Dwayne Bryant
Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals
Play: Los Angeles Dodgers -166
I have to believe the Dodgers can salvage one game in this three-game set against the lowly Nationals. Prior to this three-game set, Los Angeles had won 11 of the previous 12 matchups with the Nationals.
Los Angeles turns to rookie Clayton Kershaw, who will try to rebound from one of his worst performances of the season. The 20-year-old left-hander, one of the Dodgers' top pitching prospects, was tagged for a season-high six runs and seven hits in four-plus innings of a 9-2 loss to the Phillies on Saturday. That outing came after he went 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in his five previous starts, starting with a 2-0 victory over Washington on July 27. In that contest, Kershaw limited the Nationals to four hits in six innings.
The Nationals have swept only two series of at least three games this season. They opened this month by taking all three games from Cincinnati before dropping 10 of the next 15 heading into this series. Washington hopes John Lannan can win a second consecutive start after allowing five runs and seven hits in 6.1 innings of Friday's 13-5 win against the Chicago Cubs. That ended a five-start stretch in which the Nationals lost every game as the left-hander went 0-3 with a 5.76 ERA.
Take LA
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Angels -179
After a bad loss to the lowly A's, I look for the Halos to look very sharp in this one. The Rangers are just 6-14 in their last 20 overall, 1-7 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record, and 0-5 in their last 5 Thursday games. The Rangers are also 0-4 in McCarthy's last 4 starts. The Angels are 13-6 in their last 19 games following a loss, 10-3 in their last 13 home games vs. a right-handed starter, and 4-1 in Garland's last 5 home starts. The Halos have bounced back 13 times in their last 19 tries following a loss and I like them to keep this trend hot here.
Erik Scheponik
NC State vs. South Carolina
Play: Under 45
Even though the reports have been good on Wolfpack redshirt freshman QB Wilson, this South Carolina defense is a tough task for him without 2 of his top 3 backfield mates as well as his leading returning receiver all out due to injury. That Gamecock defense was one of the nation's best last season, before injuries and some brutal SEC O-lines wore it down late in the year, but they return 10 starters and are healthier than they were at any point last season. They play a bend-but-don't break, so even if Wilson is able to move on them, he will have trouble getting in the end zone. USC QB Beecher is making his first start as well, and there are athletes on the NCSU defense. 27-14 South Carolina PLAY UNDER
Ben Burns
Game: Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers
The price on this play makes it too expensive to qualify as one of my guaranteed selections. That being said, the Dodgers desperately need a victory and this "all southpaw" matchup figures to be just what the doctor ordered. The first two games of the series featured only right-handed starters. The Nationals won both by one run. This should work out better for the visitors though. For starters, the Dodgers are hitting .273 against southpaws and averaging 4.9 runs. That's significantly better than the Nationals mark of 4.1 runs with a .256 average. While the Dodgers are 23-17 against left-handers on the season, the Nats are a dismal 17-31. Overall, the Nats are averaging a mere 3.5 runs per game in this park this season, hitting a mere .238. Kershaw struggled his last time out, at Philadelphia, but had previously been pitching very well. Conversely, Lannan has struggled at home all season long. In 10 home starts, he's gone 2-7 (Nats were 2-8) with a terrible 6.27 ERA and 1.587 WHIP. Lannan's lone start against the Dodgers came on 7/25. He was solid but still lost. Two days later, Kershaw made his lone start against the Nats. He was dominant, allowing just four hits through six shutout innings. He picked up the victory and the Dodgers won by a score of 2-0. Behind another big game from their young southpaw, the Dodgers should snap their skid here. Consider LA
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Washington Nationals +156
The Dodgers are ice cold, having lost 6 straight now. They are just 2-12 in their last 14 road contests and 0-6 in their last 6 versus the NL East. The Dodgers are now just 3-7 in the last 10 meetings in Washington . Washington has the momentum with back-to-back wins in this series and I like the Nats to pull off the shocking series sweep
Robert Ferringo
1.5-Unit Play. Take Florida (-125) over Atlanta
1-Unit Play. Take ‘Over’ 10.0 Florida at Atlanta
1-Unit Play. Take Los Angeles Dodgers (-165)
INDIAN COWBOY COMP
Wake Forrest vs. Baylor
Finally, College Football is set to go. Note that Skinner is back at quarterback for Wake Forrest. Note that Wake is ranked 23rd and they are on the road at Baylor, and given that it is a weekday college football game and over 63% of the public are riding the road chalk here, that is always a tough pill to swallow. But, having said this, Wake last year had a stifling defense that was ranked top 30 in the nation, a top 70 defense in relation to the pass, and stellar in run defense as they were top 15 in the nation. In fact, the Deacons only allowed opponents to 22.2 points per ballgame which came in 29th in the league. Where this team did suffer of course was on offense where they were ranked 94th last year, and only averaged about 28 points per ballgame. This team was a solid money-maker at 9-4 ATS and was 8-5 to the over which surprised a lot of folks. Baylor comes off a disappointing season last year as they finished the year 3-9 and 0-8 in the conference, this team gave up over 180 yards per ballgame on the ground which will have a detrimental effect considering Wake loves to run the ball and enjoys ball control, Baylor was top 30 in the nation in passing last year but was 115th rushing the ball as they went to the air far more than hitting the ground - after all, they were part of an aerial attack that the Big 12 showcased last year. The over/under with respect to the public liking one more than the other here, I favor the over and Baylor hanging tight here.
