ASA / Scott Rickenbach
2* Baltimore Ravens (+1.5) over ST. LOUIS RAMS
The Ravens will be hungry this week after being embarrassed at home last week in a 23-15 loss to Minnesota that was even worse than the final score indicated! They are catching the Rams at a good time. St Louis is coming off of a win over San Diego at home last week and yet they scored just seven points. In fact, the Rams first team offense has yet to score a TD this preseason. That is bad news for St Louis fans this week because, being that it’s week three of the preseason, it will be the starters that will see most of the time. That means more offensive futility for a Rams offense that has not looked right without RB Stephen Jackson. Even though Jackson finally got into camp this week he is not expected to play tonight. Also note that the Ravens vaunted defense, the starting unit, will see a lot of time this week! Baltimore’s defense is up for this game because they are facing the Rams in St Louis where the Ram offense is known as “The Greatest Show on Turf”. The Ravens are bringing some extra intensity for this game as a result. The Ravens offense should enjoy a solid game this week as QB Troy Smith is expected to get the start and see most of the playing time. This “vote of confidence” from Coach John Harbaugh should give a boost to Smith’s game. Keep in mind that even though his passing stats haven’t been that impressive, he has avoided mistakes. The running threat that Smith brings is also going to challenge the Rams defense and we do expect the Ravens to open things up some on offense with this being the last “significant” preseason game. Next week, in Week Four, the starters generally see very little time so this is the game where the Ravens make a statement! Look for Ray Rice to have a big game on the ground as he sees significant duty here too. History says the Ravens should perform well this week as they are 6-1 as a dog off of a loss as a favorite. Last week, Baltimore was favored over Minnesota and lost and this week they are a small road dog that is hungry just like the last 7 times they were in this role! As noted above, the starters see a lot of playing time in Week Three and is worth nothing that the Rams are just 2-7 ATS in their last 9 Game Threes of the Preseason! St Louis QB Marc Bulger threw two interceptions out of his 14 attempts versus San Diego last week and he’s facing a tough Ravens defense on Saturday night. These teams have never met in the Preseason but they did meet in the regular season last year and it resulted in a Ravens 22-3 victory. A similar result on Saturday would not surprise us. The Rams have only averaged ten points per game so far in the preseason and they are facing a tough challenge this week. Conversely, the Ravens offense will come alive as Smith takes over the reins with confidence by being given this start! Play Baltimore as a Top Play selection on Saturday!
Fairway Jay
4* Detroit Lions -3
Alex Smart
5* Detroit Lions -2
The Prezzz
NFX 3* Action Detroit Lions (-3.0 / -110) vs Cleveland Browns
NFX 3* Action New Orleans Saints (-2.5 / -110) vs Cincinnati Bengals
MLB 3* Action Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays UNDER 9.0 (-110)
MLB 4* Action St. Louis Cardinals (-147) vs Atlanta Braves
MLB 4* Action Houston Astros vs New York Mets UNDER 9.0 (-110)
MLB 5* Best Detroit Tigers (-165) vs Kansas City Royals
MLB 5* Best Cleveland Indians vs Texas Rangers UNDER 12.0 (+100)
MLB 4* Action Seattle Mariners (-123) vs Oakland Athletics
Joseph D'Amico
Florida Marlins vs. Arizona D-Backs
Play: Under
Today's Free Winner is the Florida Marlin's/ Arizona Diamondback's UNDER. In the 7 matchups between these two teams this year, there were 5 UNDER's and 2 PUSHES never scoring above 9 runs combined in any game. Overall both teams score about the same amount of runs per game with Florida averaging 4.64 RPG and Arizona averaging 4.65 RPG. In the Marlins' last 10 games , only two of them had a combined total run output of over 10 runs. As a matter of fact , over the last 10 the Marlin's averaged just 3.6 RPG and the D-Back's averaged 6.1 RPG in the same time span. The Fish start Volstead today. He is 3-0 on the road with an anemic 1.19 ERA. Over his last three starts , the right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA. For the Diamondback's , Petit is on the mound. He is 1-1 with an ERA of 3.27 at home this season. Over his last three starts, the right-hander is 1-2 with an ERA of 3.71. With the solid starting pitcher's and the lack of hitting between these two teams, this is a dead solid UNDER.
3Daily Winners
Atlanta Braves vs. St Louis Cardinals
Play: St Louis Cardinals
Atlanta is just 2-13 against the money line when playing against a good team (Win percentage of 54% to 62%) in the second half of this season and is up against this system. Play On all favorites like the Cardinals, with a money line of -150 or more, with a starting pitcher like Kyle Lohse 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 system is 24-8, 75 percent the last three years, including 8-2 in 2008.
