Erik Scheponik
Nebraska vs. Missouri
Play: Under 51
In just his second season, Bo Pellini has already made his mark on Nebraska's defense, as they are among the nation's leaders, allowing 4.3 yards per play. He has challenged them to earn their Black Shirts tonight, and they have the talent to respond. On offense, the Cornhuskers have struggled in the Red Zone this season, and they will be up against a Tigers' D that is only allowing 4.6 yards per play themselves. Two good young QBs square off here, but they are still rather inexperienced, and I don't expect them to have things as easy as they have thus far. Heavy rain in the forecast helps us as well, and this line is probably going to drop, so hit it as soon as possible. Nebraska 23-21. Play UNDER
LT Profits
Phoenix Coyotes @ Buffalo Sabres
The Phoenix Coyotes may be bankrupt, but they are seeking a 3-0 start to the season, matching the best start in franchise history, when they visit the Buffalo Sabres tonight.
The Coyotes suffocating the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 last night, as Ilya Bryzgalov posted the shutout. Early indications are that Bryzgalov will get the start again tonight, but it may not matter who is in net if the Phoenix defense duplicates its effort of last night, when they held the high powered Penguins offense to only 24 shots on goal.
Speaking of defense, the Sabres opened the season by losing 2-1 in overtime vs. the Montreal Canadiens here last Saturday, and they have not played since. Remarkably, Buffalo held the Habs to just 17 shots on goal that game, even with the added time. Goaltender Ryan Miller is the likely starter again tonight, although, like Phoenix a repeat of their opening night defensive performance may make the goaltender moot.
Now the Sabres are potentially more explosive offensively, but the Coyotes seem determined to go into their home opener with a 3-0 mark, giving the disgruntled Arizona fans at least some reason to keep coming to the games.
Thus, we look for Phoenix to employ a similar game plan as last night, and while it is debatable as to whether or not that style will translate into a third straight win, all that checking and dumping should at least keep the scoring down.
Pick: Coyotes/Sabres Under 5.5
Hunter Price
St Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Play St Louis Cardinals
After a little bump in the road in the top of the 1st the dodgers took charge in the bottom of the inning with a 2 run bomb by Matt Kemp. Today however we are going to complete flip the script and roll with the Cardinals tonight to steal the home field advantage. This one is all about the starting pitchers. The Cardinals are 5-0 in Wainwrights last 5 starts as a road favorite as well as 15-2 in his last 17 road starts vs. a team with a winning record. In the other dugout, the Dodgers are 1-5 in Kershaw's last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record. They are also 2-9 in Kershaw's last 11 starts overall. As you can see the Cards find a way to win in big spots where as the Dodgers just can't win with Kershaw on the hill. Lets roll with the Cards to square this series up at 1-1 as it goes back to St. Louis for game 3.
OC Dooley
"1 UNIT" BASEBALL PERCENTAGE SIDE Cardinals -110 at Dodgers
Even though Los Angeles had the best overall regular season record in the National League, we have the Dodgers cast as a home underdog for a second consecutive day. The reason is because St. Louis arguably had baseball's best starting "1-2" punch in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. It was back in 2006 as a 25-year old rookie when Wainwright burst onto the national stage as the closer for a team that ended up a World Series Champion. Despite his young age, Wainwright certainly is used to pitching in pressure situations and late today is another spot where the Cardinals desperately need baseball's winningest 2009 hurler (19) to step up his game. It would come as no personal shock if Wainwright ended up as the National League Cy Young Award winner as his ERA (2.63) and overall win total were outstanding. It did come as a personal shock when Los Angeles won the opener of this best-of-five set last night even though journeyman Randy Wolf was on the mound. I will admit that the Dodgers have a very impressive 21-year old Clayton Kershaw on the mound this evening, but as is the case with very young pitchers he has been known to implode. Kershaw is a strikeout pitcher and he recorded 7 K's in his first run through the order last time on the mound back on Saturday. But with Kershaw missing 3 weeks of action in September due to injury, odds are the Dodgers will limit his innings tonight. As mentioned earlier it was back in 2006 when St. Louis ended up winning the World Series. According to manager Tony LaRussa, this year's Cardinals contingent is HEALTHIER so one would think they still have a shot to make some noise in this Divisional series. Certainly the odds are in our favor as Adam Wainwright is UNDEFEATED this season (9-0)with money line between +125/-125 which is the case. Wainwight also is UNDEFEATED for the season on the ROAD (7-0) when facing opponents with a winning record!
