MICHAEL CANNON
25 Dime - Duke
STEPHEN NOVER
25* Butler
ANTHONY REDD
30 Dime - Butler
BOBBY MAXWELL
700* Butler
KARL GARRETT
20* Butler
BRANDON LANG
15 Dime - Duke
ASA
8* Los Angeles Angels (Weaver) -130 over Minnesota Twins (Baker)
The Angels have had a lot of recent success against Minnesota including winning six of the final seven meetings of the 2009 season, winning three of the four games in Anaheim last year. While a few familiar names have left the Angels this is still a quality team that won 97 games in 2009. Last year the Angels were 49-32 at home and this could be a difficult spot for Minnesota, facing long travel out west following the highly anticipated preview series with St. Louis at the new Target Field over the weekend. The Angels won both games that Jered Weaver started against Minnesota last season, including the game he matched up against Minnesota starter Scott Baker. While Weaver does not get a lot of attention, he quietly won 16 games with a respectable 3.71 ERA last season and he featured a strikeout to walk ratio of over 2.6. The Angels were 15-5 in home games that Weaver started and historically Weaver has been a solid early season pitcher. In his first start of 2009 Weaver did not allow an earned run in nearly seven innings of work while striking out eight. Scott Baker deserved better numbers than his 4.37 ERA last season but he did struggle early in the year. In three April starts Baker allowed 16 earned runs, eventually starting the year 0-4 in his first four starts. Baker had a 1.31 WHIP in road games last season compared with 1.09 at home even those some of his other statistics were stronger in road games. Baker is the ultimate control pitcher but his fly ball tendencies could be dangerous against the powerful Angels lineup. Minnesota also has serious question marks in the bullpen with Joe Nathan out for the year and Jon Rauch tabbed to be the closer. Weaver was an over -200 favorite in three of his final four home starts last season so this appears to be a cheap price on the ace for the Angels and while the Twins are a likable team, the Angels did fare ten-games better in the regular season last year while also winning a playoff series. Minnesota will be a team to back in some underdog situations but this is still a team that has generally struggled in road games against quality competition. While some question marks are present early in the season for Los Angeles, the Angels should be priced very reasonably and still should be considered a team with a lot of potential for success.
JAY MCNEIL
100* DUKE
Yankee Capper
5 Units - San Francisco Giants -125
R&R Totals
Seattle / Oakland Under 7
THE BOOOOJ
30 Units Butler +7.5
10 Units Under 128
The Duke's Sports
Butler (+7') for 3 Units
We had Duke as our 4* play on Saturday therefore, we are well aware of how good they are and, what's more, how good they're playing right now. And at a pure talent standpoint,Duke has the edge. Hypothetically, if this game were played a week from today, we would most likely take the Blue Devils on account of their excellent prep skills from Coach K however, since this game has only a one day turnover, it opens the door for a Butler cover; after all, Butler has played fearlessly throughout the tournament and with a tireless ambition that only Duke could match. And any team that can win 25 straight games at the Division 1A level, expects to win going forward. Furthermore, Butler, which plays with ice-water in their veins, has exhibited that they can handle the emotion of a big tournament and its trying stretches without losing focus. Tonight, Butler will once again have the advantage of a partisan crowd at nearby Lucas Oil Stadium. And if there is any weakness in Duke, it is as a traveler where they showed vulnerability @ Wisconsin, Georgia Tech, NC State, Georgetown and Maryland. The Bulldogs should be at full strength with Howard and Mack getting clearance. And that will surely help support Hayward who can't be stopped single covered. Butler is 6-0 ATS as a dog in this spread range. Butler the call.
Bob Balfe
Duke -7
KELSO
50 Units - Duke
ATS FINANCIAL
3 Units - Duke