TONY WESTON
Forget what these teams have done historically in the preseason. What you want to focus on is what these two did last week in their preseason openers.
First, Green Bay looked pretty solid with its first team on the field as quarterback Aaron Rodgers moved the offense up and down the field, going 9-for-15 for 117 yards, a touchdown and an interception that really wasn't his fault. Rodgers led Green Bay to a 10-0 lead and looked to have the Packers on their way to an opening victory. However, the backups took the field and couldn't make the lead stand up as the Pack lost 20-17 as a 3-point home favorite.
The 49ers, on the other hand, didn?t look good at all at any point against the Raiders as their first, second and third stringers couldn?t do much in an 18-6 loss where the defense allowed nearly 250 yards on the ground and the quarterbacks looked more like junior college transfers than NFL starters.
San Francisco looked horrible and this week once again will be led by scheduled starting quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan and backups Alex Smith and Shaun Hill.
Also consider that Green Bay is 2-0 SU and ATS in Week 2 under head coach Mike McCarthy.
It'll be an easy win for the Pack led by Rodgers. Go with Green Bay on the road tonight.
3♦ PACKERS
TONY MATHEWS
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds
Selection: St. Louis/Cincinnati Over 9.5
The St. Louis Cardinals will use starting pitcher Joel Pineiro. Joel Pineiro has struggled this season. In fact, Joel Pineiro has a 4.82 ERA on the season. In addition, Joel Pineiro has a 4.95 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Joel Pineiro giving up many runs today.
The Cincinnati Reds will use starting pitcher Aaron Harang. Aaron Harang has also struggled this season. In fact, Aaron Harang has a 5.17 ERA on the season. In addition, Aaron Harang has a 9.98 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Aaron Harang also giving up many runs today.
The bottom line, we should see many runs scored today!
Take the St. Louis Cardinals/Cincinnati Reds Over 9.5
CAJUN SPORTS
1 STAR SELECTION
Indianapolis @ ATLANTA over 37 1/2 POINTS
Rookie QB Matt Ryan and rookie head coach Mike Smith will make their home debuts on Saturday night in the Georgia Dome when the Falcons play host to the Colts in an NFLX contest.
Atlanta fans are counting on Ryan, the #3 overall draft pick out of Boston College, and Smith, the new head man, to turn things around for the organization.
On Saturday, Smith will be looking for his first win of any kind as a head coach, while Ryan will be looking for another solid preseason behind center. The B.C. Eagle completed 9-of-15 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown pass in the Falcons' 20-17 loss at Jacksonville last weekend.
The Colts, meanwhile, come into this game looking for a rare preseason victory. Following last week's 23-20 overtime loss to the Panthers, Indianapolis is now 2-14 in its last 16 warm-up contests. They will once again be without quarterback Peyton Manning, who is expected to be out for at least two more weeks following minor knee surgery.
Jim Sorgi will once again get the start under center for Indy, with Jared Lorenzen and Quinn Gray following him in the lineup. Lorenzen shook off a rough outing against the Redskins in the Hall of Fame game by completing 12-of-23 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. Elsewhere on the Colts roster, defensive end Dwight Freeney and safety Bob Sanders remain out.
Those injuries and other factors make the OVER the play here. Jim Sorgi and the Colts 1st-string offense are looking for a much more productive outing after stinking it up in Carolina. WR Marvin Harrison has finally made it back to the field and should be a factor here.
The Colts have gone OVER in their 3rd game of the preseason in each of the last 5 years, and they are 11-3 OVER in their last 14 NFLX games vs. NFC opponents, including 2-0 OVER already this year.
Meanwhile, Atlanta has a battle going on for the starting QB position, and we often look to play the OVER when new potential starting QBs are being tested, which should mean more passes than normal being thrown. That very often results in a big score due to long gains, interception returns, and clock stoppage on incomplete passes. The Falcons will start Joey Harrington and also give fellow veteran QB, Chris Redman, time behind center, along with the rookie, Ryan. Against a very tough Jacksonville defense on the road last week, Atlanta sent the game OVER, and they are 8-2 OVER in their last 10 NFLX home openers.
We look for the Colts to put up some early points and both teams to keep the scorekeeper busy as this game goes OVER the posted total.
PROJECTED FINAL: INDIANAPOLIS @ ATLANTA OVER 37 1/2 POINTS
Norm Hitzges
Indianapolis/Atlanta Over 37.5
Arizona +3 vs KC
Dallas +3 vs Denver
KC/Arizona Under 35
Cleveland +3 vs NY Giants
St. Louis -3 vs San Diego
Chicago -3 vs Seattle
Houston +3 vs New Orleans
Seattle/Chicago Under 35
Baltimore/Minnesota Under 33.5
Brian Marshall
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Houston Astros
Plays On: Arizona Diamondbacks -115
The Arizona Diamondbacks will be lead by starting pitcher Yusmeiro Petit. Yusmeiro Petit has been pitching good this season. In fact, Yusmeiro Petit has a 3.12 ERA on the season. We see Yusmeiro Petit pitching another good game today.
The Houston Astros will be lead starting pitcher Brandon Backe. Brandon Backe has struggled this season. In fact, Brandon Backe has a 5.14 ERA on the season. Brandon Backe also has a 8.27 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Brandon Backe pitching another bad game today.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are 7-1 in their last 8 meetings against the Houston Astros, and will most likely get another win today!
