BIG AL's WESTERN CONF. 1ST ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR!
Phoenix Suns
Larry Ness' MLB 24* (highest star-rated play / 2nd TY, won 1st on April 17 w/LAA)
24* Bos Red Sox
Nick Parsons Friday NHL Pick
Play ON New York Rangers $ line (+) @ Pittsburgh
The Penguins rolled right past the Senators in the opening round of the playoffs as they won it in a convincing four games to none sweep. However, sometimes the lack of a true challenge can be a teams worst enemy and the Penguins are indeed set up perfectly for an upset here in Game One. Theyve had a long layoff and theyre playing a team that has a huge edge on them in terms of veteran players and playoff experience. The fact that the Pens dominated the Senators is not insignificant but, at the same time, the Sens were dealing with some injury issues and also were not in a proper mindset mentally. They were ripe for the sweep once they got down early in the series. While the Penguins faced a beaten down foe, the Rangers did battle with a team (and a goalie) with much proven playoff success as New York battled hard with the Devils and goalie Martin Brodeur. The fact that they took this series and had a lot of offensive success absolutely suggests that they will challenge Pittsburgh in this match-up. Henrik Lundqvist has been sharp between the pipes for the Rangers and they could catch the Penguins struggling to get on track tonight as Pittsburgh has been in idle mode for too long. That is what is offering significant line value with the Rangers and that is certainly worth grabbing here in Game One with the Rangers!
WUNDERDOG
Game: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh +105
Adam Eaton is certainly the weak link in the Philly rotation. He posted an ERA of 5.12 in 2006 and 6.29 last year, along with 41 HRs in just 226 innings over these two seasons. Zach Duke has had three good starts with an ERA of 2.89 prior to giving up 5 runs in his last outing. We expect him to bounce back. He has walked just six batters in 23 innings, and is yet to serve up the long ball. This has not been a great park for the Phillies to play in, as the Pirates own a 13-6 mark against them at home over the last six seasons. They have not lost a series to them at home since 2001. We'll back the Pirates at home.
Vegas sports advisors
Tigers/LA OVER 10 (1 1/2$)
Yanks/Cleveland UNDER 9 1/2 (Very Strong Opinion)
Boston -120 (1$)
Minny/Tex UNDER 9 1/2 (1$)
Arizona/San Diego OVER 7 (1$)
Tom Freese Blue Line Club
Cincinnati at San Francisco
Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang is in excellent KW form with a better than 8-1 strikeout to walk ratio in his last 3 starts. Harang has been on the winning side in 15 of his last 22 April starts. The Reds are 16-5 in the last 21 road starts made by Harang. San Francisco is 7-15 their last 22 games vs. righties and they are 11-27 after scoring two or less runs in their last game. The Giants are 0-4 off a road trip of 7 or more days.
PLAY ON CINCINNATI w/Harang
WILD BILL
Phillies -125 (2 units)
Cubs -125 (2 units)
Brewers -160 (1 unit)
Rockies +150 (2 units)
Yankees -115 (5 units)
Angels +105 (2 units)
Red Sox -120 (3 units)
Twins +130 (3 units)
Seattle -115 (2 units)
EZWINNERS
MLB
3 STAR: (975) TORONTO (-$104) over Kansas City
(Listing Burnett only)
(Risking $312 to win $300)
2 STAR: (967) NY YANKEES (-$128) over Cleveland
(Listing Pettitte and Byrd)
(Risking $256 to win $200)
2 STAR: (955) CHICAGO (-$126) over Washington
(Listing Dempster and Perez)
(Risking $252 to win $200)
2 STAR: (972) TAMPA BAY (+$108) over Boston
(Action)
(Risking $200 to win $216)
1 STAR: (957) FLORIDA (+$143) over Milwukee
(Listing Olson only)
(Risking $100 to win $143)
1 STAR: (963) CINCINNATI (-$138) over San Francisco
(Listing Harang only)
(Risking $138 to win $100)
ADJUSTED RUNLINE PLAY
1 STAR: (963) TAMPA BAY (-1.5)(+$190) over Boston
(Action)
(Risking $100 to win $190)
NBA
3 STAR: (524) PHILADELPHIA (+5.5) over Detroit
(Risking $330 to win $300)
3 STAR: (525) NEW ORLEANS (+5.5) over Dallas
(Risking $330 to win $300)
3 STAR: (527) SAN ANTONIO (+7) over Phoenix
(Risking $330 to win $300)
Wunderdog
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh -145
Pittsburgh is on a mission. Forget lack of playoff experience. This team is cruising. They are young but they are very good with Crosby and Malkin playing like seasoned vets. Marc-Andre Fleury was awesome vs. the Senators, allowing just five goals in four games. They are rested and get a Rangers team that was just 20-24 on the road this season. New York played extremely well vs. the Devils in round one which is why this line isn't higher. But Pittsburgh is the clear play here. The Penguins are 28-15 at home winning on average by a score of 3.4 to 2.3. They have won 31 of their last 48 games and they have the added motivation from revenge. They are are 11-2 this year at home revenging a road loss and we think they get revenge and a 1-0 lead.
