BEN BURNS
Western Conf. GOW
I'm laying the points with LA. The Nuggets let Game 1 get away. They played well and had the lead for much of the game. Yet, in the end, their effort was wasted as the Lakers came away with the victory. That result will have many bettors backing the Nuggets in this game and the line has come down from what it was in Game 1. However, I've enjoyed success many times over the years playing against the road team which came up just short of an upset in Game 1. While there are plenty of examples of it working both ways, it's been my experience that the road team which "let one get away" has a tough time bringing the same type of intensity in Game 2. Conversely, the home team that "got away with one" knows that it has to play better and the close call in Game 1 often serves as a "wake-up call." Last year's Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Lakers offers a prime example. Game 1 was played on this day exactly one year ago. The Lakers were laying -7.5 points. Yet, it was the Spurs who had the lead almost the entire way. In fact, a 14-2 run to start the third quarter had the Spurs up by a score of 65-45. However, the Lakers battled all the way back to "steal the win," although they didn't cover. What happened in Game 2? The pointspread was lower - yet, the Lakers crushed them by 30 points! With the Cavaliers losing yesterday, the Lakers should smell blood in the water. Note that the Nuggets are 0-5 SU/ATS the last five times that they played when trailing in a playoff series, going 4-11 ATS and 3-12 SU their last 15 in that situation. I expect the Lakers to be much better than they were in the opener and for that to lead to a solid win and cover. *Western Conf. GOW
Annihilator
I'm playing on the Angels and Mariners to finish UNDER the total. After yesterday's 1-0 final score, the Angels have now seen the UNDER go 9-4 their last 13 games and a profitable 49-25-1 in the month of May the past few seasons. During that same stretch, they've also seen the UNDER go 60-37-4 against southpaw starters. Tonight's game will feature a pair of top tier left-handers. Saunders got roughed up at Texas last time out. However, that was the exception, not the norm. In his previous start, he pitched a complete game shutout. He's still got a solid 3.59 ERA and 1.177 WHIP on the season and he's still allowed two earned runs or less in three or his last four starts. Saunders last started against Seattle on 4/16. In that game, he allowed one run in seven innings. The final score was 5-1. In his previous start here at Safeco, he also allowed one run in seven innings. Note that he's gone a minimum of seven complete innings in four straight starts against Seattle. Bedard goes for the Mariners and he brings some extremely impressive numbers to the table. He's got a stellar 2.53 ERA on the season, including an outstanding 1.38 ERA at home. In his last home start, he limited Texas to one run through seven innings. Bedard was sharp in his lone start against the Angels this season, allowing three runs (two earned) and just five hits (6K's, 0 walks) in 6 2/3 innings. I expect another well-pitched affair with the final combined score staying below the number. *Annihilator
Personal Favorite
I'm laying the price with HOUSTON. The Astros got a big win in yesterday's game, evening up the series and snapping the Brewers' winning streak. I expect them to follow it up by closing out the series with a victory. Oswalt goes for the Astros and he's better than his stats indicate. You may recall that he started poorly last season but then caught fire. He's been pitching better than his w/l record indicates and says he feels "...really well." Oswalt should be fired up for a big performance after watching Wandy Rodriguez win again yesterday. Oswalt should also be happy to see the Brewers. Oswalt last faced Milwaukee last June. In that game, he limited the Brewers to five hits and one run through seven complete innings, recording 10K's (and 0 walks) along the way. The Astros won by a score of 6-1. Including that result, the Astros are 3-0 the last three times that Oswalt started against the Brewers and 14-5 his last 19 starts against them. Oswalt allowed four earned runs or less in 17 of those 19 starts. Oswalt has been particularly dominant against the Brewers here at Houston. The Astros are 8-1 his last nine home starts against the Brewers and 10-2 his last 12 against them here. He went a minimum of six complete innings in ALL 12 of those games and he allowed three earned runs or less in 11 of them, allowing four in the other. Suppan is coming off a great game. However, he hasn't had nearly the type of success against Houston as Oswalt has had against Milwaukee and I don't believe that he's as good a pitcher. Note that he's still got a 4.63 ERA and also that he had a 4.96 ERA last season, going 10-10. Additionally, while the Brewers haven't seen Oswalt since last season, the Astros just had a look at Suppan a few weeks ago. Suppan was "ok" in that outing as he allowed four runs through six innings but only three of them were earned. However, he didn't get a decision and it's worth noting that he gave up four walks and two home runs, so things could have been worse. Also, note that in his previous start vs. the Astros that he gave up a whopping eight runs, suffering an 11-6 loss last July. Overall, he's 0-4 with an ugly 6.08 ERA in his last eight starts vs. Houston. I expect Oswalt to get the better of Suppan this evening and I look for the Astros to improve to 25-15 the last 40 times that they were listed as home favorites in the -125 to -150 range. *Personal Favorite
Rocketman
3* LA Angels
Root
Chairman - LA Lakers
Millionaire - Ariz DBacks
Billionaire - St Louis Cardinals
Dave Malinsky
4* Lakers -5.5
4* Pittsburgh
4* Atlanta
4* Minny/W Sox Over
4* NYY RL -1.5
Primetime Sports Advisors
Detroit Tigers -119
Chicago White Sox -105
Washington Nats -112
Florida Marlins +110
Seattle Mariners -110
Free Play - St Louis Cards
Seabass
10* Tampa Run Line
Charlie
500* Denver @ Lakers Over 210' & Angels @ Seattle Under 7'
30* Oakland +175
20* Arizona -125
20* Arizona @ florida Under 8' runs
10* Colorado +110
Giants -140 Free Play
Joe Wiz. Welcome to Joe Wiz Sports for Thursday. 28-30 NBA Playoff run. Thursday premium Lakers and Thursday Over.
