has hardly pitched like an ace this season. Buehrle is only 3-6 with an ERA of 5.40 this season and over his last three starts Buehrle had really been getting hammered and is 0-1 with an ERA of 10.13. Buehrle has never been a power pitcher he has relied on excellent command to dominate hitters in the past and that command is just not there this season. The Cubs are 6-0 in their last six games against a left handed starter and I expect that success to continue here. Play on the Cubs.
Tom Freese
Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres
Play: Seattle Mariners
Seattle starter Cliff Lee has 3 walks and 25 strikeouts in his last 3 starts. The Mariners are 9-2 their last 11 Interleague games as a favorite. Seattle is 35-16 their last 51 Interleague games vs. lefty starters. Seattle is 35-17 NL West teams. The Mariners are 10-2 their last 12 games in San Diego. The Padres starter Wade Leblanc has lost 4 of his last 5 starts. San Diego is 6-20 their last 26 Interleague home games. The Padres are 16-35 their last 51 Interleague games and they are 9-22 their last 31 games as home dogs of +110 to +150
Info Plays
3* on Los Angeles Dodgers -150
Reasons the Dodgers win:
1.) System Play. We'll Play Against - Road underdogs with a money line of +100 to +150 (LA ANGELS) - AL team with a low on-base percentage (<=.320) against a team with a good bullpen (WHIP <=1.350), with a poor bullpen whose WHIP is 1.550 or worse on the season. This is a 41-8 ML System hitting 83.7% over the last 5 seasons. The Dodgers will be motivated tonight after getting thumped by the Angels in Game 1. Bet the Dodgers at home
Dennis Macklin
UFC 115 from Vancouver, British Columbia
Lightweights: Mac Danzig -120 over Matt Wiman
It's been extreme highs and lows for Mac Danzig since coming out of Ultimate Fighter. Lots of similarities here. Both fighters are coming off wins to stop losing streaks, both with wins over Justin Buchholz and losses to Jim Miller within their last five fights. Neither is over physical but thinking that Danzig is technically superior on his feet or on the ground. In what seems to be a win or leave the UFC match, live the Vegan Danzig to win by submission or grind out a decision.IMO, this is not much of a card and should probably be on free TV. After long run of favorites in recent UFC PFVs, UFC 114 saw several faves go down. Not here, not tonight. Liddell vs Franklin is a toss up with faves prevailing on the undercard. Pat Barry gets KO of the night.
Also: Barry -165 over Cro Cop, Rothwell -150 over Yvel