JEFF BENTON
It's a new era for Baylor football, as former Houston coach Art Briles takes over what has been a moribund program for years. Obviously, because of the coaching change not to mention the talent gap Wake Forest is at an advantage here, hence this big number. But I think it?s too big for a couple of reasons. Even though Wake has a veteran, Top 25 team, it's still not easy to go on the road to open the season and cover a double-digit number. In fact, the Deacons have been a road favorite just 11 times in coach Jim Grobe's eight years, and they're only 4-7 ATS.
Also, Briles is known for his confusing, complex offenses, which means if his players have picked up enough of the nuances, Wake's talented defense could be in a for a few surprises.
Finally, when it comes to Wake Forest football, a good way to make money is to play the underdog. Get this: The dog is 43-23-3 ATS in the Deacons last 69 games! Throw in the fact that Wake Forest is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games as a double-digit favorite, including 0-5 ATS in that role since 2004, and I'll take the generous points with the home team.
3♦ BAYLOR
DCI
Pacific-10 Conference
Oregon State 36, STANFORD 16
Sun Belt Conference
Troy 37, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 29
FBS Non-Conference
BALL STATE 33, Northeastern 27
BUFFALO 42, Utep 34
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 48, Eastern Illinois 33
CINCINNATI 46, Eastern Kentucky 18
CONNECTICUT 33, Hofstra 15
EASTERN MICHIGAN 52, Indiana State 17
GEORGIA TECH 40, Jacksonville State 10
MIAMI (FLA.) 46, Charleston Southern 12
SOUTH CAROLINA 31, NC State 21
South Dakota State 31, IOWA STATE 29
Vanderbilt 27, MIAMI (OHIO) 16
Wake Forest 45, BAYLOR 14
FCS Non-Conference
Gardner-Webb 34, TENNESSEE TECH 29
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 50, Austin Peay 15
Guaranteed Sports Pick
OREGON STATE -3.5
MID TEN STATE +6.5
Maddux Sports
Wake Forest -11.5
Buzz Sports Picks
Oregon State -3
floridabookybusters
Texas El Paso/Buffalo Under 59
Templer's Sports Picks
Cincinnati/Houston Over 9
JIM'S HOT PICKS
Cincinnati +1.5
Dime Players Club
TROY -6.5
CappersAccess
Vanderbilt
Stanford
Browns
Veags Steamline
CLEVELAND -2
Big Board Sports
South Carolina/NC St Under
JAMES PATRICK
Buffalo Bills
JOE WIZ
NC State +14
TOTALS 4 U
MIAMI/NEW ORLEANS OVER 35
BIG TIME SPORTS
ST LOUIS / KANSAS CITY UNDER 34
#1 SPORTS
COWBOYS - 3
NEVADA SHARPSHOOTER
A'S +140
Insider Sports Report
N.Y. Yankees -130
SCOUT
Green Bay +6
TRACE ADAMS
Stanford Cardinal
Hawkeye
Washington/Dodgers Over 8
DARK HORSE
Baltimore -2
HUDDLE UP
Texans
MIKE WYNN
LA Angels -180
PLATINUM PLAYS
Middle Tenn St +6.5
RAZOR SHARP
TAMPA BAY BUCS
SUPER SCOUT
Houston Texans -1
Matty O'Shea
NCAA Favorite Play O' the Day
Buffalo -3.0 vs UTEP
The Buffalo Bulls are a program on a rise under head coach Turner Gill, who is looking to lead his team to a winning record in his third year. The Bulls have improved the last two seasons, at least doubling their win total each year after going 1-10 in 2005. Now they have 18 starters back, including 10 on offense. The same can't be said for the UTEP Miners, who lost their last six games of 2007, all by three points or more. UTEP returns only five starters on offense and eight on a defense that ranked #117 in the country last year. I'm simply going with the better team at home in backing Buffalo as my Single Dime NCAA Favorite Play O' the Day for Thursday.