Ben Burns
Dallas vs. San Jose
Both home teams grabbed yesterday's series opener last night. I expect that pattern to hold true at San Jose this evening. After getting upset in the opener against Calgary, the Sharks know better than to take tonight's game for granted. Yes, the Sharks are coming off a hard-fought series. However, they've still had a healthy two day's rest in between games. The Stars, on the other hand, may have had "too much rest" as they haven't played since the 20th. Note that they were 5-6 this season when playing with three or more day's rest in between games, going a money-burning 14-17 (-10.2) in that situation since 2006.
The Stars have been costly to their backers at this time of year, going 60-60 (-18.2) their last 120 games played in the month of April. Conversely, during the same stretch, the Sharks have gone a highly profitable 74-44 (+34.9) in the month of April. I expect the Sharks to win the series and suggested a series play on them to the members of my website. They're 8-1 their last nine home games and 15-5 their last 20 here. Look for them to start the series with a victory. Take the Sharks.
King Creole
Today's Pick: Hornets/Mavericks UNDER
Each of the first two games of this series have gone OVER The TOTAL. With tonight's OU line creeping up (196.5 to 197 at last look), we'll grab the value on the UNDER with some Killer OU Systems to back us up.
In the "1/3" game (Round 1 / Game 3), home teams who went OVER in the first two games of the series (MAVERICKS and SUNS) have gone 9-23 O/U.... and 2-10 O/U as favs of -5.5 or less points.
The Hornets come into tonight's game actually off 4 straight OVERS.... and that's another good sign to take the value with the UNDER.
In the "1/3" game , NBA teams who are off 4+ OVERS in a row (Hornets) are an amazing 4-18-2 O/U since 1990..... 1-8 O/U on the road.... 1-11 O/U when playing off a SU win.... and a PERFECT 0-7 O/U as Underdogs (Hornets).
In the "1/3" game, home favs with an OU line of 190-199 have gone 5-12 O/U.... 3-12 O/U as favs of < 2 pts.... and 1-6 O/U In the last 10 years (Mavericks).
Game two was a complete blowout for New Orleans, as they beat up on Dallas by a final score of 127-103. Another good sign for an UNDER.
Here's two collaborating OU systems:
0-4 O/U in the last 5 years for "1/3" teams playing off a SU win by a margin of 20+ points (New Orleans).
0-5 O/U for "1/3" teams who scored 125 or more points in their last game (New Orleans).
#2 seeds (Hornets) are a PERFECT 0-4 O/U vs the #7 seed (Mavericks) in the "1/3" game in the last 4 years. Take the UNDER.
Mike Jacobs
50* NBA Pho -6.5
Sean Michaels 25 Dime Pick
Suns
Cash & Profit Experts
Florida/Milwaukee Under 9 -115 (pod)
Boston -115 (comp)
Brandon Lang
20 Dime - Astros
10 Dime - Suns
Free Pick - Brewers
John Ryan
Game: Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants
Prediction: San Francisco Giants
Reason: Ai Simulator 3* graded play on SF Giants ? Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 56-20 and has made 37.7 units since 2002. Play on NL home teams when the money line is +125 to -125 with a starting pitcher whose ERA is 4.20 to 4.70 on the season and is now facing an opponent with a starting pitcher whose gives up 5.5 or less hits/start. Here is a second system that ash gone 32-17 and has made 29 units since 2002. Play on home dogs with a money line of +125 to +175 that is also a cold hitting team batting .240 or worse over their last 10 games and with a starting a pitcher who gave up 1 or less earned runs last outing. One bright note for the Giants has been their bullpen. Over the past 7 games they have produced an 2.13 ERA and a 1.145 WHIP and a perfect 3-0 in save opportunities. Left-handed starter Sanchez has also been a big surprise as well. He has a 1.69 ERA and 1.187 WHIP over his last 3 starts. He has recorded 18K and allowed just 11 hits and 1 HR spanning 16 IP over the past 3 starts. Reds starter has not been a solid investment when he is facing the Giants. He is 3-5 when starting against SF with an ERA of 4.20 and a WHIP of 1.365. Take the Giants