Robert Ferringo
Take Over 58.0 Navy at Ball State
After breaking down tape of Navy’s opening win over Towson I can confidently say that the Middies will not stop Ball State offensively. At all. Navy allowed Towson’s QB to start 21-for-30 for 225 in the first half. Ball State’s Nate Davis, who will be perhaps the MAC’s next outstanding NFL starter, will absolutely decimate a second-rate Navy secondary. Davis was 21-for-23 in just three quarters of work in last week’s opener. Ball State won their meeting with a better Navy team in Annapolis last year, and the teams combined for 65 points in that one. I think that Ball State will give us 40+ by themselves. Navy is 5-0 against the total in its last five road games and Ball State is 10-1 on the ‘over’ in its last 11 September games. I also like Ball State to cover in this one and win in a blowout.
Terron Chapman
Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets
Play: Under
Two pitcher's on the top of their games will take the hill Friday night in the Big Apple as the Mets and Phillies begin a critical weekend series with playoff implications. The Mets currently sit three games ahead of the Phillies in the NL east standings.
They will send Michael Pelfrey to the mound with hopes he can continue his stong pitching. Pelfrey has been lights out recently, going 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in his last three starts, two of which were complete games. In his only start at home against the Phillies this year, he held them to just five hits and two earned runs in five innnings pitched.
His opponent on the mound for the Phillies will be Brett Myers, who has been impressive since his return from the minors. He's 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in his last three starts, not allowing a home run in 23 innings pitched. The under is 6-0-1 in Myers last 7 starts.
I think we can expect a low scoring affair with an early October playoff feel to it. The way both pitcher's are pitching lately, it's hard to see many runs being scored here.Play on the Under for 2 units.
John Fina
Philadelphia/New York Under 8.5
Reason: Put us down on the Philadelphia Phillies/New York Mets Under 8.5 for our Free MLB Selection on Friday. Today we see a high-scoring game as the Philadelphia Phillies do battle with the New York Mets. One reason why we see a low-scoring game is because both these teams will send to the mound solid starting pitchers. This says it all... The Philadelphia Phillies Starting Pitcher (Brett Myers) has a 0.78 ERA in his last 3 starts, while New York Mets Starting Pitcher (Mike Pelfrey) has a 2.19 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, both these pitchers have been pitching great as of late. To say the least, we should see a low-scoring game. Take the Philadelphia Phillies/New York Mets Under 8.5!
SCOTT FERRALL
NCAA
Navy +8 from Ball St--I'm not sure I've ever bet on Testicle Tech
HALLADAY -180 over Tampa--The Rays are starting to fall apart--The Toronto ace is killing every lineup he faces these days
Baltimore -115 over Oakland at Camden
LOWE and Dodgers -125 over Arizona at Chavez Revine
SF -130 over Pirates in the Bay
Washington +135 over the Braves at Turner--The Nats have actually been hot lately and just messed up the Phillies in DC, but now they are on the road vs Jurrjens
Cincy +135 in the UPSET SPECIAL over the Cubs and Lilly at Great American Ballpark
PlusLineSports
SD vs Milwaukee
Milwaukee -1.5
Jim Feist
CHC Cubs @ CIN Reds
Take Over
The Cubs have pitching problems, giving up 26 runs during a 5-game skid. Carlos Zambrano's season is in jeopardy. Zambrano's valuable right shoulder could speak volumes and the Cubs seemed to be preparing for the worst, that Zambrano could be out for a long period, perhaps the rest of the season. Originally scheduled to stay and help Triple-A Iowa in the playoffs, Kevin Hart instead found himself in Cubs clubhouse Wednesday night, called up after Sean Marshall went from bullpen to rotation. Losing aces can have a dominoe effect on a team, taxing bullpens. Starter Ted Lilly goes in a hitter's park in this game, Cincy, and Lilly has allowed 30 home runs in 174 innings. He's 0-3 with a 6.32 ERA against the Reds this season. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo has allowed 25 gopher balls in 166 innings, plus has a 4.50 ERA against the Cubs and their top-ranked offense. The Reds are on a 4-1 run over the total, all at home. Looks like an offensive shootout. Play the Cubs/Reds over the total.
Dave Cokin
ARI D'backs @ LA Dodgers
Take LA Dodgers
The Dodgers continues to be the streakiest team around, and right now they're on a roll. Derek Lowe is in better form than Danny Haren and the Dodgers are at home. As long as they're streaking the right way, LA is worth backing and I'll do exactly that here.
JEFFERSONSPORTS
MLB EARLY RELEASE
CLEVELAND-140
Bobby Maxwell
Philadelphia +125 at N.Y. METS
Backs against the wall and we're playing the Phillies in this one as they travel to New York for a crucial three-game set with the Mets.
