Slick Action Sports
10* Mississippi State -31
We feel that Memphis may just have the worst coach in college football in Larry Porter. His team was not prepared in one single game last season, getting demolished every weekend. The Tigers are also going to a new offense and have a new QB running it. The spread is great, but you need the horses to run it. Memphis does not have any. Mississippi State will be using the momentum of the Gator Bowl to get things off to a great start in 2011. The offense led by senior QB Relf has 8 returning starters and will be able to name the score in this one. State will give a lesson to the Tigers in how to run an effective spread offense. A 50 point win by the Bulldogs would not surprise us here.
Jimmy Boyd
5* Redskins -7
3* Wake Forest +6.5
3* LA Angeles
Larry Cook
7* North Texas +14
Nick Bogdanovich
Medium - Syracuse -6
BIG AL
4* Colts
4* Falcons
3* Titans
Matt Fargo
10* Texas Rangers
Wunderdog
2 Units St. Louis +175
The pressure is on St. Louis here as they need a run to try and catch Milwaukee or have a shot at a Wild Card. There's nothing wrong with this Cardinals offense, ranking No. 5 in runs scored, third in OBP and No. 5 in slugging. They are making a run, winning five of six, including winning the last two games in Milwaukee as a dog each time, outscoring the Brewers 10-4. In fact, the Cardinals are 4-0 in their last four games as a road underdog. This is a hitter's park in Milwaukee, which helps the St. Louis offense. Most teams don't like facing Yovani Gallardo, but the Cardinals have owned him, as he is 1-5 with a 4.91 ERA against them. Play the Cardinals.
2 Units New York Mets -110
Florida is getting some respect with this betting number, but why? The Marlins are in last place and 6-20 in their last 26 overall. Starter Clay Hensley is 2-5 with a 5.40 ERA and in his last three starts have been worse with a 7.80 ERA. Florida is 1-5 his last six starts. The Marlins are also 2-10 in their last 12 vs. a team with a losing record. New York is in the middle of the pack in this tough division, close to .500, and the offense has been decent, No. 13 in runs scored, No. 7 in batting average and fourth in on-base percentage. Miguel Batista gets a fresh start, called up from Triple A, and the Mets are 5-1 in their last six against the National League East. Play the Mets.
Prime Time Sports
5* Philadelphia Phillies
5* Boston Red Sox
5* Milwaukee Brewers
5* LA Angels
Telly
I'm back with more free picks this NCAA season. One of my two free plays today.
Utah -30
No Links
Keith Glantz
100* Angels
50* Wake Forest
Bob Balfe
Texas Rangers -145
Texas has been slacking a little bit here down the stretch, but should get back on track at home tonight with C.J. Wilson on the mound. The Rangers are only 3 1/2 games up on the Angels and need to win their home games with good pitchers on the mound in order to protect their lead. Look for the Rangers to get the home win. Take Texas.
Wunderdog
Mississippi St vs. Memphis
Play: Mississippi St -31
There is excitement brewing for this season, as the Bulldogs are projected to be a borderline top 25 team. They did well last year, considering the rugged nature of the SEC with only 10 returning starters, and a new system. The Bulldogs improved by over 80 total yards from the previous year, and should continue in that direction this year. That was despite the fact they had to play the last three National Champions - all on the road. This year they must face three potential top 10 teams on their schedule, but get them all at home. This year they return 16 starters, and are comfortable in the system. Memphis scored more than 20 points just twice a year ago. They have covered just four of their last sixteen as a double digit dog and they are 1-8 ATS in their last nine non-conference games. They will be hard-pressed to make much headway in C-USA this season as they have just nine starters returning. I look for Mississippi State to come away with a lopsided win here.
Paul Leiner
100* Syracuse -6
50* Reds / Phillies Over 8.5
100* Detroit Lions -1
Anthony Redd
100 Dime Mississippi St -30.5
Christian Alexander
Kentucky vs Western Kentucky
Pick: Western Kentucky +19
Last year, Kentucky pummeled the Hilltoppers 63-28. However, this Wildcat offense should look decidedly different than last year. Kentucky has basically lost every skill position player from 2010, including QB Mike Hartline.
Morgan Newton will take over for Hartline and the good news is he has nine career starts under his belt. The bad news is those nine starts have been less than memorable. And Kentucky Coach Joker Phillips better hope Newton stays upright because the Wildcats have no other scholarship quarterback who has even dressed for a college game.The bottom line is this Kentucky offense will be much less potent than last years - especially in the season opener - and unable to post 60+ points and run away from opponents like they did in 2010.
On defense, Phillips hired former Cincy coach Rick Minter in the offseason to revamp the defense. Minter has a new scheme and its first job will be to contain Hilltopper running back Bobby Rainey. In 2010, Rainey carried 22 times for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Kentucky and unless the Wildcats are extremely buttoned up with their new scheme - doubtful in a season opener - Rainey will get his on Thursday night.
I'm always wary of in-state rivalries where one program is decidedly inferior to the other athletically. It generally means the team is full of players who have a chip on their shoulder and want to prove they should have been recruited to the better program.
That chip + a much less talented Kentucky offense + a Kentucky defense still trying to get comfortable in a new scheme + a neutral field in Nashville + a star running back at Western Kentucky looking for more....well, all that adds up to a game that won't be truly decided until the 4th quarter.