Bobby Maxwell
San Francisco +110 at ARIZONA
Gave you a FREE winner on Friday night with the Mariners as they went into Anaheim and got the win. Tonight we've got another one for you as we go with the Giants in Arizona against the D'Backs.
This is a rematch from Sunday when Randy Johnson pitched a gem for the Giants and beat Max Scherzer and the D'Backs. So we don't see much of a difference today and we're grabbing the plus-money with San Francisco.
Johnson allowed just one hit in seven innings of Sunday as San Francisco beat Arizona 2-0. It was the first time he had ever faced his old team and looked great against them. Now he's back on the mound where he spend eight seasons and helped win a World Series in Arizona. Look for him to dominate again.
Arizona has lost nine of Scherzer's last 10 outings and this guy just has no consistency. One day he'll strike out 11 and walk one, then the next outing he'll walk four and strike out five. Look for the Giants to make him throw a lot of pitches and wait to get good pitches to hit.
The D'Backs are just 2-6 in their last eight as a favorite and their offense isn't designed to hit Johnson. They will struggle against southpaws all season and we're counting on them struggling in this one. Play the Giants.
3♦ SAN FRANCISCO
Denver at NEW ORLEANS -4'
We're giving you a FREE winner on the hardwood today as we go with the Hornets on their home court to take care of the Nuggets and get the cash.
There is not going to be another chance for the Hornets. They have to get it done today and we think the energy from the home crowd will lead them to a big win in this one. We'll lay the chalk with New Orleans in this one.
You'll see the Hornets' Chris Paul and David West become the one-two punch we saw from them last season. New Orleans went 28-13 at home this season and they are on positive ATS runs of 8-2 as a playoff favorite, 8-1 when laying less than five points in the postseason and 17-8 as a home favorite of less than five points.
Even though the Nuggets have looked great through two games, we still have our doubts on how they'll handle the hostile environment inside New Orleans Arena. Denver's Chauncey Billups has been the best player on the court to this point, but you'll see him be a bet slower tonight as Paul takes the opportunity to dominate.
Denver is just 3-13 ATS as a playoff underdog an 2-8 ATS in its last 10 first-round playoff games. Play the Hornets at home to put it together one time ad get an easy win and cover.
2♦ NEW ORLEANS
Sports Gambling Hotline
San Antonio at DALLAS -4'
We thought we would see San Antonio put up more of a fight on Thursday night, but instead the Spurs were rolled 88-67 by the Mavericks, as Dallas pushed ahead 2-1 in this best-of-seven set.
We will ride the Mavericks once again at home, as Dallas is now 3-1 both straight up, and against the spread the last 4 series meetings, and they are on an overall series run of 19-9 against the spread the last 28 times they have faced their in-state rival.
With Ginobili out, and Duncan not dealing at 100%, it is hard for us to make a case for these aging Spurs. Dallas smells blood in the water, and with a chance to head back to Alamo Town up 3-1 in games, we will look for the Mavs to close out the sale on their home hardwood this Saturday afternoon.
Take the Mavericks minus the points.
5♦ DALLAS
Karl Garrett
Atlanta at MIAMI
After opening the series with an UNDER, the Heat and Hawks easily went OVER the total in Game Two, and the G-Man likes another OVER in Saturday's Game Three.
For one thing, 6 of Atlanta's last 8 games on the road have played HIGH, as have 6 of Atlanta's last 8 Saturday contests.
For another, Miami is on an 11-3-1 OVER clip their last 15 at home, and 6 of Miami's last 9 games overall have landed on the UPSIDE.
Finally, Atlanta is 20-19-2 OVER the total on the road this year, while Miami is 24-16-1 OVER the total in South Florida for the season.
G-Man sticking with the trends, and playing a high-scoring game in Game Three of this Eastern Conference playoffs.
3♦ OVER
Jeff Benton
L.A. Lakers at UTAH +4'
I’m now on 20-9 run with free plays (11-3 with the last 14) after barely nailing Friday’s selection on the Yankees-Red Sox UNDER the total. For Saturday, we’ll flip the NBA Playoffs and back the Jazz plus the points in Game 4 of their series against the Lakers.
You simply cannot argue with the facts, and the facts in this series are that the Lakers struggle in Salt Lake City; the Jazz own their home court; and the home team owns this rivalry. Start with the first point. With Thursday’s 88-86 loss at Utah as a two-point road favorite in Game 2, Los Angeles is now just 3-8 SU in its last 11 trips to Salt Lake City and 4-9-1 ATS in its last 14 in Utah. That includes a 1-3 record in the playoffs in Utah the last two years.
Meanwhile, Utah is now 34-8 at home this season, including 17-2 in its last 19. And while the Jazz don’t have a particularly good pointspread record at home (23-19 ATS), that’s because they’re almost always laying points (and often big points). Tonight, they’re catching points – twice as many as they did in Game 3, as a matter of fact.
As for this rivalry, the home team has won all six meetings this year (5-1 ATS) and is 11-1 SU in the last 12. What’s more, the host has cashed at a 15-5-1 clip in the last 21 head-to-head matchups!