DUNKEL
Minnesota at Oakland
The Twins squeaked out a 6-5 win over Seattle yesterday to avoid their fifth straight loss, but travel to Oakland today to face an A's team that returns home after taking two out of three from the front-running Angels in Anaheim. Oakland is the underdog pick (+165) according to Dunkel, which has the A's favored straight up by 1. Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+165). Here are all of today's games.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Game 951-952: Cincinnati at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Harang) 15.768; Houston (Backe) 14.277
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Houston (-145); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+135); Under
Game 953-954: Florida at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Sanchez) 15.547; Atlanta (Morton) 13.837
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Florida (-125); 10
Dunkel Pick: Florida (-125); Under
Game 955-956: LA Dodgers at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Kershaw) 14.561; Washington (Lannan) 12.790
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1 1/2; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-175); 8
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-175); Under
Game 957-958: Philadelphia at Chicago Cubs
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Hamels) 15.270; Cubs (Dempster) 16.270
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-140); No Run Line
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-140); N/A
Game 959-960: Boston at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lester) 16.128; NY Yankees (Mussina) 15.322
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1; 11
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-125); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+115); Over
Game 961-962: Toronto at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Litsch) 15.600; Tampa Bay (Jackson) 17.250
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1 1/2; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-140); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-140); Under
Game 963-964: Minnesota at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Blackburn) 14.546; Oakland (Eveland) 15.766
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-175); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+165); Under
Game 965-966: Texas at LA Angels
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (McCarthy) 14.971; LA Angels (Garland) 16.601
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-175); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-175); Under
NCAAF
NC State at South Carolina
After a 1-5 start, Tom O'Brien's Wolfpack won four of their final six games last year and look to take advantage of a South Carolina team that is 0-4 ATS in the last four meetings between the two teams. NC State is the underdog pick (+13) according to Dunkel, which has South Carolina favored by only 8 1/2. Dunkel Pick: NC State (+13)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Game 127-128: UTEP at Buffalo
Dunkel Ratings: UTEP 68.990; Buffalo 77.122
Dunkel Line: Buffalo by 8; 67
Vegas Line: Buffalo by 3; 61 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Buffalo (-3); Over
Game 129-130: Vanderbilt at Miami (OH)
Dunkel Ratings: Vanderbilt 81.267; Miami (OH) 88.466
Dunkel Line: Miami (OH) by 7; 37
Vegas Line: Miami (OH) by 4; 41
Dunkel Pick: Miami (OH) (-4); Under
Game 131-132: NC State at South Carolina
Dunkel Ratings: NC State 86.061; South Carolina 94.380
Dunkel Line: South Carolina by 8 1/2; 44
Vegas Line: South Carolina by 13; 46
Dunkel Pick: NC State (+13); Under
Game 133-134: Wake Forest at Baylor
Dunkel Ratings: Wake Forest 93.472; Baylor 79.035
Dunkel Line: Wake Forest by 14 1/2; 55
Vegas Line: Wake Forest by 12; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Wake Forest (-12); Over
Game 135-136: Oregon State at Stanford
Dunkel Ratings: Oregon State 90.344; Stanford 90.364
Dunkel Line: Even; 45
Vegas Line: Oregon State by 3; 49
Dunkel Pick: Stanford (+3); Under
Game 137-138: Troy at Middle Tennessee State
Dunkel Ratings: Troy 82.957; Middle Tennessee State 79.734
Dunkel Line: Troy by 3; 52
Vegas Line: Troy by 6 1/2; 58 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Middle Tennessee State (+6 1/2); Under
Scott Spreitzer
Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs
I'm laying the price with the Cubs on Thursday. Ryan Dempster on the bump and the Cubs' bats at home against lefties? I'll jump on board! Chicago has cashed 13 of Dempster's 16 home starts this season. They're 6-1 in his home night outings where the righty owns a 2.83 ERA. It's hard to find too much fault with Philly starter Cole Hamels, but he has been touched for a 5.40 ERA in two starts at Wrigley. Tonight, he faces a lineup that's 4-1 in home night games against southpaws, scoring an average of 7.8 runs per game. The line is a bit short, as far as I'm concerned, and I'll back the Cubs on Thursday
Play on: Chicago Cubs
Vegas Experts
Vanderbilt at Miami (OH)
Vanderbilt is in for a long season this year and the losing begins tonight in Oxford, Ohio as the Commodores return only nine starters from what was a five-win team to begin with and face a RedHawks squad that hasn't hosted an SEC team since 1920. Lost in Miami's losing year in '07 was the fact that they outgained conference foes by a league best 97.7 YPG.
