Matt Fargo
9* UL Lafayette +24
Fantasy Sports Gametime
100* Play Philadelphia (-190) over Cincinnati
Philadelphia has won 17 of the last 20 home games when the total posted is between 7 and 7.5 runs and they have also won 11 of the last 13 games vs. Cincinnati at home. Roy Oswalt is 22-3 vs. Cincinnati over his career with an ERA of 2.88 and he also has an ERA of 0.50 over the last 3 overall starts.
50* Play San Francisco (-190) over Atlanta
San Francisco has won 9 of the last 11 games vs. Atlanta at home and they have also won 36 of the last 52 games with an on-base percentage of .310 or worse over the last 20 games. Matt Cain has won 14 of the last 19 games vs. NL East Division Opponents and he has an ERA of 2.93 in home games this season.
NHL
25* Play New Jersey (-200) over Dallas
25* Play Washington (-165) over Atlanta
Bobby Maxwell
400-Unit College Book Buster #2 in a Row - UConn
It’s the Big East opener for both of these schools and I’ve got no problem laying the points with UConn tonight as the Huskies bring in the conference’s leading rushing attack and the Big East’s highest scoring offense.
Jordan Todman is the key to the UConn rushing attack and will be the focal point for the Rutgers defense. Todman ran the ball 37 times for 190 yards and two TDs in the Huskies’ 40-21 win over Vanderbilt last week with them cashing as 8 1/2-point favorites. The UConn defense forced the Commodores into three turnovers, picking off two passes and recovering a fumble.
That defense likes to get after the QB, and we’ve already seen Rutgers’ struggle to keep QB Tom Savage on his feet. Between Savage and freshman QB Chas Dodd, the QBs have been sacked more than three times each game. UConn’s defense had five sacks against Vandy in its last outing and forces QB Larry Smith into two INTs, including one returned for a TD.
The Huskies have looked very good at home this season, but they are 0-2 on the road. The opener at Michigan is understandable, but their Sept. 18 loss at Temple, falling 30-16 as a 4 ½-point favorite, seemed a little strange for a normally consistent UConn squad.
Rutgers has now dropped two straight home games, including an ugly 17-14 loss to Tulane on Saturday, losing as a 17-point favorite.
UConn has dominated this rivalry lately, going 4-0 ATS when visiting New Jersey, 6-1-1 ATS in the last eight overall and the road team is 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight clashes. The Huskies are on further ATS streaks of 15-4 overall, 7-2 on the road, 5-2 in Big East play and 6-1 in October contests. Rutgers is on some ATS slides, including 1-4 at home, 0-4 overall and 2-5 as a home underdog.
UConn’s defense is going to dominate this one tonight. Look for something in the range of 24-10 for the Huskies. Lay the points and go with UConn.
100-Unit Baseball Playoff Smart Play - Philadelphia -1.5
Roy Halladay has left a tough act to follow for fellow Phillies hurler Roy Oswalt. Halladay’s no-hitter on Wednesday was amazing. He was locked in and delivering every pitch exactly where he wanted it. The no-hitter has likely left the Cincinnati hitters shell-shocked. If Oswalt brings his top game today there is likely going to be another shutout.
Oswalt was acquired from Houston on July 29 and he went 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 13 games with the Phillies. He was 7-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last 10 starts and he was really their best pitcher down the stretch. And now his buddy has set the bar for him to try and reach.
Oswalt has dominated the Reds his entire career, winning his first 15 decisions against them and he’s 23-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 34 outings against the Reds. He’s also never lost a game at Citizen’s Bank Park, going 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 10 starts, including 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in six home starts with the Phillies.
Bronson Arroyo goes for the Reds tonight and he is just 1-5 with a 5.54 ERA in eight career games against Philadelphia.
In five games in Philadelphia this season, the Reds have managed just 10 runs, and that includes 7 in one game. They have been shut out three straight times in Philadelphia and they are just 8-20 in the last 28 meetings overall and 3-13 in the last 16 clashes in Philadelphia.
Cincinnati is on negative streaks of 1-4 on the road, 2-8 as a road ‘dog, 1-5 against right-handers, 1-8 against winning teams and 4-10 when Arroyo goes on the road against a winning team. Meanwhile, the Phillies have easily been the best team in baseball the last month-plus and come in on streaks of 50-19 overall, 36-15 at home, 42-18 as a favorite, 13-3 in home playoff games, 5-1 in divisional playoff games and 40-15 against winning teams.
Go ahead and play this one on the Runline as Philadelphia will light up Arroyo tonight. He leaves too many over the plate and they will end up in the bleachers. Go with the Phillies to easily win this one by more than 1 run.
David Banks
UConn -5
Under 43
Okl State -23.5
Over 62
Phillies -193
DR BOB
Opinion
Oklahoma State (-24) Strong Opinion at -24 or less.
KIKI SPORTS
2 Units U Conn -5
1 Unit ULL +24
1 Unit Cincy/Phily Over 7
Anthony Redd
50 Dime UConn / Rutgers Under
Online Sports Winners
10* Connecticut (-5.5) over Rutgers
Connecticut is 7-1 ATS coming off two straight games where they forced 3 or more turnovers and they are also 7-2 ATS when playing in weeks five through nine. Connecticut is 6-1 ATS vs. Rutgers the last 7 games.
JR O'Donnell
Rutgers +5.5
Mike Lineback
4* Reds / Phillies Over 7
Power Play Wins
Oklahoma State -23.5
Teddy Covers
Rutgers
Passing MLB
5 Star Sports Picks
3% Washington Capitals -155
SEABASS
50* Atl
50* Phi -1.5
50* Phi/Cin Over
Paul Leiner
25* Phi/Cin Over 7