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Carolina/ Giants Under 50: On the whole the numbers would point to the Over, but I will heat the other way in this one. Carolina exploded vs the Saints last week, but I'm not sure they will be able to do that here. The Panthers rung up 219 yards on the ground last week, but not sure they will get those kind of yards on the ground vs a solid front 7 of the Giants. The Giants should contain the run enough to force some long yardage downs and then that will open up their vaunted pass rush to put allot of pressure on Newton. On offense the Giants are hurting as they are without RB Bradshaw, WR Nicks and one of their top OL.That should make the Giants keep their game plan simple and work the clock on their drives. The Panther defense isn't great, but did play well in their opener and for most of last weeks game and should be able to contain a Giants teams that is missing some key offensive parts. Not saying this will be a defensive battle, but I do see the game somewhere in the low 40's at best. Key Trends--- The UNDER is 9-1 the last 3 years when the Panthers are home faves of 6.5 or less and the Under is 14-3 in the Panthers last 17 games of a SU win vs .666 or worse opposition.
Wunderdog
Atlanta at Chicago
Pick: Under 152
This is a crucial game for the Sky who sits just one game behind New York for the final playoffs spot in the WNBA East. If they win here, they finish with an ugly Washington team at home. That means that they should bring a lot of intensity to this game, which usually translates to a strong defensive focus and effort. The Sky has come up big in their last two at home, taking down Western powers Los Angeles and Minnesota, holding both well below their season averages in points. Atlanta has held 7 of their last 11 opponents to 74 points or less, so expect the defense to take this one to the wire, so take the UNDER.
NFL Betting Picks
Carolina Panthers -2.5
This line opened with the Giants favored by 1 point, but the Giants announced that star receiver (and Week 2 offensive player of the week), Hakeem Nicks, wouldn't be playing tonight. The line has since moved to Carolina -2.5 and I'm going to lock in my 2 unit play on Carolina at this line.
The Giants rebounded from a Week 1 loss to Dallas (24-17) by beating Tampa Bay in exciting fashion on Sunday in a game that I was at. The Giants found themselves down 24-13 at halftime, but came back to win 41-34 as they scored 28 2nd half points. Eli Manning erased a bad first half by throwing a career high 510 yards. Manning had 3 touchdown passes, but also threw 3 INTs and most of Tampa Bay's points came off of Eli's mistakes early in the game. The defense had troubles covering Vincent Jackson who caught 5 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Carolina also avoided an 0-2 start after a Week 1 loss in Tampa Bay with a big 35-27 victory in their home opener versus the New Orleans Saints. In Week 2 Cam Newton threw for 253 yards and added a career high 71 yards on the ground. The Panthers got back to their strength as they ran the ball often and well on Sunday. Newton, Williams and Stewart each had 10+ carries and 50+ yards, as the Panthers rushed for 219 net yards. Brees completed 31 of 49 for 325 yards, but the Panthers forced him to throw 2 INTs including one brought back for a touchdown and one on the final drive. Note that the Panthers are 5-3 against the spread as a favorite since the start of last season when Cam Newton has been leading the team. Carolina is also 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games.
The New York Giants will not only be missing one of their top two receivers tonight in Nicks, but will also be without starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw, receiver Domenik Hixon, and tackle David Diehl. Traveling to Carolina on short rest in what will be a great atmosphere in this Thursday night prime time game after a Panthers Week 2 home win versus the Saints will be very tough for the defending Super Bowl champions. The Giants were lucky to escape Sunday with a Week 2 win as Tampa Bay couldn't put them away, while the Panthers stuck to their game plan of running the ball which has proved to be effective for them in a confident boosting win over a good Saints team. A big key for Carolina will be shutting down Victor Cruz and they should be able to do that with Nicks out tonight. Carolina gets New York in a bad spot and should be able to win and cover. Take the Panthers -2.5.
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BYU/ Boise State Over 50.5: I know that both of these teams possess solid defenses but I feel that the offenses are starting to get their acts together. In the opener vs Michigan State, Boise held the Spartans down, but Michigan State has shown some offensive weaknesses in the early going. Boise did allow over 200 yards on the ground in that game and could have problems vs a BYU offense that has put up 151 ypg on the ground so far. That will set up some easy throwing lanes for BYU and they have been god at throwing the ball this year, passing for 272 yards and 7 yards per attempt. Last week teh Boise offense got back on track, as they racked up 39 points and 599 yards of offense vs Miami. Boise is always comfortable offensively at home, where they have averaged 43.4 ppg in their last 19 games played here. Well hell BYU ought to be able to get at least 8 points. I wish it was that easy. Still the BYU is tough and I don't see Boise getting 43 points, but they have scored at least 30 points in their last 19 home games and they should at least get that, while this solid BYU offense should be able to get at least 24 points of their own. Mid 50's in this one.
SPORTS WAGERS
Brigham Young +6½ -106 over BOISE STATE
Great opportunity here to cash in against the 24th nationally ranked Broncos, who fell out of the national rankings after Week One, had a bye in week two and returned to the rankings after last week’s 39-12 win over Miami (Ohio).