Randall the Handle
Boston –1.08 over L.A. ANGELS
First off, the Angels usually don’t beat the Red Sox and would’ve probably preferred to play the Yanks, at least from a psychological standpoint. In fact, these two have met three times in the playoffs since ’04 and the Angels have one win. Not one series win, one victory in 10 games. Secondly, the Red Sox have a huge edge on the hill in game one as Jon Lester is about as good as it gets while John Lackey had an average year and lost three of his last four starts. On Sept 26, the A’s knocked Lackey around for 10 hits and six runs in five innings and he followed that up with a “tune-up for the playoffs start” against Texas in which he went two innings and allowed four hits and two runs. His last stretch of good games came when he won three in a row from Aug 30-Sept 10 when he beat Seattle, K.C. and Oakland. You’ll have to excuse me while I crap in my pants over that run. Anyway, Lester might be the best pitcher in baseball and when he’s on he’s virtually unhittable. Based on the starters and the fact that the Angels might be collectively behind the eight-ball psychologically before this series even starts, the Red Sox are going to beat them again and it starts right here in game one. Play: Boston –1.08 (Risking 2.16 units to win 2).
Phoenix +1.57 over BUFFALO
How can the Coyotes not have impressed you thus far? Right now this team is all business on the ice. They played a near flawless game in Pittsburgh last night when they outplayed the Pens and took a 2-0 lead into the third period and allowed just six shots on net in that final period. The Coyotes are now 2-0 and have outscored its opponents 9-3. The Sabres ran into a hot Carey Price in its opener, losing in OT to the Habs. Buffalo actually could surprise some people too this year. They have some outstanding young talent behind the blue-line in Chris Butler and newcomer Tyler Myers and with the always reliable and talented Craig Rivet back there, the Sabres are pretty solid back there. Anyway, more on the Sabres as the season unfolds but this choice is much more about taking back a pretty decent price on a focused and dialed in Coyotes team. No doubt this one will be close but confidence is high on the Coyotes with two wins and nine goals in its first two games while the Sabres offense might be pressing a little tonight. Play: Phoenix +1.57 (Risking 2 units).
NY Islanders +1.68 over OTTAWA
The Sens have really played well in its first two games, as they’re now 1-1 after beating the Leafs on Tuesday. Last Saturday they lost its opener in New York by a misleading score of 5-2, as they out-chanced and outplayed the Rangers. However, both those games were on the road where the Sens could play pressure-free hockey but at home they’ll be feeling the pressure a lot more. This is a Sens team that unlike years gone by is going to have to grind out wins and that’s a style the locals aren’t used to. Ottawa is very likely going to continue to have difficulties finding the back of the net and that makes them a huge risk as a big favorite. The Islanders looked pretty damn good in its opener against the Pens. They were hitting, they were creating scoring chances and they just might be the league’s most improved team. The Islanders goaltending appears to be stable (Roloson was terrific in the opener) and the first line of Tavares, Okposko and Moulson were buzzing all night long. Anyway, the Islanders are live and with a tag like this against Ottawa the value on this visitor has to be considered pretty sweet. Of course the Islanders can win. Play: NY Islanders +1.68 (Risking 2 units).
PHILADELPHIA -½ +1.19 over Pittsburgh
The Carolina Hurricanes knocked out the Bruins in last year’s playoffs and when they played last week the Bruins annihilated them. Ditto for the Ducks when they faced San Jose a few days ago. Now for the third installment of the “revenge” factor, we have the Champs playing in Philly. You might all remember that the Flyers blew a 3-0 lead in game six and eventually lost and you know for sure the Flyers will come out with a ton of intensity and with a purpose. Philly looks great thus far while the Pens look average. Pittsburgh will eventually pick it up but right now they’re the hunted and they really don’t have to prove anything. The Flyers do and with balanced scoring, confidence in its goaltending, Chris Pronger and a healthy Daniel Briere, the Flyers are among the elite and this is a much more important game for them than it is for the Penguins. Play: Philadelphia -½ +1.19 (Risking 2 units).
Colorado +1.29 over NASHVILLE
The line came out late due to the unceratin status of J.P. Dumont and thus the reason for no write-up. Playing: Colorado +1.29 (Risking 2 units).