JEFFERSONSPORTS
MLB EARLY RELEASE FOR SAT
SEATTLE-130
BOSTON-140
LA DODGERS+160
Marc Lawrence
Play On: St. Louis Rams
The Rams host the ravens in Game Three preseason action tonight in a nice technical winning situation. That comes about when home teams in Game Three of the preseason off a win-no-cover are 11-1 SU and 8-3-1 ATS. With the rams stoked about the signing of Steven Jackson look for St. Louie to improve on those numbers here tonight.
Greg Daraban
Oakland at Seattle
Last night Seattle won 7-5 at Safeco Park. Both teams are struggling Oakland 3-7. Seattle just 2-8. BUT the price is right on a better team that comes up a dog today.
Take Oakland
LT Profits
New Orleans Saints @ Cincinnati Bengals Under 41.0
The posted total of 41 in this contest between the New Orleans Saints and the Cincinnati Bengals is very high for a preseason game under normal circumstances, and it seems even bigger given the state of the Cincinnati offense right now.
The Bengals managed just 10 points here at home vs. the Detroit Lions last week, but that is just part of the story as they lost wide receiver Chad Johnson to a sprained shoulder in the process. Cincinnati is also without second receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh right now due to a hamstring, forcing them to re-sign the troubled receiver Chris Henry earlier this week. As if that is not bad enough, running back Rudi Johnson is also unlikely to suit up with a bad hamstring,
Now granted, the Saints have looked strong offensively in the early going, but it is extremely difficult to go Over a bloated total like this when one team has to do most of the scoring. In fact, the Under is 56-46, 54.9 percent in all preseason games that have had a posted total greater than 40 since 2000.
We look for that pattern to continue here with a decimated Bengals offense.
Pick: Saints, Bengals Under 41
Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5
The Minnesota Vikings may be without quarterback Tavaris Jackson this week, while the Steelers figure to play their best game of the preseason with the regulars seeing more action.
Jackson suffered a sprained MCL last week, and you can bet that the Vikes will not want to risk having further harm done to the injury this week. Granted, he did participate in practice this week, but that is no guarantee that he will see action against a very physical Pittsburgh defense.
Now the Steelers lost to Buffalo in Canada last week after beating the Eagles in the preseason opener, but the starters have yet to see much action. That will change this week, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been fine during his limited duty, completing 11 of 13 passes with two touchdowns and a nice 126.3 passer rating.
We feel that the superior quarterback play the Steelers should get here makes them the play at this rather modest number.
Pick: Steelers -2.5
Tony Stevens
Atlanta Braves vs. St Louis Cardinals
Play: St Louis Cardinals -1.5
Sean Higgs
Washington Redskins vs. Carolina Panthers
Play: Washington Redskins
Skins seem have to brought into new HC Jim Zorn's west coast offense. We will take the points and continue to ride the Zorn express into the cash lane...Find out why they call Sean "MONEY." Sean has a best bet winner going in the NFL Saturday night..
Jeff Hochman
Florida Marlins vs. Arizona D-Backs
Play: Under
JB's Computer Picks
Boston Red Sox -155
St. Louis Cardinals -145
New York Mets -250
Florida Marlins +150
John Fina
Selection: Cincinnati Reds +150
Today the Cincinnati Reds will be on the road as they take on the Colorado Rockies. We will side with the Cincinnati Reds! One reason why we will side with the Cincinnati Reds is because they will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. This says it all... The Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitcher (Edinson Volquez) has a 2.89 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Colorado Rockies Starting Pitcher (Aaron Cook) has a 6.61 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, the Cincinnati Reds will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. In this case, the value is clearly with the underdog (Cincinnati Reds). Take the Cincinnati Reds!
FAO Sports
Play: Jacksonville / Tampa Over
The Jaguars are 3-0 O/U when facing the Buckineers. In week 3 of the preseason, they and there opponents are averaging 37 PPG.Tampa Bay is averaging 45.66 combined with their opponents in week 3.In the lst 3 years, Jacksonville and Tampa when facing each other are averaging 44.66 PPG.The over should be easy.
K & B Sports
The Redskins got a win in their last game 13-10 while the Panther lost their last game 24-13. In preseason 2008 the Redskins are 2-0 while the Panthers are 1-1. The Redskins were 4-0 in their last four 2007 regular season games. And the Panthers were 3-7 in their last 10 2007 regular season games. Look for a solid offense game from the Redskins and a subpar defensive game from the Panthers. PLAY: WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Chris Jordan
Jacksonville at TAMPA BAY +2'
I am going to take the points with the Buccaneers in this one, as they’re playing at home in Week 3 of the preseason, they’ve looked pretty decent considering they’ve been sans the services of veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia. And whether or not Garcia and receiver Joey Galloway play this week – they’re both considered questionable for this week – I see Tampa having a big game tonight against a storied defense. After all, Tampa Bay has received solid quarterback play through the first two weeks while its offensive line has been stupendous.
