Bob Balfe
Baylor/UConn Over 51
Baylor has a very talented running QB in freshman Robert Griffin. One thing UConn will not get used to is the speed and athleticism on this Baylor team. Not only is Griffin good on his feet, but he has a great arm. Baylor is still a young team and I expect them to give up big plays to the UConn offense. It would not shock me to see multiple special teams touchdowns tonight since both teams have never played each other and really have no feel for the speed and coverages in this game. Baylor has been tough against the run, but this was against a poor quality of opponents. UConn has a great running back in Donald Brown and I do not think Baylor will be able to stop him. Look for both teams to score a bunch. If UConn is not careful this could be closer than Vegas thinks. Take the Over.
Major League Baseball
Padres/Nationals Over 7.5 runs
Rocky Atkinson
Triple-Dime Bet
Houston @ Pittsburgh
Play: 4* Houston -110
Randy Wolf is 2-1 with a 3.37 ERA his last 3 starts. Ian Snell is 6-11 with a 5.69 ERA overall this year. Wolf is 6-1 with a 3.64 ERA overall vs Pittsburgh since 1997 and his team is 8-1 in those starts. Snell is 2-4 overall vs Houston since 1997. Astros are 8-1 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a losing record. Pirates are 3-14 in their last 17 games vs. a left-handed starter. Pirates are 0-4 in their last 4 home games vs. a left-handed starter. Pirates are 2-8 in Snells last 10 starts vs. a team with a winning record. Pirates are 0-6 in Snells last 6 starts with 5 days of rest. We'll play Houston for 4 units tonight!
2* Toronto Blue Jays
Ben Burns
6* Top Baylor vs U Connecticut UNDER 51.5
5* Best Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox
C-Stars
2000* Baylor
1000* SDG/Wash Over
1000* Oak
50* Tex
50* Bos
50* Chi/Kan Under
John Fina
4.5 Units Baylor
2.5 Units Toronto
Cajun-Sports CFB Executive Report
CFB: 2-0 this week (Louisville, Colorado)
3 STAR SELECTION
CONNECTICUT -12 over Baylor
The Huskies look to continue their super start to the 2008 season when they host the Bears this Friday night. Baylor opened their season with three straight home matchups, beginning with a 41-13 loss to Wake Forest. They’ve been able to rebound since then with back-to-back wins over Northwestern State and Washington State. The Bears have not beat a non-conference BCS team on the road since 1996, going 0-6 SU during that span, and it certainly won’t be easy here.
Connecticut has won each of their three straight games with wins over Hofstra (35-3), a hard-fought, 12-9 overtime victory over Temple on the road, a 45-10 drumming of Virginia this past weekend.
The Bears' offensive unit relies heavily on QB Robert Griffin, who has been a consistent thrower and is also leading the team on the ground. The Bears' defensive front was much too aggressive for the Cougars this past weekend, as Baylor collected an impressive seven sacks in the win.
Once again the Huskies road the coat tails of Donald Brown last week, as the running back pounded Virginia for 206 yards and three scores. Overall, the Huskies finished with an impressive 382 yards on the ground, while averaging an equally strong 7.2 ypc. Brown has been one of the top backs in the nation to start the year, as the junior has racked up 588 yards and eight touchdowns in just three games. Their has been tremendous play of the team's defensive unit as well, which has limited opponents to a mere 7.3 ppg.
While Baylor is coming on under new head coach Art Briles, they figure to get exposed here on national television.
First, we note that the Huskies are 5-0 ATS (+21.4 ppg) & 5-0 ATS (+8.6 ppg) all-time as a favorite in a non-Saturday game, while Baylor is 0-4 SU (-18.5 ppg) & 0-4 ATS (-13.2 ppg) in non-Saturday games when not favored by more than 5 points.
Next, we find Baylor a horrid 0-10 SU (-27.3 ppg) & 0-10 ATS (-12 ppg) as an underdog of 25 points or less, while Connecticut is 6-0 SU (+32.2 ppg) & 6-0 ATS (+15.3 ppg) as a favorite of 7½-29½ points since 2004.
Despite a blowout win by the Bears in their last game, database research shows they are not in a strong spot here. Recent non-Saturday underdogs and small favorites have not been able to continue their strong play on the road in recent seasons. Specifically, non-Saturday road teams (not a favorite of more than 4 points) with 6+ days rest off a SU win of 22+ points are 0-8 SU & ATS since 2005, failing to cover the spread by more than 2 TDs per game on average.
On the other hand, after a convincing victory and spread win, non-Saturday home favorites have been very tough against opponents not off a conference favorite SU win. This is documented by an NCAA Football POWER SYSTEM that states:
Play ON a non-Saturday home favorite of 24 points or less off a SU win of 34+ points & ATS win vs. an opponent not off a conference favorite SU win & ATS win/push.
Going all the way back to at least 1980, these teams are a tremendous 16-0 SU & ATS. UConn qualified as the PLAY ON team in 2004 and 2005 and they qualify once again here against Baylor.
We’ll stick with the Huskies before their hometown faithful to maul the visiting Bears.
PROJECTED FINAL SCORE: CONNECTICUT 37 BAYLOR 17
Bob Majors
Connecticut -12.0 vs Baylor
The Baylor Bears travel to the Connecticut Huskies for a Friday evening tilt. The Huskies are looking to go 4-0 and should show some good offense against the Bears as displayed last week in their rout of Virgina 45-10. Runnng back Donald Brown carried the ball 20 time for 208 yards with 3 touchdowns.
The Bears came off of an impressive 45-17 win over a weary traveled and tired Washington State team. Bears QB Robert Griffin ran for 220 yards and completed 7-15 passes attempts for an additional 130 yards.
Connecicut has won its last five night games at Rentschler Field and seven of its last eight non conference games overall. They are 26-8 at home over last four years and won 8 of last 9 . They are a very strong opponent at home.
The trends favor the Huskies are 18-6 ATS last 24 games on grass. The Bears are 2-7 last 9 road games and 5-14 ATS in the last 19 games overall. Also, they are 3-9 ATS in last 12 games on grass.
Normally the points would be high for the Huskies and have a formable opponent with the Bears. However, with the strong home field advantage and their record at home, take Connecticut and give the points
Root today..
Chairman- Blue Jays
Millionaire- Rays
Ted Sevransky
4* Best Connecticut -12.0
DR BOB
2* Iowa
2* Kent State
SO: Arizona
SO: Florida State
SO: San Jose State
SO: Iowa State
EAST COAST SPORTS CONSULTANTS
WILLIE "D" (3-1)
Blue Chip BAYLOR UNDER
RANDY MITCHEL (6-1)
Gold BAYLOR
Vegas Runner
Connecticut / Baylor Over 51.0 2* NCAAFB TOTAL
Guys, I highly recommend taking this as soon as you can because even though the books are expecting some UNDER work based on these primarily running teams...I have been told they will probably move it up to deter any "steam" from the outfits...whose numbers show the exact same results as mine, that we will see a lot more points than many expect...VR
Kelso Sturgeon
5 units - UConn
LT Profits
CLEVELAND INDIANS
ATS Canadian
3 units Winnipeg