Philadelphia trails the Mets by three games in the N.L. East race and they've lost 10 of 15 and six of eight to New York. This is where they either put up or shut up and we think the Phillies will come to play.
The Phillies have Brett Myers (8-10, 4.40 ERA) on the mound for this series opener and he's been red-hot lately, going 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in his last three outings. Philadelphia has won six of his last seven starts and he hasn't allowed an opponent more than three runs in any of those seven.
The Phillies are on runs of 5-2 following a loss, 5-1 after an off-day and 17-8 in their last 25 Friday games.
Michael Pelfrey (13-8, 3.66) goes for New York in this one and he's already faced the Phillies twice this year and the Mets have split those two.
Philadelphia is 4-1 in Myers' last five starts at Shea Stadium and we're looking for him to rise up and give his team a chance at this victory. The Phillies offense will deliver and score a big road win in this crucial three-game set. Play the Phillies.
3♦ PHILADELPHIA
Chris Jordan
Detroit at MINNESOTA -150
I expect the Twins to put Detroit’s Armando Galarraga to the test tonight. Despite a 12-4 mark this season, he’s 0-3 in four starts against Minnesota this season. Granted, he has produced three quality starts in those games, but if the Twins are going to make a run, they’re going to have chase the right-hander early in this one.
I’d much rather trust Francisco Liriano, who has been lights out in his last three starts, despite a meager 1-0 mark in those games. He’s given up just two earned runs over 18 innings in that span, and he comes in four starts at the Metrodome this year, Liriano is 3-1 with a 1.17 ERA. Lay the chalk with this comp winner.
3♦ TWINS
Marc Lawrence
Play On: NY Mets
The Mets send Mike Pelfrey to the hill Friday night at Shea Stadium when they take on the Phillies in a crucial ML East Division battle. Aside from Pelfrey being in solid current form, the Mets have cashed in 10 of the last 14 games in this series. With Brett Myers just 3-7 in his last 10 team starts in September, look for New York to make it 5 straight wins at home on Fridays here tonight.
Bob Harvey
Take Milwaukee Brewers RL –165
Payback will be strong and swift as the Brewers, who last night to the Padres, bounce back big with C.C. Sabathia. The money line on this game is off the charts and truth being told the run line is a little steep. But how can you not like the unbeaten Sabathia who is coming off a near no-hitter and hasn’t lost since donning a Milwaukee uniform? The Brewers will be counting on the big lefthander to help them snap out of a four-game slide and he should cruise against the offensively challenged Padres. Sabathia has been incredible since coming over from Cleveland in the July 7th trade. C.C. is 9-0 with a 1.43 ERA. He has six complete games in 11 starts. When you take a closer look at his freakish numbers, it’s like looking at Koufax in ’63 or Gibson in ’67, etc. In his last three starts, Sabathia is 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA. He’s got a whip of 1.04. In his last 11 starts, the Brewers are 10-1. And on and on the numbers go. Last year, the Brewers squandered an 8 1/2-game lead in the NL Central and missed the playoffs. Sabathia won’t let that happen again.
Jimmy The Moose
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets
Prediction: New York Mets
The Phillies have lost 4 of their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starte. The Phillies are coming into New York having dropped 2 of 3 to the Nationals. Myers is on the mound tonight and although he's pitched well over his last 7 starts expect a rough outing tonight. The Phillies are 4-13 in his last 17 road starts. Philadelphia is 4-10 in his alst 14 games vs. a team with a winning record and 5-16 in their last 21 vs. a divisional opponent. The Mets have won 4 straight and 6 of their last 7. New York is 13-3 in their last 16 vs. a right-handed starter. The Mets are 20-7 in their last 27 home games. NY is 8-1 in Pelfrey's last 9 home starts. The Mets have won 6 of the last 8 meetings. Philadelphia is 4-1 in their last 5 trips to New York. Play on the New York Mets -.
Frank Jordan
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Play: Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay was able to avoid the sweep but now they head North of the border to Toronto. Toronto won again at home over Minnesota and send Roy Halladay to the mound. Look for Halladay to win his 18th game of the year with a dominating performance infront of the home faithful. Play Toronto
Info Plays
3* on Chicago Cubs -145
The Cubs have lost five straight games, but this team is clearly too solid to stay down in the dumps, especially against the lowly Cincinnati Reds this series. We’ll Play On - All favorites with a money line of -150 or more (CHICAGO CUBS) - with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.250 to 1.350 on the season-NL, with a team batting average of .275 or better on the season (NL). This is a 129-37 ML System hitting 77.7% since 1997 gaining 60.3 Units. The Cubs are 51-24 vs. an overused bullpen that pitches more than 3.2 innings per game this season. The Cubs are 42-15 as a favorite of -125 to -175 this season. Bet Chicago on the road.