Oskeim Sports
Baltimore Ravens (+1.5) (-110) over St. Louis Rams*
*The Ravens are a 5* investment at pk or better (at -120 odds or less).
St. Louis starting quarterback Marc Bulger has looked terrible in his first two preseason starts as evidenced by the fact that he has completed 10 of 23 passes for 85 yards and three interceptions (14.1 passer rating). Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Al Saunders has been unsuccessful in getting the offensive line comfortable with his blocking schemes, and the fact that left tackle Orlando Pace is questionable tonight with shoulder soreness does not help the situation. "We've been trying real hard to develop our continuity in the offensive line, both from a protection standpoint and a run standpoint, because it all starts there," Saunders said. "My focus, ever since spring workouts, is to find our best five guys and make sure they're in a situation where they play well together." The Rams have averaged a paltry ten points per game this preseason, including 4.7 yards per pass attempt, 4.6 yards per play and 27.5 yards per point. And, Saunders has admitted that he still needs to learn more about his starting quarterback. "I've got to learn about Marc Bulger and what gets him in a rhythm," Saunders said. "And I haven't done as good a job as I'd like to be able to do down the road to get him in a rhythm early in a game." Now, St. Louis will be facing a Ravens' defense that has limited opponents to a mere 15 points per game on the road in exhibition play, including 3.1 yards per pass attempt (51.5% completion rate), 3.5 yards per play (236 total yards) and 15.7 yards per point.
Let's also note that the Ravens are 19-13-1 ATS as underdogs, 6-1 ATS off a straight-up loss as favorites and fall into one of my best preseason systems that is 52-11-3 ATS since 1997, including 14-1 ATS since 2003. Conversely, the Rams are a money-burning 14-18-1 ATS as favorites, 2-7 ATS in game three situations, 3-14 ATS on Saturdays, 1-8 ATS versus non-conference opponents and 4-18 ATS following a home game, while head coach Scott Linehan is 4-5 SU and 2-8 ATS in preseason play, including 1-3 ATS as a favorite. Finally, 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith will get the start tonight for the Ravens and he has the full support of his teammates. "He knows what to do to put the team in position to win," wide receiver Derrick Mason said. "I think that's what he's been able to do. I think that is what he has exemplified since February - that he can be a leader on this team and that he can be a top-flight quarterback in this league." With Smith battling Kyle Boller for the starting job, let's take the team with more to prove tonight as both quarterbacks will be focused behind center.
Grab the points and invest with confidence - Baltimore wins this game outright.
Rating: 5* (NFL Preseason 'Off Shore Steam' Game of the Year)
AJ Apollo
3* Atlanta Braves
3* Cleveland Indians
Mike Rose
3* Chicago White Sox
Nick "Bookie Killer" Parsons
NFLX Preseason GOY
Bengals -3
Teddy June
5* Carolina.
WINNERS EDGE
Atlanta Braves + 135 , 2 units
Toronto B-Jays +135 , 2 units
Twins/Angels under 9 -110 , 2 units
Rick George Guaranteed Selections
7* Minnesota +125
The Angels have lost 7 of 9 while the Twins have won 8 out of 9 including the last 2 vs the Angels. Galralnd is no bargain minus money vs the hottest team in the league take the nice price. Thank you and good luck tonight
Frank Patron
10,000 unit must win total
Gants / NY Jets Over 37.5
PRO INFO SPORTS
Tampa Bay Rays (Kazmir) vs. Chicago White Sox (Vazquez)
Prediction: Chicago White Sox -140
Grade: TWO-Star (rated 1 to 6 units)
Division leaders square-off in Chicago on Saturday afternoon. We are backing the host here with them coming off a loss in yesterdayʼs opener against the Rays.
Tampa will send Scott Kazmir to the bump on Saturday. His home/road dichotomy gives us value in this situation. As he is only 4-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 10 road starts and 5-1 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 home starts. Kazmir also struggles when taking the mound during the day. In six starts during day games he has posted a record of 1-4 with an extremely high ERA of 5.23.
The White Sox send Javier Vazquez to the hill with his 10-10 record and 4.34 ERA. Vazquez has struggled with consistency this season but the one positive for Vazquez has been when he is on he is possibly the best .500 starter in the majors. Unlike Kazmir Vazquez has been solid in his daytime starts this season posting a record of 3-1 with an ERA of only 3.41 in six daytime trips to the hill.
The White Sox have been solid this season against lefties at home winning their last 8 games in a row and we look for a bounce back here and the White Sox even the series at a game apiece.
GRADED PREDICTION: 2* CHICAGO WHITE SOX -140