Scott Delaney
I can only hope the line on tonight's college football game hasn't lost its luster, as the Washington State Cougars opened up a 10-point road favorite, and is now laying just -8 points. When I saw the line originally, I was shocked the Cougs were laying such a small number to the UNLV Rebels, especially considering the beating Wazzou put on the Rebs last year.
Fifth-year senior Marshall Lobbestael had four of his five touchdown passes in the first half as the Cougars built a 35-0 lead over the hapless Rebels. He led Wazzou on scoring drives of 79, 74, 81, 80 and 52 yards in the first half and connected on 16 of his first 18 passing attempts against one of the nation's worst defensive units.
The Cougars come in looking for their second victory under first-year coach Mike Leach, while UNLV is off to a familiar 0-2 after losing to FCS-Northern Arizona last week.
Now, I can tell you from watching this Rebels team that it has looked far from a 0-2 football the past two weeks, taking the Minnesota Golden Gophers to triple-overtime in the season-opener, and running roughshod through NAU early in last week's game. What I noticed is how spunky the Rebels' defense is, and if the Cougars' quarterback Jeff Tuel can't go - he has an injured knee - this could be a tough place for them to move the ball.
UNLV has something to prove after losing its first two games on field goals at the wire in its own Sam Boyd Stadium. So there's no doubt in my mind we're going to see the Rebels play a motivated game on ESPN tonight, and coach Bobby Hauck will likely have his troops playing at the same level they brought against Minnesota.
I'm extremely interested in seeing running back Tim Cornett, whose 134 yards rushing a game is No. 10 nationally and who takes an awful lot of pressure off of 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman Nick Sherry. The Cougars' rushing defense ranks 37th in the country, but does allow more than 100 yards per game. Thus, Cornett could possibly do some damage.
Ultimately, what I see is that BYU embarrassed these Cougars in Week 1, and though Wazzou escaped with a 24-20 win over FCS-Eastern Washington, don't think it hasn't escaped me its offense ranks near the bottom of the statistical categories that matter most.
I'll take the underdog
2♦ UNLV
Chuck O'Brien
This might be the cheapest price we're going to see C.C. Sabathia until the American League Playoffs begin, so I'm going to have to play the New York Yankees in their series-opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. I won't insist on you listing pitchers, though it be assured the reason you're getting this price is cause of the starting pitchers. Noneth%k1%less, if David Price were scratched for the Rays, and you have a ticket with the Yankees for only $1.30, and Sabathia ends up going against some scrub, that ticket is golden. Make sense?
Now, the Rays stumble into this series after a tough series with the Baltimore Orioles, one of the American League East co-leaders, and now have to find a way to jump in the fire against the the other co-leader, the Yankees.
And while I know Price has been one of the best pitchers in baseball, and will be aiming to become first 18-game winner on the junior circuit, I can't help but wonder how his team will be able to perform mired in a three-game skid, i the Bronx, against the likes of Sabathia.
See, while Tampa Bay has won five of its last seven against the Bombers, it's hitting a paltry .215 on a 161st Street this season. The Rays have lost four of six at Yankees Stadium in 2012, and have scored just 18 runs in those games.
This is a good spot for Sabathia to snap his 0-2 skid, spanning three outings, as he's pitched respe%k2%ctable against the Rays this year, going 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA in four starts.
Take New York, and again, don't worry about listing pitchers - I'm not going to. If you can get away with a cheap price like this, with mom%k3%ntum in your favor, that's called value.
3♦ N.Y. YANKEES
Craig Davis
Free play run is 72-57.
Friday's free play on the Yankees.
And if it wasn't bad enough for the Rays when they played the co-leaders in the AL East (getting swept in the process, mind you), they now find themselves in a situation in which they have to win at least two of three (against the other co-leader) to even begin to think they have a shot to win that division.
The biggest problem right now for Tampa is the lack of production at the plate. The Rays were just one-of-seven with runners in scoring position last night and 4 for their last 37 overall. 13 of their last 16 losses have come by one run if that tells you anything.
They just can't hit right now, and this is the worst time for any team to go into a hitting slump. And now they're asked to go to a place where they have lost 10 of their last 14 games???
CC Sabathia (13-5, 3.56 ERA) takes the hill for the Yanks tonight and hasn't been all that impressive since coming back off his second stint on the DL. Sabathia is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA in four starts against the Rays this season.
David Price (17-5, 2.54) counters for Tampa and is 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA in four starts against the Yankees this season, but just 1-1 with 4.50 ERA in the Bronx.
Yes, I expect this game to be a good one, but in the end I like my chances with the Yankees to get the job done at home as your free play of the day.
2♦ N.Y. YANKEES
Jeff Benton
Your Friday freebie comes in college football. Lay it with Washington State as they play at UNLV.
The Cougars dismantled the Rebels 59-7 last season in Pullman, and while it shouldn't be that bad tonight, it still should be a double-digit win for State.
Mike Leach is in his first season as Washington State head coach, and their opening night 30-6 loss does not look as bad upon further review, as BYU sure looks like they are a force in the college ranks this year.
State followed up that loss with a 24-20 win over Eastern Washington, but I think tonight is the night they put things together under the new coaching staff.
Forget the Rebels 8-2 home dog mark, this team just does not win outright very often, as UNLV has lost 7 straight now dating back to last season, and they are off a shocking 14-17 loss to Northern Arizona.
Washington State gets the road win and cover tonight at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Lay the points.
1♦ WASHINGTON STATE
Matt Rivers
Free play winner last night on the Yankees over the Red Sox.
Now a 15-9 free play run.
Tonight I will go with Boston to post a rare win as they open the weekend in Toronto against their division rival the Blue Jays.
Boston has lost 6 in a row in the season series against Toronto, and starter Diasuke Matsuzaka has lost his last pair of starts as he takes the bump at the Rogers Centre in the hopes of garnering Boston just their third win in their last 16 games.
Have to believe the "due theory" applies for Boston tonight as they take on Aaron Laffey and the Jays. Laffey is winless now for over a month, and enters on an 0-3 run his last four starts with an ERA near five in that span.
Maybe the better bet is to play this game Over the total, and I may indeed use that as the companion play on my small underdog release on Boston to snap their six game slide to Toronto.
Play is Boston to come through, and don't be surprised when this game sees about a dozen runs combined.
2♦ BOSTON