Play on: Miami (OH)
Craig Trapp
Cincinnati Reds vs. Houston Astros
Play: Cincinnati Reds
What value play. Take CIN here over HOU. With Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang (4-13, 5.35 ERA) having a subpar season, the Astros' lineup will have a good opportunity to build some momentum. One of Harang's worst starts of the season came against Houston on Aug. 10, when he allowed eight runs and nine hits in four innings as Cincinnati lost 13-4. Harang is 8-6 with a 4.49 ERA in 18 career starts versus the Astros. The veteran right-hander snapped a three-start losing streak in his last outing, though, giving up six hits in six shutout innings as Cincinnati beat Colorado 8-5 on Friday night. He had been 0-4 with a 10.74 ERA in his previous six starts. Think Harang is finally healthy and will have another great game. Houston will counter with Brandon Backe (8-12, 5.54 ERA), who won his last start, allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings as Houston beat the New York Mets 8-3 on Saturday night. Look for CIN to win a close one. SCORE CIN 5 - HOU 3
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
NC State/ South Carolina Under 45
The Under is 11-3 when the Wolf Pack plays on Thursday and 6-1-2 in their last 9 non-conference games, while the Under is 4-1 in Gamecocks last 5 vs. ACC. South Carolina's defense should be very strong this year, with 10 starters back. It's the second year in a row this team returns 10 starters on defense, so they are very experienced and should have one of the better units in the defensive minded SEC. Last years Gamecock run defense was their weakness and the Wolf Pack rush offense will be it's strength this year, so look for them to run, run and run some more as they look to keep the ball away from a very solid SC offense. NC State's offense will not be that strong this year as they ruturn just 5 starters from a unit that scored just 21 ppg last year. First game of the season for both teams here and I just don't see many points being scored.
1 UNIT PLAY
Oregon State -3 over STANFORD
The Beavers are 9-2 ATS the last 11 in this series, including 4-1 ATS their last 5 at Stanford. The Cardinal does return 8 starters on offense, but 2 years ago this team returned 10 offensive starters, yet could still just muster 11 ppg, while last year they returned 7 starts and could only put up 20 ppg. Their defense returns 9 starters, but not sure if that's good news or not as those 9 guys helped allow 440 ypg and 28 ppg last year. Oregon State's 8th ranked defense overall (Yards Allowed) and 1st ranked rushing defense returns just 3 starters, but this defense is ready and should allow less than the 23 ppg they did last year. OSU's offense retuns 9 starters from a group that averaged 28 ppg last year, including 35 ppg in their last 4 games of '07. The Beavers have owned this series of late and should be primed to make a run at at least 3rd place in the Pac-10. Stanford will be a better team this year, but they don't have the horses just yet to play with the top 5 in the conference.
Nelly
Middle Tennessee State + over Troy
The 2007 season ended for Middle Tennessee State with a 45-7 blowout loss at Troy as the Blue Raiders allowed over 500 yards. Troy still had hopes for the Sun Belt title at that point in the season but the Trojans fell short in the final game. The season did not close well for the MTSU last year but there is enough talent back in place for a competitive 2008 campaign. Troy is likely still the team to beat in the Sun Belt but the Trojans are just 14-33 S/U on the road the past seven seasons. Troy will be working in a new QB to start the season and the top two rushers and receivers are also missing from last year’s team. This is a great opportunity for Middle Tennessee to catch Troy early in the year at home.
Drew Gordon
Florida -120 at ATLANTA
Got to like the Fish in this spot, as they're bats are finally starting to heat up, and coupled with strong pitching edge, look for them to take the series tonight. While neither team has impressed much of late, there's no question the Braves are struggling mightily, going just 3-13 over their last 16 games! Their pitching staff has been atrocious over that span, posting a 7.03 ERA, and its more of the same in this one.
To say Charlie Morton is struggling is a gross understatement, going 0-3 with a ridiculous 10.24 ERA over his last 3 starts! Granted, he can't be much worse than he was at St. Louis, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits in just 1 1/3 innings, but it won't get much easier tonight, as the Marlins offense is batting a solid .296 and averaging 6.0 runs per game over their last 3 games! Note, he was also shoddy in his only start against Florida, allowing 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings for the loss.
Opposing Morton is the Marlins Anibal Sanchez, who's 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA over his last 3 starts. He's been a bit shaky on the road, but now faces an Atlanta offense that has basically tossed in the towel, trading Mark Kotsay to Boston yesterday. Sanchez has been great against the Braves in the past, going 1-1 with an excellent 1.80 ERA in 2 career starts against them!
Finally, while the Marlins offense has shown a resurgence, the Braves offense has not, getting shut down by Josh Johnson last night. Braves are now batting a measley .234 against righties over their last 10 games, and while Sanchez may not be the Sanchez of 2006, he's still more than capable of getting the job done against this sputtering Atlanta offense. Fish roll!
Take Florida behind Sanchez over Atlanta and Morton in this MLB match up.
2♦ FLORIDA
Oregon State at STANFORD +3
The line on this contest intrigues me, mainly because I believe Stanford will be much improved this season in the 2nd year under coach Jim Harbaugh. They not only return most of their defensive starters, but I also like the hiring of defensive coordinator Ron Lynn, which should only help improve a defense which finished 3rd on the PAC-10 last season.
