Friday Service Plays

Black Widow Sports

1* on L.A. Angels -143
(List Moseley and Gabbard)

The L.A. Angels have owned the Texas Rangers for years now at home. The Angels are 12-7 in their last 19 home meetings with the Rangers. L.A. has a big advantage on the mound today with Moseley over Gabbard. Mosely didn’t allow a single run in his only appearance against the Rangers last season. Meanwhile, Gabbard struggled in his lone start against the Angels, allowing 5 earned runs in just 6 innings. The Angels are 12-1 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Friday over the last 2 seasons. Texas is 6-23 (-15.7 Units) against the money line in road games vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .330 or worse over the last 2 seasons. Take the Angels at home here.

InfoPlays

3* on Minnesota Twins -128
(Listing Bale and Baker)

The Kansas City Royals threw their 3 best guns against the Tigers in their opening series. Now they are stuck with the weak part of the rotation starting with John Bale today. Bale makes his first career start for the Royals at hostile Minnesota tonight. It’s going to be an ugly encore with opposing pitcher Scott Baker handing Bale his lunch. Baker is 3-2 in 6 career starts against Kansas City with an ERA of 2.81 and a WHIP of 0.840. Baker pitched a complete game shutout against the Royals last season, allowing just 1 hit in the full 9 innings. He also pitched a 2-hitter against the Royals last year on another occasion. Bet Minnesota at home.

Insider Sports Report

4* Indiana -1 over Milwaukee (NBA)
Range +1 to -3

3* Boston (Wakefield)/Toronto (Marcum) OVER 9
Range 8.5 to 9.5

3* Cleveland (Byrd) -130 over Oakland (Duchscherer)
Range -115 to -145

Armvin Sports

Toronto Blue Jays -105

Dave Cokin.

NY Mets and ATL Braves.
Take "NY Mets".

The Atlanta bullpen looks like a real trouble spot right now, and that's an issue with the Braves having to go extras Thursday night while the Mets had the day off. John Maine had a great spring and I like it to carry over to his first regular season start. The Mets are the choice."

Jim Feist

IND Pacers and MIL Bucks.

Take "IND Pacers". Milwaukee is the third worst team in the East, but Indiana still has an outside shot at the postseason. They are playing like a motivated group, on a 6-3 SU/ATS run the last nine games. They got Jermaine O.5?Neal back on Monday, so this is their third straight game with him back after missing 33 straight with a bone bruise on his left knee. The Bucks play no defense, allowing 47.6% shooting by opponents, second worst in the NBA. A good spot for the visitors, Play the Pacers!

Mike Rose

Houston Astros @ Chicago Cubs u9.0

Houston will give the ball to Chris Sampson Friday afternoon in the hopes that he’ll be able to build off of last season’s decent effort. He went 7-8 with a 4.59 ERA and career-high 51 strikeouts in 24 appearances for the Astros last season. Sampson’s been brilliant against the Cubs in his career winning both of the games he’s started against them allowing 0 runs and only allowing 6 hits in 12 total innings of work. The under cashed with ease in both starts.

He’ll square off against lefty Rich Hill who went 11-8 last season with a 3.92 ERA. He allowed only 170 hits in 195 innings of work with a stellar K/BB ratio of 183/63. He did have a problem surrendering the long ball though (27 overall). Hill’s fared well against his opponent in his career. He’s 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA, but the Cubs are 2-1 in his three career starts against the division rival Astros. The under cashed in two of those three starts.

Great Lakes Sports

Texas at LA Angels
Play on: LA Angels with Moesley

The LA Angels are 12-7 at home vs Texas Rangers the last three years, and is off to a 2-1 record this year. The LA Angels are 99-70 when the total is 9 to 9.5 the last three years, and 20-15 when playing with a day off. We look for the LA Angels to roll over the Texas Rangers for the home Win tonight.

Marc Lawrence

Play On: San Antonio

Note: Spurs take on the Jazz at the Delta Center in a key Western Conference clash tonight with revenge on their minds. Not that San Antonio needs extra motivation when it comes to playing Utah. That's confirmed by the fact that they are 16-2 SU and ATS in this series when playing off a SU and ATS win. Riding an 8-game win streak (7-1 ATS), we'll look for more of the same here this evening.

Tom Scott's

Indiana at MILWAUKEE
Play ON: INDIANA plus the points

Milwaukee, now off back-to-back wins for the first time since February 21st, just broke a 16-game road losing streak by beating the Washington Wizards as an 11-point underdog. Now, the Bucks, boasting a .323 win percentage, are a home favorite against a team that, not only has a better record than theirs but, has won eight games in a row against sub .400 teams. Don't forget, after starting the season 7-4, Milwaukee has won three games in succession just once. That streak ended on January 9th with a win over hapless Miami. One more thing. Milwaukee hasn't exactly embraced the favorite's role. Since the start of the season, the Bucks are a pitiful 4-18 ATS when laying points. We have to go with the Pacers in this mini-reversal (Bucks off underdog win - Indiana off double-digit loss - Milwaukee favored).

