LT Profits
2 units MLB HOUSTON ASTROS +145
The Brewers are sky high after sweeping a four-game road series in St. Louis, but this is a tough scheduling spot for them, coming home with no rest vs. a perceived inferior opponent. Thus, their intensity should be lacking tonight and that could lead to an upset here. Now Manny Parra has been great against the rest of the league this year, but he has struggled vs. the Astros, allowing 11 earned runs over 15.1 innings in three starts against them. Meanwhile, Wandy Rodriguez limited the Brew Crew to one runs and only six hits in seven innings the last time he faced them.
Teddy June
MLB Game of the Day
My 5* MLB Game of the Day is the Boston Red Sox
MLB Total of the Day
My 5* MLB Total of the Day is the Washington Nationals/L.A. Dodgers Under
Mike Rose
New York Yankees 2 units
Detroit Tigers 5 units
Colorado Rockies /Cincinnati Reds u8.5 2 units
Houston Astros /Milwaukee Brewers o9.0 3 units
Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 3 units
Brandon Lovell
10* Red Soxs
10* Red Soxs/Yankees Over
Ben Burns
CFL-Friday Night Blowout-Hamilton
Personal Favorite-Reds
Friday Night Feast-A's
Blue Chip Total-Under Yankees
LT Profits
2 units MLB DIAMONDBACKS/GIANTS UNDER 6.5 +105 MLB PLAY OF THE DAY
Yes, this is a low total, but how are the Giants going to score here? Danny Haren is one of the best pitchers in the National League, and with any run support, he would ne much better than 9-5 given his impeccable 2.58 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 132.1 innings. He has allowed a grand total of three runs in his last five starts including three scoreless outings, and he is facing a Giants lineup that is hitting .231 over the last 10 games. Meanwhile, Jonathan Sanchez has developed into a nice second starter for the Giants, and he has a nice 3.45 ERA at home. He held Arizona to three runs or less both times he faced them this year.
Bob Akmens
New York Liberty -6.0 / 4 units
Hamilton Tiger-Cats +2.5 / 4 units
Ben Burns
Hamilton Tiger-Cats +2.5 / 4 units
I'm taking the points with HAMILTON. I feel that public perception has caused the wrong team to be favored here. The Ti-Cats have been brutal for years and everyone still thinks that's the case again this season. I've watched every CFL game in the league this year though and I really believe that the Ti-Cats are a much improved team. Yes, they got blown out last week. That was at Calgary though, a very tough place to play. Additionally, they were playing without their star running back Jesse Lumsden. He's expected to be back tonight though. That will provide a big boost and he should have a strong day vs. a banged-up and porous Edmonton defense.
The Eskimos also lost last week. Their loss will be arguably tougher to recover from though, as it was a heart-breaker (35-31) vs. the Argos. They held a 31-28 lead late in that game but allowed Toronto to march down the field with a 109 yard drive in just over a minute. As if coming off a devastating loss wasn't tough enough, the Eskimos also suffered a major blow to their defense, which was already suspect to begin with. That loss came in the form of a broken leg for Rush end Fred Perry, the team's major offseason acquisition on the defensive side of the ball.
In addition to having homefield advantage, the Ti-Cats also have a significant advantage in the rest department. That's because their last game came on the 17th (8 days ago) while the Eskimos last played on Sunday the 20th, meaning that this is a very short week. Including last week's loss, the Eskimos are an awful 4-16 SU their last 20 road games. In other words, they have no business laying points away from Edmonton! As bad as they've been in recent seasons, the Ti-Cats are still a perfect 4-0 SU/ATS the last four years when hosting the Eskimos. Note that they were underdogs for all four of those games, too. Look for them to continue that homefield series domination with another 'upset' this evening.
Sebastian
20* TEXAS
20* RED SOX
20* KC
50* LA Angels
200* REDSCFL
50* Hamilton
100* Insider Arizona
Alex Smart
Montreal Alouettes / B.C. Lions Under 52.5 3 units
The Montreal Allouettes QB Anthony Calvillo and the BC Lions capable pivot Jarious Jackson will lead two viable offenses on to the field this Friday night, in Vancouver to face two staunch defenses . With the BC Lions coming off an emotional win last week, rolling up 502 yards in total offense against Winnipeg, in a come from behind 28-17 victory, after the death of iconic club president Bob Ackles died, they will be in a let down situation tonight, which in turn, will have them starting slowly. The Als, are also off a hard fought wide open 41-33 win last week, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders , in a game that could have gone either way, and are now primed for a hangover performance . It must be noted that Montreal ran the ball only 5 times last week for 13 yards. After that uneven performance the coaching staff have been saying they have to find a way, to move the ball via a more balanced attack or be very easy to read by opposing offenses in the future. If Montreal continues to go to the air without using their running attack, on a more consistent basis ,they will have problems scoring this week. If they of try to run the ball via a more conservative mind set, a lot of clock will get burned. Either strategy will help to contributing to this contest staying on the low side of the number. Final notes: Montreal is second in the CFL in yards gained (423 per game) and first overall in yards passing (346 per game) but B.C. hammers back with a defense that ranks first in the CFL in fewest yards allowed. The Lions also lead the league in interceptions and sacks. And they're third in fewest points allowed with 21.5 PPG. B.C.'s aerial attack is second in the league to Montreal's, but they have not been as fluid as the numbers suggest ,as is evident by having punted league high 33 times, which makes it obvious things are not all perfect with the offense. Montreal's hard nosed defense, has shown it's teeth so far this season allowing just 22 PPG , which is excellent considering this is pass happy league. The above mentioned facts , stats and numbers lead me to believe that these teams, will end up being part of a fairly low scoring tilt as both teams are operating on a low tank of gas. Key Trends: British Columbia is 10-1 UNDER as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points over the last 2 seasons. The Lions are 7-0 UNDER in a home game where the total is between 49.5 and 56 over the last couple of seasons. BC is 16-2 UNDER as a favorite over the last couple of seasons. BC 15-3 L/18 UNDER in non-conference games . Play Under
The Prez NL CENTRAL GAME OF THE YEAR
Houston Astros at Milwaukee Brewers
Wandy Rodriguez struggles on the road, and that he has to tangle with the Brewers, a team with an .813 team OPS against left-handers, makes him a 5-2 underdog by all rights in tonight's NL Central battle - but getting a 1.5-1 price. He's 1-4 with a 7.11 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in six career starts in Miller Park.
The Brewers hitters have assassinated left-handed pitching this year. They have a .287 batting average and a .861 OPS lifetime against the Rodriguez. J.J. Hardy is red-hot and he is batting .364 (4-for-11) with two doubles and two home runs in his career against Rodriguez. Throw in bottom of the lineup hitters like Corey Hart, who is batting .471 (8-for-17) versus Rodriguez and a Milwaukee victory is in the forecast. Ryan J. Braun is 2-for-6 against Wandy with a home run; Prince Fielder is 4-for-13; and Rickie Weeks will be back in the lineup on Friday against the left-handed Houston starter. Weeks is 4-for-13 against Rodriguez.
Manny Parra, fresh off the farm struggled against the Astros early this season, both starts in Minute Maid; but when he tangled with the Houston lineup on May 30 in Milwaukee, Parra allowed one run on four hits in six innings. Parra is 5-0 with a 3.02 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 11 games (10 starts) at home this season.
After a ninth inning home run on Thursday night kept the Crews winning streak alive, there will be no letdown for the surging Brewers who won all seven games on their post-All Star Game road trip and are riding a 8-game winnings streak overall.
8 UNIT Play on Milwaukee over Houston