On the flip side, the public seemingly loves Oregon State in this contest, but when you break it down, one has to wonder: Why? The Beavers vaunted rush defense features an entirely new front 7, which is never a good thing when your defense is based on stopping the run. Not only that, but they're notorious slow starters, going just 3-10 ATS in their first away game!
While both signal callers in this contest are coming off of sub-par seasons, the Cardinal's offense looks to be more proficient behind Tavita Pritchard. Coupled with a solid run game behind Anthony Kimble, the Beavers brand new front 7 will be tested early and often. Conversely, I was far from impressed by Lyle Moevao last season, despite winning all three games he started, he completed just 54% of his passes for 1 TD and 1 INT. With Stanford's defense virtually intact from last year, Moevao will have his work cut out for him in this opening day road test (Note, Stanford was 11th in the nation in sacks last season).
Bottom line, let the public ride the Beavers, while we take advantage of a Stanford program heading in the right direction, playing at home, and with a solid edge on defense... The perfect recipe to keep this contest within the number, with the outright upset very possible.
Take Stanford plus the points over Oregon State in this PAC-10 match up.
3♦ STANFORD
Vegas Sports Experts
VSE NFL Pre-Season Plays for Thursday are
3* Take Jacksonville (+3) over Washington
Jacksonville
· 11-2 ATS in road games when playing in the last 2 weeks of the pre-season
· 10-2 ATS in pre-season road games coming off a win against the spread
· 3-0 SU & ATS in pre-season when playing on Thursday
· 7-1 Su in pre-season non-conference games the last 3 years
3* Take Tampa (+1) over Houston
Tampa
· 19-6 SU in pre-season when the total posted is between 35.5 and 42 points
· 11-2 SU in pre-season after having won 2 of the last 3 games
· 5-1 ATS in pre-season vs. Houston since 1993
CHIP CHIRIMBES
BOSTON RED SOX
A top-caliber pitching matchup will highlight the final meeting in Yankee Stadium between these rivals as Boston's Jon Lester (12-5, 3.49 ERA) faces New York's Mike Mussina (16-7, 3.45).Lester has dominated the Yankees in two starts this season, compiling a 1.13 ERA while winning both. He tossed a shutout at Yankee Stadium on July 3, limiting the Yankees to five hits and two walks while striking out eight in Boston's 7-0 victory.The left-hander, though, is now trying to bounce back from his worst start of the season. Lester lasted a career-low 2 1-3 innings in Saturday's 11-0 loss to Toronto, allowing a career high-tying seven earned runs with eight hits and two walks.Mussina fared better than Lester in his last outing, but wound up without a decision at Baltimore last Friday, when he yielded four runs and nine hits in six innings and left the game with a 4-3 deficit. New York rallied to win 9-4.Mussina has 266 victories, but is seeking the first 20-win season of his 18-year career.The 39-year-old right-hander is 20-17 with a 3.74 ERA versus the Red Sox.
THE BOOKIE PAYS YOU ( see below) 😡 ????? :- (
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I have OWNED the world of college football over the past four years and
tonight is just the beginning of yet another stellar season. I personally
guarantee that I will produce winners just as consistently as I have in the
MLB, maybe even better! The only bad thing about college football is...
you never know who's legit until about week four of the season. But...
a true handicapper knows how to bet, based on line movements. I'm
rolling with the Wolfpack of N.C State tonight. This game opened with
South Carolina being an 11.5pt. favorite and now it's at 14pts.... This
simply means that most of the betting public is putting their money on
South Carolina. I'm not saying betting on South Carolina is a bad bet,
BUT... it is a bad bet at -14pts. This Gamecock team is definately an
improved team from last season, and they should play solid at home
tonight, but N.C State is no pushover. This is a Wolfpack team that
lost several games last season by three points or fewer, and have
plenty of returning talent on both sides of the ball. Bottom Line... Look
for South Carolina to come out strong tonight in front of their home
fans, but REMEMBER... this one opened at -11.5pts. and now the
Wolfpack is getting 14pts? VEGAS ISN'T STUPID, and neither are
we. If Vegas says that the Pack is an 11.5pt dog, and I can get them
at +14 then I'm rolling with the Wolfpack. Good Luck and Go Wolfpack!
*** Thanks.
😮
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Cajun-Sports
NCAA
3* UTEP
3* Miami-Ohio
3* Baylor
NFL
2* Detroit
2* New York Giants
2* Miami