Jeff Benton
Friday freebie is the Over in the Pats-Eagles contest.
These teams have been scrimmaging against one another the past couple of days, and on Wednesday it was reported that Tom Brady passed at will on the Eagles secondary all afternoon long.
Sure it was just a scrimmage, and sure it is just preseason, but I have a feeling that the Patriots will be able to score on the suspect Eagles defense, and the same will hold true for the Eagles who will look to unveil their uptempo attack under first-year coach Chip Kelly.
Vick, Foles, and Barkley will all be looking to impress, and there should be little let up offensive-wise from Philly in this one.
Throw is the possibility of rain and a slick football, and you have the recipe for a higher-scoring preseason game this Friday night in the City of Brotherly Love.
Back the Over.
4♦ NEW ENGLAND-PHILADELPHIA OVER
Brad Wilton
Friday's comp play winner is the Under in the Pirates-Rockies contest.
Just last week these teams played 3 in Pittsburgh with the Under going 2-0-1.
The push was the game Francisco Liriano and Jorge De La Rosa matched pitches, as the Bucs wound up winning it 5-2 with a total of 7.
Colorado's offense has been anemic with just 15 runs plated in their last 9 games, and the Under being the play in each of their last 4 games, and going 5-0-1 their last 6.
Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa is 6-1 with a 2.65 ERA in his 10 Coors Field starts this year, so look for the Pirates to have a tough time mustering offense.
As for Pirates hurler Liriano is having quite a year, as he is 12-4 with an ERA just a shade above 2.
Hard to imagine Colorado getting much off the southpaw with an average of just 1.6 runs per game over their last 9.
Have to play the percentages, and go Under in Pittsburgh-Colorado this Friday night.
4♦ PITTSBURGH-COLORADO UNDER
Brett Atkins
Your free winner for tonight is on the Toronto Blue Jays over the Oakland Athletics, as I think we're catching a value pup in this American League, cross country showdown at Rogers Centre.
I think the A's are one of the most dangerous teams in the league, but they're struggling right now and arrive in Toronto on a three-game slide, and even worse, have now lost six of their last seven. Thanks to their current slide, they've squandered a six-game lead in the American League West and are now in a first-place tie with the Texas Rangers.
And guess how this skid started? It all began when Toronto won two games in Oakland to finish July, part of a 5-5 West Coast trip for the Blue Jays.
Toronto had its three-game win streak snapped at Seattle on Wednesday, so even though the Athletics have won five of the last seven meetings in Toronto, I think the Jays are the right side here.
4♦ TORONTO
Scott Delaney
My free winner is on the Atlanta Braves Run Line against the Miami Marlins. I've got no choice but to look this way, quite frankly, as the Braves are streaking impressively, while the Marlins are mired in another losing streak after being swept up in Pittsburgh. It makes sense. Of course, the Braves' win streak has to come to an end, but I'm not going to be the one who tries to predict the ending, and I might as well take a shot at their winning streak while they're rolling.
The Braves have averaged 5.9 runs during the winning streak and come in boasting the best home mark in the majors at 38-15. They're 7-0 at Turner Field since the All-Star break. Lay the run line in this one, and don't worry who is pitching. If there is a scratch, be sure to re-wager the game, as I like the Braves on the Run Line no matter what.
2♦ ATLANTA -1.5