Arizona Diamondbacks
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Pittsburgh Pirates +152
The Bucs have been swinging solid bats at home and I like them to get to Pedro, who doesn't have a dominant enough fastball anymore to really be effective. The Mets are just 2-6 in Martinez 's last 8 starts, 0-4 in Martinez 's last 4 starts vs. the National League Central, and 1-5 in Martinez 's last 6 starts vs. a team with a losing record. The Pirates are 9-3 in Duke's last 12 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance. I like him to build off of his last performance and keep the Mets on their heels in this one. Bet the home Bucs at a great price.
Sean Higgs
Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons
Play: Atlanta Falcons
We will back the Falcons tonight. I look for the Falcons QBs to be on the ball tonight at home. HC Dungy is not a big fan of NFLX (3-10-1). The new Atlanta regime will want to get some local fan support, and nothing gets the fans behind you then wins. Take the Falcons tonight.. Look for this game to also go OVER the posted total of 37
Sean Michaels
25 DIME PLAY
ST LOUIS CARDINALS
Steven Budin-CEO
25 DIME
ST LOUIS CARDINALS
Larry Ness
TV Game of the Week
15* Chi White Sox
NFL-X Week 2
20* Jacksonville
Weekend Wipeout Winner
Was/NYJ Over
John Ryan
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox
Play: Over
Ai Simulator 3* graded play OVER Toronto/Boston – AiS shows a 79% probability that 9 or more runs will be scored in this game. Boston bats obviously hot batting 305 and scoring 8 RPG over the past 7 days. They do their best in home games sporting a 296 BA and scoring 5.9 RPG. Boston bullpen showing signs of fatigue as they have posted a 6.06 ERA allowing 4 HR in the last 7 games spanning 16.3 IP. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 118-57 for 67% since 1997. Play over with road teams where the total is 8 to 8.5 with a good bullpen that converts on 75%+ of their save opportunities and starting a pitcher who gave up <=1 earned runs in his last 2 outings. Toronto starter Halladay has been just great, BUT in his last start he allowed 10 hits in 6.7 IP. Boston new comer Byrd gets his fist start at Fenway and the pressure will be on. He has allowed 20 of his 23 HR on grass fields. Moreover, he has allowed 23 HR in just 22 starts. Boston is 20-10 OVER (+9.3 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
Tom Freese
Milwaukee at Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 7-0 their last 7 home games vs. winning teams and they are 8-3 their last 11 home games vs. NL Central foes. Starter Derek Lowe is in awesome KW form with a 12-1 strikeout to walk ratio in his last 3 starts. The Dodgers are 42-20 their last 62 games with the Brewers. Milwaukee is 8-22 the last 30 road starts made by David Bush. The Brewers are 0-5 their last 5 games vs. losing teams and they are 2-6 off a loss in their last game. PLAY ON LOS ANGELES
Will Cover
DNEVER minus vs the Cowboys.
COVER STORY: Well aware the the 'Boys tend to play well versus the AFC in pre-season action, but we like the host Broncos in this spot on Saturday night. Mike Shanahan of Denver is a fine 7-3 SU and ATS his last ten pre-season games at Mile High and is 17-8 vs NFC teams over the last six pre-seasons! Dallas is pointing to the the "Battle of Texas" next Friday on CBS-TV when they play host to the Houston Texans and will use that game as their dress rehersal for the regular season. Lay the small impost with the BRONCOS!
JB's COMPUTER PICKS
St. Louis Cardinals -110
Tampa Bay Rays -125
Philadelphia Phillies -145
Chris Jordan
San Francisco +125 at ATLANTA
We’re playing the road pup for this complimentary winner, as the Giants hand the ball to Jonathan Sanchez, who has been spot-on lately, resembling that run in June, when he went 5-1 with a 3.10 ERA.
Today he comes in with revenge on the brain after losing to the Braves on Aug. 5, when he allowed three runs in five innings in an 11-4 Giants loss. He was in control of much of his pitches, as he walked none and struck out five that night.
On the other hand, I’m still not impressed by Mike Hampton, who looks rusty and resembles a 35-year-old who took 35 months off. He’s struggled his last two times out, and I’m going to believe the Giants will hit him hard tonight.
1♦ GIANTS
Michael Cannon
Chicago Cubs -110 at FLORIDA
Take the Cubs for the road win over the Marlins tonight.
The Cubs have won nine consecutive road games, their longest such streak since reeling off 12 in a row back in 1945.
Sean Marshall will make a spot start tonight but he’s no stranger to the rotation. The left-hander made 19 starts last season and won his last start this season on July 6, allowing one run and six hits in six innings of a 7-1 win over the Cardinals.
Florida has lost three straight and six of eight.
Anibal Sanchez will make his fourth start of the season after missing more than a year while recovering from shoulder surgery.
The right-hander faces a Cubs lineup that has scored the most runs in the NL and has plated 76 runs in their last nine road games.
Take the Cubs as they grab the road win.
3♦ CHICAGO CUBS
Washington +3 at NY JETS
A winner on the Indians last night improves my free play record to 20-14 with my last 34 overall releases.
Take the points with the Redskins tonight when they travel to take on the Jets.
Yes, Brett Favre is the big story here, as he has been most of the offseason. Old No. 4 makes his Jets debut tonight and you can bet the atmosphere will be electric.
But lost in all of the hoopla is the fact that the Redskins are looking pretty decent through their first two preseason games under new coach Jim Zorn.
Quarterback Jason Campbell has looked very comfortable in his limited action, completing 80 percent of his passes for 132 yards and one touchdown. Rookie Colt Brennan has also looked good and could push veteran Todd Collins for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Campbell.
For the Jets, this game is about Favre and nothing else. After he makes his exit and the excitement dies down, there won’t be much of anything else for the Jets to hang their hats on.
Take the points as the Skins stay within the number.
4♦ WASHINGTON