PREDICTION: INDIANA 113 - Milwaukee 103

Jimmy The Moose

Game: Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
Prediction: Golden State Warriors

Reason: Warriors currently in 9th place in the Western Conference really need this one tonight. The Warriors are 8-2 in their last 10 road games as a favorite of 5-10.5. Golden State are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 following a SU loss. The Grizzlies are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games as a home dog. In their last 26 games vs. a team with a SU winning record they are 6-10 ATS. In their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning road record they are 0-7 ATS. Warriors are 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in the last 4 meetings. Play on the Golden State Warriors -.

Karl Garrett

Tonight the linesmakers are telling you all you need to know about this Spurs-Jazz contest, as San Antonio comes into Salt Lake riding an 8-game winning streak, yet they are getting a couple of points! Hmmmm....think the oddsmakers are baiting you into grabbing the points?

Utah has won their last pair of games, and 5 of their last 6 overall, while covering their last pair, and 4 of their last 5 when laying points. For the season, the Jazzmen are 26-12 against the spread at home, while the Spurs are just 15-22 against the spread away from home for the season.

The teams have split the 2 regular season meetings this year, and the host is now on a phenomenal 11-1 spread run (playoffs included) the last 12 times these teams have tangled.

Go with the Jazz to play that sweet music Friday night at home, and snap the Spurs 8-game winning streak.

2* UTAH (on a 1* to 5* basis)

VEGAS SPORTS PICS

Tulsa Golden Hurricane - 3.5 over Bradley Braves

Tulsa is 17-2 at home, including 9-1 ATS last ten home games. Including a 73-68 win over Bradley on March 31st, outrebounding the Braves 46-25.

MLB

Chicago Cubs (Hill) - 1.5 (+130*) over Houston (Sampson)

Houston has opened 1-3 scoring a combined three runs in the losses. Fifth starter Sampson posted a 9.10 ERA in 18 innings this spring. Cubs are 6-1 last seven home meetings.

Boston (Wakefield) - 105** over (at) Toronto (Marcum)

Boston is 8-3 in Wakefield's last 11 starts versus Toronto. Wakefield allowed a combined three runs over 20 innings in his first three 2007 starts.

GATOR REPORT

NBA 70% Super Situations (Basketball Record 38-24 ATS +1160 Units)

NBA Friday: Play Under NBA teams where the total is 200 to 209.5 after 2 straight games where both teams scored 100 points or more against an opponent after a game where both teams scored 105 points or more 41-11 Under last 5 seasons (8-1 Under this season) (78.8%) PLAY: Charlotte / Toronto UNDER 202

MLB Friday: Play Under MLB home teams against the total first 12 games of the season, after closing out last season strong with 17+ wins in last 25 games, team that had a good record last season winning 54% to 62% of their games playing a team that had a winning record 33-9 Under since 1997 (78.6%) PLAY: Arizona / Colorado Under 10.5 (-120)

Gator's NBA "ANGLE" Game of the Day

NBA Friday: Play ON Seattle as an underdog of 10 or less points with rest seeking same-season revenge for an underdog SU loss in the last matchup versus an opponent with less than 3 days rest. 21-9-2 ATS since 2004 and 7-2-1 ATS since January 1st, 2008. PLAY: SEATTLE SONICS +9

THE SPORTS ADVISORS

NBA

San Antonio (52-23, 35-38-2 ATS) at Utah (50-26, 41-35 ATS)

Two of the top teams in the Western Conference square off at EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake, where the Jazz look to continue their home dominance as they host the Spurs.

San Antonio sits in second place in the Western Conference playoff standings, just a half-game behind division rival New Orleans, while Utah is three games back.

The Jazz are coming off consecutive blowout home wins over the Wizards (129-87 as a nine-point chalk) and Timberwolves (117-100 as a 16½-point favorite). Utah has won five of its last six, with all five wins coming at home, and Jerry Sloan’s squad is 4-1 ATS in its last five.

San Antonio has been idle since Tuesday’s 116-92 rout of the Warriors, covering easily as an 8½-point home favorite. The Spurs are riding an eight-game winning streak (7-1 ATS), going 3-0 SU and ATS on the highway during this stretch.

The home team is 11-1 SU and ATS in the last 12 series meetings between these squads, including last year’s Western Conference finals series. The straight-up winner has covered the number in all 12 contests, including both meetings this year with San Antonio winning 104-98 in a pick-em contest on Dec. 7 and Utah prevailing 97-91 as a 2½-point chalk on Jan. 28.

The favorite is 7-0 ATS in the last seven series battles.