Michael Cannon
15 Dime - NUGGETS
Take the points with the Nuggets tonight in Game 2 of their Western Conference final series against the Lakers.
Denver really should have won Game 1 outright. They know it and the Lakers know it too. Had the Nuggets shot better from the free throw line in the first half I believe they would have gotten the win.
Now that they know they can play with the Lakers, if they already didn't realize it, you're going to see an even more determined Nuggets team tonight.
Let?s face it, Denver can out-physical Los Angeles on both ends of the court and that's going to keep them close throughout tonight's game. The fact that the Nuggets can lean on Chauncey Billups leadership also makes a huge difference.
Billups has been in these situations many, many times before in his career and he knows how to put his team over the top. Whether the situation calls for a big shot or a finding the open man, Billups usually answers the bell.
The Lakers aren't pushovers by any stretch of the imagination. But their up-and-down performance during this playoff season has me doubting whether they can pull away from the Nuggets tonight.
All it takes is one big stretch for the Nuggets defensively and you?re going to see a Lakers team sweating it out at the end like they did in Game 1.
Take the points with the Nuggets as they stay within the number.
5 Dime - BREWERS
Take the Brewers as the road dog tonight over the Astros.
I know Houston has Roy Oswalt on the hill tonight, but in my opinion this price is more of a reflection of his past accomplishments rather than his current ability.
Oswalt is just 1-2 on the year with a 4.50 ERA. The right-hander has allowed a team-high 10 home runs and this Brewers lineup is chalk full of mashers that can take him deep.
Milwaukee will start Jeff Suppan, who is on a fine run right now. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in his last six starts. He's coming off his best performance of the season in his last start Saturday when he scattered six hits in seven innings of a 1-0 win at St. Louis.
This price is too good to pass up the way Suppan is pitching.
Take the Brewers as they grab the road win.
ATS Lock
4 Units LA Angels
Larry Ness
9 Star MLB Play - LA Angels
Pitching Mismatch (4-1 week) - SF Giants
Game 2 NBA Showdown - Lakers
Las Vegas Sport Picks
6* Lakers/Nuggets Over 210.5
Brandon Lang
15 Dime Nuggets
Chip Chirimbes
Nuggets at Lakers
Pick: Lakers -5.5
The Los Angeles Lakers know just how lucky they were to pull out a win in Game 1 of this series as they were completely out played by the Nuggets for 45 of the 48 minutes. Carmelo Anthony had one of the brightest games of his career and yet Denver could not hold on for the win. LA has taken four of five off the Nuggets this season and they will take care of business tonight. LAKERS!
Mark Fox
Denver at LA Lakers
Play: Over 211.0
In this Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers, take the total to go OVER the posted number!!!
After hitting the UNDER in game 1, I am now switching to take this game OVER as the total has dropped 4 points (210-211). Game 1 saw 208 points but could have gone over the total on Tuesday of 214 with the Nuggets making most of their 12 missed free throws!
I also expert the Lakers to be more offensive with the tandem of Andrew Bynum (6 points) and Pau Gasol (13 points) scoring more than they did Tuesday plus the continued scoring power of Kobe Bryant who scored 40 on Tuesday night.
Take the OVER!!!