Sports Gambling Hotline
San Antonio at LAKERS -6½
On Wednesday we told you we felt the total in Game One was just too high, and indeed, these teams combined for an easy UNDER, and another comp play winner from the SGH.
It would be very easy to play the percentages and call for another UNDER in this game, but the fact the linemakers didn't really come down much from their Game One total tells us that they feel we have high-scoring potential on our hands in this Friday night battle, and we agree!
11 of the Lakers last 15 Friday night games have eclipsed the posted price, and we believe this game is going to feature a few more points than we saw in Game One on Wednesday.
The Lakers paltry 89-points was a playoff-low through their first 11 postseason games. Los Angeles has hit the century mark or better in 9 of their 11 playoff battles, and we think this game is going to see LA come close to cracking the 100-point plateau for sure in front of the home crowd.
We will be going against the grain in this game, and playing the OVER in Game Two of this best of seven series.
Play the over
1* OVER
Bobby Maxwell
Seattle at N.Y. YANKEES -115
Today's play on the diamond comes from New York as we go with the Yankees to take care of business against the Mariners.
Seattle is absolutely lousy on the road and even though the Yankees haven't exactly been tearing things up we're siding with the Bronx Bombers to get this one against the lowly Mariners.
The Yankees have already swept the Mariners once this season and have won five straight against Seattle dating back to last season.
Lefty Andy Pettitte (3-5, 4.42 ERA) is on the hill for New York and he has had some very nice success against Seattle in his career. In his last nine starts against them, Pettitte has allowed three runs or less in seven of those nine. Last year he allowed two runs through 7.1 innings against the Mariners but his offense forgot to show up and they lost 2-1.
Eric Bedard (3-2, 3.24) has had success against the Yankees, but the Mariners have lost three of his last four outings and last time he was on the road he gave up six runs on seven hits in two innings of a 13-12 loss to the Rangers. In his lone outing against the Yankees this season he gave up three runs on four hits in seven innings of a 5-1 loss in New York.
The Yankees are 41-19 when Pettitte starts as a favorite and 61-26 as a home favorite. Seattle has lost its last five trips to New York and that streak won't end tonight. Play the Yankees to get the win behind Pettitte.
4* N.Y. YANKEES
DCI
NBA
Western Conference Finals
Game 2, best-of-7
L.A. LAKERS 103, San Antonio 97
NHL
Stanley Cup Finals
Game 1, best-of-7
DETROIT 3, Pittsburgh 2
Carlo Campanella
Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres
Prediction: Cincinnati Reds
Reason: The Reds are Road chalk as they head to San Diego on Friday. It's no wonder, as Volquez starts on the mound. Cincinnati has won his last 3 trips to the mound and he's been awesome while holding those opponents to only 3 Earned Runs in his last 19 Innings Pitched. Things even look better on Friday as he takes on a San Diego squad that's lost 6 of their last 8 games.
7* Play On Cincinnati
JEFF BENTON
For Friday, well switch things up a bit and go with an MLB total, playing the Dodgers-Cardinals game OVER the total.
This number is just way too low when you consider how bad both starting pitchers (L.A.s Derek Lowe and St. Louis Adam Wainwright) have been lately. Lowe is 0-3 with an ugly 9.28 ERA in his last four starts, and he doesnt have a single quality start in his last seven outings. As for Wainwright, hes surrendered 12 runs (10 earned) over his last two starts spanning just 11 2/3 innings and that was against two weak offensive clubs in the Brewers and Rays, both of whom finished with eight runs in their respective contests.
Also, take a look at what Wainwright did in his lone visit to Dodger Stadium just a little more than a year ago: eight runs, seven hits and four walks allowed in 2 2/3 innings, with L.A. winning 9-7. Meanwhile, Lowe is 1-4 with a 5.93 ERA in his Dodgers career against the Cardinals, with both of his home starts against St. Louis topping the total.
Finally, all three meetings between these teams topped the total last year, and with both of these offenses in fine form right now St. Louis is batting .306 over its last 10 games, while the Dodgers are batting .275 in their last 10 and .289 at home this season) I smell an offensive explosion. Play it OVER the total.
3* Cardinals-Dodgers OVER the total
TONY WESTON
Tonight, Im going with the Pirates to beat the Chicago Cubs. Now, the teams have played eight times so far this season and the Cubs are 7-1.
However, that one win by the Pirates came Saturday when Pittsburgh beat Carlos Zambrano, who is scheduled to get the start tonight. In all the eight meetings so far this year, Saturdays game was the only one in which Zambrano has started against Pittsburgh.
In that game Zambrano gave up four earned runs and seven hits in four innings of work as the Pirates beat Chicago 7-6.