Utah owns the NBA’s best home record at 34-4 (26-12 ATS), going 24-1 in the last 25. Going back to last year, the Jazz are on a 34-13-1 ATS roll at home, including 9-2 ATS in the last 11. Additionally, Utah is on pointspread runs of 17-7 against the Western Conference, 7-1 against the Southwest Division, 13-3 against a winning team, 12-4 when coming off a double-digit win and 6-2 on one day of rest.

Despite its current three-game road winning streak, the Spurs are just 20-17 on the highway (15-22 ATS). They’re also on negative ATS streaks of 2-5 on Fridays, 1-4 when playing on two days’ rest and 2-8 ATS as an underdog of less than four points. However, San Antonio is 36-17-1 ATS in its last 54 against the Northwest Division.

The Jazz have topped the total in five straight games (4-0 “over” at home), and the over is 4-1 in San Antonio’s last five overall. Also, the over is 7-2 in the last nine head-to-head meetings, though five of the last seven clashes in Utah have stayed low.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UTAH and OVER

Dallas (47-28, 32-39-4 ATS) at L.A. Lakers (51-24, 43-30-1 ATS)

The Mavericks resume their playoff push as they look to secure their grip on the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference when they travel to Hollywood to battle the Lakers.

Dallas got Dirk Nowitzki back from injury on Wednesday, and the All-Star chipped in 18 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes as the Mavs crushed the Warriors 111-86 as a five-point home favorite. Dallas has won and covered two in a row after going 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS in the previous six.

The Lakers also welcomed back a key member to their squad on Wednesday, as Pau Gasol returned for a two-week injury absence and had 10 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a 104-91 win over Portland. However, Los Angeles failed to cover as a 13 ½-point home favorite, its fourth straight non-cover, all at home.

Dallas won the first meeting against the Lakers this season 112-105, pushing as a seven-point home favorite. However, Los Angeles has come back and taken the last two, prevailing 108-104 as a 6½-point home chalk and 102-100 as a six-point road underdog. Despite the latter result, the home team is still 7-2 SU in the last nine battles, while the underdog is 9-3-1 ATS in the last 13. Finally, the Mavs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 at L.A.

The Mavs are 5-1 ATS in their last six games following a spread-cover and 5-2-2 ATS in their last nine on Fridays. However, they’re just 8-17-3 ATS in their last 28 against the Pacific Division, 2-7 ATS in their last nine versus the Western Conference and 1-4 ATS in their last five when playing on one day of rest.

L.A. is 8-3-1 ATS in its last 12 Friday contests. But other than that, the pointspread trends are all negative for Phil Jackson’s team, including 0-5 at home, 0-4 when playing on one day of rest and 1-6-1 against the Southwest Division.

The over is 9-2 in the Lakers’ last 11 games on Fridays and 5-2 in Dallas’ last seven on the highway. However, the under is 7-2-1 in Dallas’ last 10 Friday affairs.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

COLLEGE BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL

Bradley (21-16, 20-14-1 ATS) at Tulsa (24-14, 19-13 ATS) at)

The inaugural College Basketball Invitational comes to an end with Game 3 of the best-of-three championship series, after Bradley beat Tulsa 83-74 Wednesday night as a 5½-point home chalk to tie the series. The Braves have cashed in both games in this series, dropping the opener on Monday 73-68 but covering the 5½-point spread at Tulsa. Bradley is 4-1 SU and ATS in the CBI.

Tulsa, which had won its first four games of the CBI (3-1 ATS), has now suffered back-to-back ATS setbacks on the heels of a 13-2 ATS run. The Golden Hurricane are 14-4 SU in their last 18 starts overall.

Wednesday’s outcome continued a strong trend for both teams, as the straight-up winner has been a spread-covering machine, going 11-1 ATS in Tulsa’s last 12 matchups and 14-4 ATS in Bradley’s last 18 contests.

The Braves are on a 16-5 ATS surge, and they are on additional positive ATS runs of 8-2 on the highway, 8-4-1 in non-conference play, 11-2 as a road pup of less than seven points, 13-3 against winning teams and a lengthy 38-16-2 after a SU win.

The Golden Hurricane are 17-2 at home (11-4 ATS in lined contests) and sport numerous positive pointspread trends, including 9-1 at the Reynolds Center, 8-1 as a favorite of less than seven points, 17-5 as a chalk of any number, 10-4 against winning teams and 5-2 outside Conference USA. One negative note: With the two non-covers in this series, Tulsa is now 1-4-1 ATS in its last six against Missouri Valley Conference teams.

Bradley is on a 19-5 “over” tear, with the Braves topping the total in 13 of their last 14 starts, including the last four in a row. Also, the over for Bradley is on runs of 20-8-1 in non-conference games and 7-0 on the highway. For Tulsa, the over is on a 7-3-1 run in non-conference play. Finally, both contests in this series have gone high, with Wednesday’s clash sailing over the 142½-point posted price.