Finally, Utah (which has covered the number in the last two games) is on ATS runs of 4-1 as a playoff underdog and 10-4 in first-round postseason games, while the Lakers have failed to cash in five of their last six road games dating to the regular season and six of their last seven when laying points in the playoffs.
Bottom line, despite numerous opportunities to lie down like dogs, the Jazz have shown absolutely no quit and no fear against the West’s top seed. That’s not about to change tonight. Look for the Jazz, who have a significant 131-108 rebounding edge in this series, to continue to own the glass, which will keep this one close throughout and put Utah in position to cover this number – if not win outright and even this series. Play the underdog.
4♦ UTAH
DAVE COKIN
SEATTLE MARINERS / LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Take SEATTLE MARINERS
Carlos Silva is hardly reliable, but for whatever reason facing the Angels seems to bring out the best in the mediocre Mariners starter. Silva is 6-2 against the Halos overall with a very good ERA and he's got even better numbers in his Anaheim appearances. The completely depleted Angels are now forced to call on Anthony Ortega to start tonight. Ortega is a fringe prospect, and while he opened some eyes with a 5-0 stint at Salt Lake City last summer, he's been getting crushed so far this year. The fact that Ortega has a 5/2 BB/K ratio in 13.2 IP this season is a huge red flag. I'll take the small road dogs odds with the Mariners tonight.
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EZWINNER'S FREE SELECTION
Game: San Francisco Giants @ Arizona Diamondbacks
(962) Arizona Diamondbacks -$121
(Listing Scherzer and Johnson)
Randy Johnson took a no hitter into the seventh inning the when
these two pitchers matched up last week in San Francisco as
age schooled youth. Scherzer still pitched well giving up just one
run on three hits over five innings. I look for the D-Backs to win
this rematch against a Giants team that has really struggled on
the road so far this season.
2009 Free Selections Record 61-52 (54.0%)
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Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports
252 - 161 run 60 %
SATURDAY ATLANTA BRAVES
Friday Boston Red Sox ty
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Free Selection from Totals4U
Saturday's free selection: Minnesota/Cleveland over 10
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Red Dog Sports
Minnesota at Cleveland
Play Over 10.5
Cleveland has played 37 overs, 18 unders and 3 pushes in their last 58 at home and also has 12 overs and 4 unders in their last 16 at home. Out of the last 8 meetings at Cleveland there have been 6 overs and 2 unders.Kevin Slowey has an ERA of 5.89 with 3 overs and 0 unders while Carl Pavano has an ERA of 9.69 with 2 overs and 1 under. Look for a high scoring game on Saturday night!
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Pittsburgh Pirates +113
I'll back the Bucs at a good price with the better starter on the hill in Duke tonight. The Bucs are playing great ball out of the gate and I expect them to bounce back strong after an extra innings loss last night. Here's what you have to consider. The Padres traditionally struggle to score runs in their own ball park because it is a pitcher's park so it does not bode well for them tonight as they are 4-20 against the money line vs. an NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.00 or better over the last 2 seasons, losing by an average score of 2.7 to 4.7 in these games. Bet the Pirates.
Nick Parsons
Calgary Flames +135 @ Chicago Blackhawks
Ok, hold the phone here! Chicago stole the first two games from the Flames in front of the hometown crowd, and dropped the last two on the road in Calgary. Although they made a valiant effort in a 'near comeback' in Game 4, I believe that the momentum that the Flames have generated will carry over one more time. In my books, this series could easily be over already if not for a couple of mental lapses from the Flames. Chicago is 8-10 (-9 units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game. Look for CALGARY to improve to 21-11 (+7.5 units) after scoring 4 goals or more in its previous game!
Dwayne Bryant
DET (+110) vs KAN
The Royals took the first game of this series last night behind Zack Greinke. I expect Detroit to bounce back tonight. Kyle Davies has pitched well for KC so far, but he's just 1-4 against Detroit. Davies lost all three of his starts against the Tigers in 2008, including a 6-3 loss last Aug. 29, when he gave up six runs - two earned - and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. Zach Miner picked up the victory with six solid innings in that game, and will get the ball again for Detroit on Saturday.
Miner makes his first start since April 13, when he gave up eight runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 10-6 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander pitched one inning of scoreless relief in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Miner threw seven shutout innings at KC last August.
KC would normally have a bullpen edge, but that edge is in question today. Kansas City closer Joakim Soria will miss the remainder of this series with a sore right shoulder.
Detroit, meanwhile, will regain the services of reliever Joel Zumaya, who will be activated Saturday after being sidelined all season with a sore right shoulder.
There's no questioning that Detroit is the better hitting team. Detroit is batting .288 on the season and scoring 6.5 runs per game against righty starters. KC is hitting just .248 on the season and that drops to .217 at home (4.2 runs per game).
I like the price and I expect Detroit's bats to be the difference. Take Detroit and Miner over KC and Davies for a half-unit.