LT Profits
2* Fresno State +5.0
Ben Lewis
3* UCLA +8.0
The Prez
5* Tennessee -7.5
Ben Burns
Main Event
Fresno St./Rutgers Over the total
Jeff Benton
First off, I fully admit that I have a big-time man-crush on Fresno State coach Pat Hill ‘ I absolutely love his ‘we’ll play anyone, anywhere, anytime’ philosophy, one that about 95 percent of his colleagues would be wise to pay heed to. But Hill is more than just a riverboat gambler or someone just out to get a big paycheck for his program’s coffers; he’s a damn-good coach, which is why he’s lasted at a football hotbed like Fresno State ‘ the biggest game in town in California’s Central Valley ‘ for 11 seasons.This year, Hill returns 17 starters to a team that hammered Georgia Tech 40-28 in the Humanitarian Bowl last year ‘ that would be Georgia Tech of the ACC ‘ and is favored to capture the Western Athletic Conference title in 2008. Among those returning to Fresno State are QB Tom Brandstater (15 TDs, 5 INTs last year) and a running-back trio that combined for 25 TDs and nearly 2,000 yards in 2007.Speaking running backs, Rutgers is without stud tailback Ray Rice, who was the Scarlet Knights’ bread-and-butter the last two years and he will not be easy to replace. In fact, I expect Rutgers ‘ which slipped from 11-2 in 2006 to 8-5 last year ‘ to drop another notch this season. Throw in the fact that Fresno State has been a solid underdog play over the years under Hill, while Rutgers has struggled as a chalk, and I’ll back the road team plus the points in this one.
4♦ FRESNO STATE
Matty O'Shea
MIL / NYM Over 7.5
Rutgers / Fresno St. Over 58.5
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Mariners/Rangers UNDER 12
Oddsmakers are expecting both teams to tee off in this one, but they have set the bar too high. The Under is 5-1 in the Rangers last 6 overall and 5-1 in the Rangers last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 8-3-1 in the Mariners last 12 Monday games, 4-1-1 in the Mariners last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing record, and 4-0 in the Mariners last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game. We'll take the UNDER.
John Fina
Selection: Texas Rangers -1.5 Runs (+105)
Today the Seattle Mariners will be on the road as they take on the Texas Rangers. We will side with the Texas Rangers -1.5 Runs! One reason why we will side with the Texas Rangers is because they will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. This says it all... The Seattle Mariners Starting Pitcher (Carlos Silva) has a 9.56 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Texas Rangers Starting Pitcher (Matt Harrison) has a 2.95 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, the Texas Rangers will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. The Texas Rangers are 41-18 in their last 59 meetings against the Seattle Mariners (when playing in Texas), and should be able to get another blowout win tonight. Take the Texas Rangers -1.5 Runs!
Jim Feist
NYY Yankees and DET Tigers
Take DET Tigers
The Yankees are winding up their worst season in years. They've had injuries and the pitching staff has been a near-disaster. It's certainly running out of steam down the stretch. Alex Rodriguez failed to deliver in the ninth again and the bullpen was sloppy in a crushing 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays. They have a losing record on the road and face hard throwing Justin Verlander, a guy who has turned his season around. Verlander is 2-1 his last three starts with a 2.41 ERA. In that time he's fanned 20 in 18 innings. The high heat is back and he's 3-0 in his career against NY. Detroit is 4-1 this season against NY, feasting on the weak Yankee arms. Play the Tigers.
Dave Cokin
CHW White Sox and CLE Indians
Take CLE Indians
The price keeps going up, but the results stay the same. Cliff Lee takes the mound for Cleveland and the Indians win. The Tribe got cooled off by Seattle this weekend, but I look for them to be focused as Lee goes for #20, and I'll take my shot against White Sox rookie lefty Richard. The Indians are the choice.
MJP
CFB
RUTGERS -5
TENNESSEE at UCLA Under 46
MLB
MILWAUKEE BREWERS +106
HOUSTON ASTROS +120
SEATTLE MARINERS +156
Karl Garrett
NY Yankees at DETROIT
Look for the runs to add up at Comerica Park tonight, as the fading Yankees take on the Tigers.
The Yankees have played OVER the total in 4 of their last 7 games, and will send the struggling Sidney Ponson to the hill tonight. Ponson's last 2 starts have yielded 11 runs against, while working only 7 innings!
You can expect the Tiger bats will be raring to get it going against Ponson tonight.
Justin Verlander is certainly capable of shutting the New York bats down, but Verlander is coming into this start off of a 6-inning, 5-run stint against Cleveland.
Verlander's season ERA is still a rather bloated 4.53, and with the Tigers having played OVER the posted price in 3 of 5, the G-Man will side with the hitters to rule the roost tonight.
Take the OVER between the Yanks and Tigers.
1♦ OVER
Sports Gambling Hotline
White Sox at CLEVELAND
Tonight we are looking for Cliff Lee to be his usual stingy self, as the Indians hand the White Sox a loss on the RUN LINE.
Lee has been brilliant this season, and stands at 19-2 with a 2.43 ERA. Certainly worthy of Cy Young consideration this year!
You can expect Lee to give up 2 runs tops in this game, and you can also expect his teammates to get him a few runs off Chicago starter Clayton Richard who sports a road ERA over 8 for his 3 big league highway starts this season.
Cleveland has followed a 10 game winning streak with 3 losses in a row at home to Seattle, expect them to get their ship righted tonight with their ace mound-bound.
Play on the Tribe on the RUN LINE.
3♦ CLEVELAND -1 1/2 RUNS
Michael Cannon
Seattle at TEXAS
Take the Rangers on the run line tonight at home over the Mariners.
Seattle will start Carlos Silva, who is fresh off the DL and is perhaps the worst starting pitcher in all of baseball.
The right-hander is 4-14 on the year with a 6.36 ERA, including a 0-3 mark with an 11.39 ERA in his last five starts. Silva hasn’t won since June 28.
Texas will counter with rookie Matt Harrison, who is 6-3 with a 5.67 ERA on the year. The left-hander has won four of his last five decisions.
With Josh Hamilton and company playing at home against Silva, you can rest assure that runs will be scored by the Rangers.
Take the Rangers on the run line.
2♦ TEXAS RUN LINE
Dennis Macklin
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians
The WSox Clayton Richard has been very average in his five spot starts but may be coming around based on last two starts where he allowed just four earned in 12+ innings of work. Cliff Lee is almost automatic at 19-2 and 2.43 overall, 8-0 2.38 at home, 2.23 in L3. The series has had history of being high scoring but only Lee start was 3-2 vs. John Danks. That 3-2 score sounds about right here and we'll be firmly on the under.
Play on: Under