LAS VEGAS TECH REPORT COMP
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS vs NY GIANTS
Play: NY GIANTS -2
CASH & PROFIT EXPERTS COMP
Detroit Lions vs Buffalo Bills
PLAY: LIONS / BILLS UNDER 34
Yankee Capper
3 Units - Red Sox/Yankees Under 9.5
3 Units - Cincinnati Bengals +3.5
3 Units - Miami-OH -3.5
Mr East
St. Louis Rams @ Kansas City Chiefs
Pick: St. Louis Rams +4
The St. Louis Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs put a wrap on the preseason with their matchup in the battle of Missouri, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. It has been a good preseason for Marc Bulger as he has completed 28 of 48 attempts, but Brock berlin has opened some eyes as he has dazzled by completing 22-28 for 247 yards, for a stellar 8.8ypa, and has a QB rating of 103.3, and should get a lot of snaps in the finale. That may spell trouble for a Chiefs team that has allowed over 60% completions, and have been allowing over 5 yards a carry on the ground while averaging just 4.1 themselves. Have to like the Cards to pick up their 3rd win in this one as better than a FG dog on the road.
Brandon Lang
NCAAF
20 Dime - Stanford
5 Dime - South Carolina
5 Dime - Middle Tenn State
5 Dime - Wake Forest
Free - Vanderbilt
WINNERS EDGE
MLB
Boston Redsox +120 , 2 units
LA Angels -180 , 1 unit
CFB
Baylor + 11.5 , 2 units
Middle Tenn St + 7 , 1 unit
Ted Sevransky
Troy -6.5
Two years ago, Middle Tennessee led Troy by 13 points with less than two minutes to play, needing a win to earn their first ever Sun Belt title. But the Blue Raiders couldn’t hang on, allowing two late touchdowns, losing by a single point. Frankly, the program hasn’t recovered from that devastating defeat. Middle Tennessee showed no ability to compete with Troy last year, bombed 45-7 in their season finale. In many respects, the program looks even weaker to start the ’08 campaign. MTSU has 48 frosh and sophomores on the roster, with only ten seniors, a very young team. Their youth is most apparent at the crucial offensive line positions, with four underclassmen projected to start. And, among those projected starters, the Blue Raiders have suffered massive injury problems, leaving them with backups starting at Center, Right Guard and Left Tackle here in their season opener. Facing a tough Troy defensive front, there appears to be a real class difference between these two teams in the trenches, making the Trojans the choice tonight. And with all five Troy starters returning on their own offensive line, breaking in a new quarterback becomes much easier for the road favorite. Take Troy.
LT Profits
Oregon State @ Stanford Under 45.5
The Pac-10 has become an Under conference in recent years, as the Under is 56-32-1m 63.6 percent in all conference games the last two years, and we look for Oregon State and Stanford to continue that tradition here.
The biggest claim to fame for Stanford last season was their shocking upset of USC, and what makes that win even more unbelievable is that the Cardinal averaged a measly 16.4 points per game in conference play with the Under going 6-2-1 vs. conference opponents. The offense should struggle again this season, the first year with Tavita Pritchard as the fulltime quarterback. The defense should show some marked improvement however, with nine returning starters.
Now Oregon State was an anomaly in the conference last year, as they were much more of an Over team. However, they look to be a one-dimensional passing team at the moment with their running back situation still unsettled, which should make this easier for the Cardinal defense, especially with one of the Stanford returning defensive starters being Bo McNally, one of the best safeties in the Pac-10.
As a result, look for both teams to struggle to score in this one.
Pick: Oregon State, Stanford Under 45.5
Oakland Athletics +135
The lowly Oakland Athletics shockingly just took two out of three games from the Los Angeles Angels after holding on for a 6-5 win last night, and we look for their newfound success to continue returning home tonight to face the Minnesota Twins
The Twins have been a very ordinary team on the road this year, where they are just 29-35, and they just lost two out of three games to a Seattle Mariners team that easily owns the worst records in the American League. Minnesota also lost two out of three games in their last trip to Oakland earlier this year.
Twins starter Nick Blackburn is slumping after showing some promise after he was recalled, as he has a 5.19 ERA and a ugly 1.67 WHIP in his last three starts, all of them Minnesota losses. Just like his team, Blackburn has not performed as well on the road as he had at home this year, going 3-5 with a 4.56 ERA away from the Twin Cities.
Now Dana Eveland of the Athletics also has ugly recent stats, but he has been much better at home here in this spacious ball park, where he us 5-3 with a very nice 3.48 ERA. This will also be his first time ever facing the Twins, which should give him the advantage. It also helps that he has the support of an Oakland bullpen that ranks fifth in the major leagues with a 3.49 ERA.
Yes, the Athletics are struggling offensively, but they did score six runs last night and they appear to hold a pitching edge here with both the starters and the bullpens. Look for a third Oakland upset in four games.
Pick: Athletics +135