Yankee Capper
3 Units - Nationals +1.5 (+130)
3 Units - Pirates +1.5 (+110)
Titans vs. Falcons 3 Units - Under 36
Eagles vs. Patriots 3 Units - Under 37
PlusLineSports
Pittsburg vs Milwaukee
Milwaukee -1.5
TONY KARPINSKI
Tennessee Titans vs. Atlanta Falcons
Play:Over
Rookie gunslinger Matt Ryan has arguably been the most effective quarterback for the Falcons during the exhibition campaign, and with this being the most important week of the preseason, you?d have to imagine he'll bring his A-Game to the Georgia Dome tonight. He's expected to play well into the third quarter, which means he'll be allowed to expand the playbook, utilize balance on several drives and properly lead the offense. He's already considered the favorite for the starting job. Ryan will be able to shine. On the other hand, we have a Tennessee offense that posted 34 points in the season opener, and a mere 17 last week against the Raiders. A bit deceptive, and the thing is, Vince Young has yet to give us his best game. The starting offense scored just one touchdown in that exhibition opener, so imagine what it will do on the turf tonight, if the Falcons decide to speed things up. Remember, Atlanta's defense is nothing to write in about. Play on the OVER
MICHAEL CANNON
Boston at TORONTO -105
Take the Blue Jays tonight over the Red Sox.
Boston will send the recently acquired Paul Byrd to the hill and the right-hander has been solid lately. He?s 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his last three starts.
But for how good Byrd has been, Toronto?s Shaun Marcum has been better.
The right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his last three starts and he?s also had good success against Boston in his career.
Marcum is 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA in five career games against the BoSox, including a 2-0 mark with a 3.00 ERA in two starts this year.
Take the Blue Jays as they grab the home win.
3♦ TORONTO
DREW GORDON
Philadelphia at NEW ENGLAND -3
First things first, Brady's status is a relative unknown, due in large part to coach Belichek's cryptic ways. However, he did practice Wednesday and should play at least a couple series in this contest. However, what really matters is the Patriots are sitting at 0-2, and in tonight's dress rehearsal, I say we see their best effort of the preseason, plain and simple.
Why? Well, we all know Belichek is one of the few coaches who really cares about winning preseason games, and its especially true in this all-important Week 3 match up, where he's 5-1 SUATS over the last 6 preseasons! Patriots need to get on track, and I suspect Belichek will make that loud and clear to his team in tonight's contest
The biggest reason I believe the Patriot win and cover this contest comes down to one unit - the defense. Overall New England's vaunted stop-unit has been porous this preseason, getting torched by Tampa Bay in last week's 27-10 loss. Now back at Gillete Stadium, in extended minutes, look for the veterans to step it up a notch tonight.
Finally, while many in the media are spending time tearing down Cassel, Guttierez, and O'Connell in this match up, fact is the Eagles backups have been far from good either. Kolb 54% completion 66 QB rating & Feeley 42% completion and 53 QB rating, not exactly mind-boggling numbers. Look guys, this game comes down to defense, and with the Patriots at home, off back-to-back losses, you know they're coming to play tonight, and it'll show in the final score!
Take New England over Philadelphia in this NFL Preseason match up.
2♦ NEW ENGLAND
Dave Malinsky
Houston Astros @ New York Mets
PICK: Houston Astros 3*
The oddsmakers have been forced to deal some favorites in awfully high ranges over the course of this week, and the books have had to sweat through most of them cashing. That is going to work well for our purposes in the weeks ahead, as it creates the kind of value we find in games like this one. It is one thing for a struggling side that lacks talent and intensity to be taking on a contender, but it is another matter entirely when we have what Houston brings to the table tonight.