And with a surplus of signal-callers on the roster, you know Tampa coach Jon Gruden isn’t in a position to keep them all, so this is definitely an audition for one of the cuts for a backup job elsewhere. The reality of it is Gruden is a defensive-minded guy, so no matter who is under center, Gruden will be able to get his offense through Jack Del Rio’s stop unit, especially after seeing how Jacksonville looked in last week’s 19-14 loss to Miami, as the Jaguars were shut out for the first three quarters of that contest.
Take the points with Tampa Bay tonight, as the Bucs win once again to stay undefeated in preseason action.
2♦ BUCCANEERS
Tampa Bay at CHICAGO -145
I know the success Tampa Bay has had with ace Scott Kazmir aboard the mound, but the White Sox are playing so well right now, I just can’t imagine them blowing a chance to terrorize another foe in a matinee game at US Cellular Field. It’s not like we don’t have our own solid hurler toeing the slab for us. Javier Vazquez has won two straight starts, lasting eight frames in each, while he’s given up just one earned run in both combined.
He did lose his last start against the Rays, back on May 31, when Kazmir opposed him at Tropicana Field. Both pitched well enough to win, but it was the Tampa southpaw getting the W. This time around we bank on the home guy, as he gets his first home start against this team since June of last year, and we all know he shines on the South Side. The White Sox are 15-6 in the right-hander’s last 21 home starts, while they’re on an 8-2 run when he pitches on five days rest. Lay the chalk in this one.
2♦ WHITE SOX
Bobby Maxwell
Minnesota at L.A. ANGELS -140
Minnesota has come into Anaheim and taken the first two games of this four-game set. I don't know if the Angels have become complacent or if their pitching just isn't there right now, but they got drubbed on Friday 9-0.
We think they'll find their form on Saturday behind the pitching of Jon Garland (11-8, 4.33 ERA). The Angels have lost seven of their last nine but they are still 15-6 at home, 23-10 against winning teams and they are 19-9 in their last 28 meetings with the Twins in Anaheim.
Garland has gone at least six innings in each of his last four, but Tampa Bay roughed him up last time out as he allowed five runs on six hits in six innings of a 6-4 loss. He beat these Twins back on April 1 as he scattered one run on six hits in eight innings of a 9-1 win.
Minnesota's Nick Blackburn (9-7, 3.71) is on the hill and he is just 3-4 with a 4.48 ERA in 13 road starts and the Twins have lost eight of those 13.
The Angels will get to him quickly tonight as they get an easy winner. Play Los Angeles.
3♦ L.A. ANGELS
Washington +3 at CAROLINA
Washington has won three straight this preseason and rallied for a 13-10 win over the Jets last week to ruin the debut of New York's Brett Favre. Tonight they'll head to Carolina and get the job done against the Panthers.
The Redskins will have the starters play through the first half including QB Jason Campbell who will get his longest stint of the preseason, playing the entire first half. Todd Collins will come in for the third quarter and then rookie Colt Brennan, who has looked good and bad this preseason, will get some time in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers will almost certainly be carefull with QB Jake Delhomme who is their meal ticket. He will start and likely won't go past midway through the second quarter. Then it's a parade of no-names in Matt Moore, Brett Basanez and Lester Ricard. There's no confidence in any of those QBs.
Washington coach Jim Zorn has got this team focused. And even without RB Clinton Portis in the lineup, they can still move the ball up and down the field. Let's go ahead and play them to make it four straight preseason wins. Play the Redskins.
4♦ WASHINGTON
Karl Garrett
Washington at CAROLINA
After scoring 30 points in the Hall of Fame game on August 3rd, the Redskins have scored 30 combined points in their last pair of preeason contests.
Carolina scored just 13 points last week in their loss at Philadelphia, and you kind of get the feeling that this game is going to be a low-scoring, defensive affair.
The G-Man will look for the UNDER to be the way to go in this game, as Washington has now played UNDER in 5 of their last 6 preseason games, while Carolina has held LOW in 4 of their past 5 preseason home dates.
With the starters going a bit deeper in this game, expect the defenses to also amp it up just a little with the regulars seeing more time.
Ground possession game in this one, and the LOW is the way to go!
5♦ UNDER
Sports Gambling Hotline
Cleveland at DETROIT -3
NFL action this Saturday afternoon, and we will lay the points with the Detroit Lions.
Detroit has looked sharp thus far this summer, winning both of their games straight up, and against the spread.
Cleveland comes to the Motor City off a misleading 37-34 final at the Giants. In that game, the Brownies fell behind 30-3 before mounting their comeback.
While we don't expect the Lions to roar to a 30-3 lead, 383 total yards of offense in last week's win at Cincinnati does bode well for getting things started today at home.
Detroit's defense has allowed just 20 points in their 2 wins, so expect the Lions to limit what the Browns will be doing in this game.
Last year, Detroit was a 23-20 winner over Cleveland as the 3-point underdog. Today we like the Lions to make it 2 in a row in the preseason over the Browns, as the Lions take this one by a touchdown minimum.
Play on Detroit.
2♦ DETROIT