The Cubs come into this game having lost their last two games on the road and are 9-11 away from home this season.
The Pirates will light up Zambrano and get an easy win over Chicago.
Take the Pirates at home tonight.
3* PIRATES
Sports Gambling Hotline
It would be very easy to play the percentages and call for another UNDER in this game, but the fact the linemakers didn't really come down much from their Game One total tells us that they feel we have high-scoring potential on our hands in this Friday night battle, and we agree!
11 of the Lakers last 15 Friday night games have eclipsed the posted price, and we believe this game is going to feature a few more points than we saw in Game One on Wednesday.
The Lakers paltry 89-points was a playoff-low through their first 11 postseason games. Los Angeles has hit the century mark or better in 9 of their 11 playoff battles, and we think this game is going to see LA come close to cracking the 100-point plateau for sure in front of the home crowd.
We will be going against the grain in this game, and playing the OVER in Game Two of this best of seven series.
Play the HIGH!
1* OVER
Tony Mathews
Cincinnati Reds vs. San Diego Padres
Cincinnati/San Diego Under 7.5
Explanation: We expect a low-scoring game as the Cincinnati Reds face-off against the San Diego Padres in Friday's MLB contest.
The Cincinnati Reds will use starting pitcher Edinson Volquez. Edinson Volquez has pitched very well this season. In fact, Edinson Volquez has a 1.33 ERA on the season. We see Edinson Volquez pitching another great game today.
The San Diego Padres will use starting pitcher Shawn Estes. Shawn Estes has also pitched well so far this season. In fact, Shawn Estes has a 2.02 ERA on the season. We see Shawn Estes also pitching another great game today.
The Under has been a smart investment in San Diego Padres home games. In fact, the Under is 12-5 in the San Diego Padres last 17 home games.
Take the Cincinnati Reds/San Diego Padres Under 7.5
Robert Ross
Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres
Prediction: Cincinnati Reds
Reason: Going to fade the Padres and their anemic offense here. Padres starter Estes has a good lifetime mark vs. the Reds but hasn't started against them since 2004. Reds'starter Volquez has a 1.33 ERA and SAN DIEGO is 1-10 against the money line vs. an NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.50 or better this season and 23-46 against the money line vs. a starting pitcher whose strikes out 5 or more batters per start over the last 3 seasons. Take Cincinnati
WISEGUY
NBA
SPURS vs LAKERS
2 units under 193
MLB
2 units Chicago White Sox -106
Strike Point
San Francisco/Florida Under 9
Barry Zito is still in search of his first win of the year. I don't know if he can best the Marlins fresh off a sweep of the D-Backs, but I think he'll be good for a strong outing. And just the same I see Scott Olsen coming with his top stuff, keeping this one under the posted total. You won't confuse the Giants with any of the NL's top scoring line-ups, and I don't see the winner with more than five runs here. The under is the way to go in this series opener.
John Fina
Selection: Cleveland Indians -150
Today the Texas Rangers will be on the road as they take on the Cleveland Indians. We will side with the Cleveland Indians. One reason why we will side with the Cleveland Indians is because they will be sending to the mound the starting pitcher who has been pitching a lot better as of late. This says it all... The Texas Rangers Starting Pitcher (Kason Gabbard) has a 4.50 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Cleveland Indians Starting Pitcher (Fausto Carmona) has a 1.69 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, the Cleveland Indians will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. The Cleveland Indians are 8-3 in their last 11 meetings against the Texas Rangers, and should be able to get another win tonight!
Take the Cleveland Indians
HUDDLE UP
Philadelphia +105
MIGHTY QUINN
Lakers
COMPUTER SPORTS
INDIANS -160
THE POWER INDEX
L.A. Lakers 5*
TRACE ADAMS
NY METS
DUSTIN HAWKINS
CARDINALS
Sharp Sports Advisors
RED SOX
ARMVIN SPORTS
DIAMONDBACKS
Play By Play Inc.
SPURS/LAKERS Under 193
Insider Sports Report
San Francisco/Florida UNDER 9
LT's LOCKS
MARINERS
Sportskingz
Spurs/ Lakers Over
Nevada Sharpshooter
Royals
Cash N Sports
Lakers
Vegas Steamline
Red Sox
Big Time Sports
Red Sox/ As Over
Prime Sports Picks
Royals
Vernon Croy
Blue Jays
Nick" Bookie Killer" Parsons
Twins/ Tigers Over
KELSO
10 unit - Lakers
15 unit - Reds
10 unit - Tigers
3 unit - Mariners
Yankee Capper
3 Units - St. Louis Cardinals +115