The Astros sport a winning record, and have gone on a 17-7 run in their last 24 games. Included in that stretch was a 3-0 home sweep of the Mets in which they out-scored them by nine runs, despite having seven fewer outs to work with. In Roy Oswalt we have a veteran with an ace mentality that will relish this kind of spotlight, and note just how good Oswalt?s form has been as he makes up for lost time following a sub-par start to the season ? it is a 3-0/1.64 over his last three starts, and the only time that Houston has lost in his last seven outings came when an injury forced him out of a game after only a single inning. With Thursday off, the entire bullpen also comes in rested and ready.
Yes, Johan Santana brings a 2-0/1.96 over his last three starts, but when you get to face the Padres, Nationals and Pirates in succession there is nothing all that special about the numbers. This will be a quick ?second look? for the Astros after facing him at home on August 2nd, and in facing a left-hander for the fourth time in five games, the adjustments are easier to make. It all adds up to the Mets being vastly over-priced in this one.
Vegas Sports Experts
The VSE NFL Power Play for Friday
10* Take Atlanta (-3) over Tennessee (NFL Power Play)
Atlanta
• 9-3 ATS in pre-season after scoring 14 points or less the last game
• 8-0 ATS in pre-season after a turnover margin of -3 or worse
• 10-4 ATS in pre-season as a home favorite of 3 points or less
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Padres/Giants UNDER 7
San Diego is 17-8 Under when the total is 7 or less this season and 30-15 Under vs. poor power teams - averaging 0.9 or less HR's/game this season. The Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams and 6-0 in Lincecums last 6 starts vs. the Padres. The Under is 7-1 in the Giants last 8 vs. the National League West and 6-0 in the Giants last 6 during game 1 of a series. Neither of these teams pack much fire power and with a pair of solid pitchers on the mound, I don't expect many runs to be scored. Bet the UNDER.
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
5000* POWER HOUSE BASEBALL GAME OF THE MONTH
NY Yankees w/Mussina -183
EZWINNERS
2 STAR: (970) TORONTO (-$107) over Boston
(Action)
(Risking $214 to win $200)
2 STAR: (955) HOUSTON (+$198) over NY Mets
(Listing Oswalt only)
(Risking $200 to win $396)
2 STAR: (972) TEXAS (-$116) over Cleveland
(Action)
(Risking $232 to win $200)
2 STAR: (974) KANSAS CITY (+$168) over Detroit
(Listing Bannister only)
(Risking $200 to win $336)
2 STAR: (963) FLORIDA (+$188) over Arizona
(Action)
(Risking $200 to win $376)
Paul Leiner
100* NFLX Cowboys -5
25* MLB Rangers -115
10* MLB Blue Jays -105
Bob Balfe
NFL Preseason Football
Eagles +2.5 over Patriots
New England has looked like the team with the most problems this preseason, but it is just the preseason. Its obvious they don't want to get hurt and without Brady in the lineup they have no shot at winning games. Brady probably wont play tonight so it will be the Patriots backups vs Donovan McNabb. Take the Eagles.
Cowboys -5 over Texans
This game is for all the Texas bragging rights. NOT! Both teams will play their starters for at least a half and if week 3 preseason football is the closest thing to a regular season game then my money would have to be on the team with the most pro ball players from last year that have yet to win a preseason game and are at home tonight. Dallas needs a good performance from their starters so they can rest in week four of the preseason to stay healthy for opening day. Take the Cowboys at home.
Major League Baseball
Whitesox -165 over Rays
Danks/Jackson
Beat Your Bookie
100 Cubs
50 Milwaukee
50 St Louis
100 New England
100 Houston
ROCKETMAN
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Los Angeles Dodgers +113
LA Dodgers are 12-5 overall vs Philadelphia last 3 years and 4-0 against the Phillies this year. Maddux is 10-9 with a 3.44 ERA overall vs Phillies since 1997 and Kendrick is 1-2 with a 9.39 ERA overall vs Dodgers since 1997. Philadelphia is 3-12 this year at home when the line is -100 to -125. We'll recommend a small play on the LA Dodgers
Triple Crown
4* Bos/Tor Under 9.5