ATS ADVANTAGE: TULSA and OVER

NATIONAL LEAGUE

N.Y. Mets (2-1) at Atlanta (1-3)

Tim Hudson (0-0, 2.57 ERA) makes his second start of the season as the Braves kick off a weekend series against the Mets and John Maine (15-10, 3.91 in 2007) in a battle of N.L. East rivals.

The Mets kicked off the season by taking two of three from the Marlins in Florida, finishing up with Wednesday’s 13-0 whitewash. Meanwhile, the Braves have lost three of their first four games, with each loss coming by a single run and two in extra innings, including Thursday’s 4-3, 10-inning setback to the Pirates at home.

The Braves are still 7-3 in their last 10 home games dating to last year, while the Mets are 5-1 in their last six on the road (all against Florida).

These teams split their 18 meetings last year, but New York won five of the final six, including a three-game sweep in Atlanta to start September.

Hudson went seven innings on Sunday at Washington, giving up just two runs on three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts, failing to get a decision in Atlanta’s 3-2 loss. Going back to last season, the Braves are 2-6 in Hudson’s last eight outings, including 0-3 in the last three.

Hudson was 8-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 17 home starts last year, with the Braves winning six of its final nine at Turner Field. He also faced the Mets four times, going 2-2 with a 3.33 ERA. The righthander has held the Mets to three earned runs or ewer in four of his last five starts against them, and he’s 7-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 12 career games against New York.

Maine enjoyed a breakout season last year, but he struggled after the All-Star break, going 5-6 with a 5.53 ERA in 15 starts, compared with a 10-4 mark and a 2.71 ERA before the break. On the highway last year, the righthander was 9-4 with a 4.39 ERA.

Maine faced the Braves three times last year. The first was a disaster – he gave up six runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 7-6 loss – but he was outstanding in the next two, giving up just one run on three hits in each contest, pitching a total of 13 innings as New York won both games.

The under is 5-0 in Hudson’s last five trips to the mound overall and 2-0 in his last two outings against the Mets after the over was 5-0 in his previous five starts against New York. Also, the under is 9-3 in the last 12 series meetings (5-1 in the last six) and 7-0 in the last seven battles at Turner Field. However, the over is 16-5-1 in the Mets’ last 22 overall and 21-8-2 in their last 31 as a visitor.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Boston (3-1) at Toronto (1-2)

The Red Sox visit their third country in a week when they open a weekend series in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Tim Wakefield (17-12, 4.76 in 2007) begins his 16th major-league season as he takes the ball for Boston, opposing Toronto youngster Shaun Marcum (12-6, 4.13 in 2007).

Boston opened the 2008 season in Tokyo last week, splitting two games against the A’s. The teams then resumed their series in Oakland this week, with the Red Sox winning both contests by a combined tally of 7-1.

The Blue Jays return home after losing two of three to the Yankees in New York, including Thursday’s 3-2 setback. Toronto gave up just eight runs in the series.

Toronto held its own against the world champs last year, winning half of the 18 meetings, including going 4-0 in the last four. The home team won five of the last six battles after the visitor went 9-3 in the first 12.

Wakefield had a bloated 5.25 ERA after the All-Star break last year, but still managed to go 8-4 in 14 starts. The knuckleballer had a much better record at home (10-4) than on the road (7-8), but his ERA was a run better on the highway (4.26) than at Fenway Park (5.27). Finally, Boston went 12-5 in Wakefield’s last 17 outings.

Wakefield is 15-10 with a 3.86 ERA in 45 career appearances (35 starts) against Toronto, going 6-4 with a 4.32 ERA in the Rogers Centre. Last year, he faced the Jays five times, going 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA (2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in Toronto). The Sox are 8-3 in his last 11 outings versus Toronto.

Like Wakefield, Marcum was very hittable in the second half of last season (4.68 ERA), but like Wakefield, it didn’t much matter as the young righthander went 8-3 in 14 starts. However, Marcum really had trouble at home last year, going 5-4 with a 5.66 ERA in 20 appearances (13 starts) as opposed to 7-2 with a 2.72 ERA on the highway.

Marcum appeared in five games against Boston last year (two starts), going 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA. In his brief career, he’s 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA versus the BoSox in 10 games (eight starts).

The under was 7-2 in the nine head-to-head meetings in Canada last season. Also, the under is 8-1-1 in Wakefield’s last 10 starts against the Jays overall, 7-0 in his last seven in Toronto and 40-17-4 in his last 61 starts on the highway. Finally, the under is 3-0 for Toronto this year and 3-0 in Boston’s last three. However, each of Marcum’s final seven starts last year hurdled the total, and the over was 2-1 in his three starts against Boston.

ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON and UNDER

CAPPERS ACCESS

Bradley
Cubs
W. Sox