Say what? That ranking is not only unproven, it’s based on their pedigree over the last five years. Major changes for Boise State see them returning a mere six starters from last season. They have an unproven QB and both the offensive and defensive lines are a work in progress. Gone are the top four tacklers from a year ago.
Meanwhile, the Cougars were bumped out of the national rankings last week after a 24-21 loss to Utah. After trailing 24-7 going to the fourth quarter, they still found themselves in a position to win that contest. Let’s not ignore that BYU held the Utes to just 245 yards of total offense, marking the ninth straight game in which they’ve held the opposition to under 300 yards. They also outscored its first two opponents by a 75-19 count. Had this game been scheduled last week instead of this week, the Broncos would’ve been a two-point choice. Week 3 results, combined with the Broncos home record over the past few years has this price inflated. Not only can the Cougars stay well within this range, they can win outright against a team that is falsely being billed as one of the top 25 programs in the country.
Scott Delaney
Are the New York Yankees alive and well once again?
Tonight I look to improve on my 10-0 Free Pick Run with a play on the Yankees on the Run Line, over the Toronto Blue Jays.
They've won four straight and maintain a slim 1/2-game lead in the American League East, over the Baltimore Orioles, who have also won four straight.
And tonight, with the chance to finish up a series sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays, I have to side with the Bronx Bombers. And I couldn't be more excited about the pitcher who steps to the hill tonight for the pinstripes.
Handing the ball to right-hander Phil Hughes, I think we're going to see the Yankees roll to a huge win, as he's easily emerged as one of New York's most consistent starters while the rotation has been riddled with injuries.
Hughes has posted a rock-solid 3.24 ERA since June, and make note, that includes a run that saw him limit the Blue Jays to one run in seven innings in a late August start to earn one of his 15 wins.
Tonight he comes in on six days' rest, and has gone 4-2 with a 2.29 ERA and a 32-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last six starts. That run includes his last time out, as he stifled the Red Sox over 7-1/3 innings in a 2-0 win.
He should get the run support against Aaron Laffey, who gave up three runs in 3-2/3 innings in his shortest stint of the season last Friday against the Red Sox.
2♦ N.Y. YANKEES -1.5
Chuck O'Brien
My free winner for Thursday night is going to be from the NFL game, as the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants are down on South Mint Street, in Charlotte, North Carolina, taking on the Carolina Panthers. Too tough of a game to look at, quite honestly, as you have a banged up Giants team that opened up as the favorite, and yet the bettors have moved the line to Carolina -2-1/2.
Thing is, these same Giants were banged up Monday morning, and had the same travel itinerary for the short week when the oddsmakers opened Big Blue as the favorite. But a five-point move, really?
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I can tell you it's probably not worth it to mess with either side, as you never know what's going to take place with a game like this. That's why I like the Over in the game. I think you're going to see Carolina dictate the pace right out of the gate, and force the Giants into an uptempo game that will force two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.
Something about these Giants, they're always in the game. They always seem to keep things close, or at least stay with the flow or find ways back into contests - as you saw last week against the Buccaneers.
We already know what Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers are capable of against a dented stop unit. Trust me, I don't think they would have run as wild on the New Orleans Saints last week if they were at full strength, but they can get after it.
I like what I see with the over tonight. Play this one high.
1♦ Giants/Panthers OVER
Craig Davis
Going to back the Yankees on the run line as they complete a three-game home sweep of the Blue Jays.
New York took both games of yesterday's twinbill, winning the opener 4-2 and nightcap 2-1. Tonight the Yanks give the ball to Phil Hughes, who is seeking a third straight win. He's coming off an outstanding outing against Boston in his last trip to the hill, allowing five hits in 7.1 innings of shutout ball at Fenway last Thursday.
Hughes is 10-4 in 15 home starts this season with a 3.56 ERA and the Yankees are 11-2 in his last 13 outings in the Bronx. Two of those wins came against Toronto as he held the Jays to thre runs and eight hits over 14 innings in outings August 28 and July 16.
The Blue Jays are 15 games under .500 since the All Star break and have lost six of their last eight overall. They're 2-5 in Aaron Laffey's last seven starts.
3♦ N.Y. YANKEES -1
Jeff Benton
Your Thursday freebie is the Under in the White Sox-Royals series finale.
These teams have played two games this week thus far, and neither has come close to going over the total, so no reason to stray from the pattern at hand. In fact, in the season series, the Under has been the call in 9 of the last 12 meetings.
That will not change tonight with Francisco Liriano and Jeremy Guthrie throwing the ball.
Liriano is coming off one of his better turns, a seven inning, two run, nine strikeout effort in a win over Minnesota, while Guthrie hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last four starts.
When Guthrie makes the start, the Under is 7-1-1 dating back to early August.
Chicago is 6-3-1 Under the total their last ten games overall, while Kansas City has played four in a row and five of their last six games Under the total.
Looks like the Low is the way to go at Kauffman Stadium tonight.
3♦ WHITE SOX-KANSAS CITY UNDER
Matt Rivers
On an 18-10 free play run.
Thursday's free play winner is the Over in the Giants-Panthers contest.
Carolina just lit the scoreboard up at home on Sunday in their 35-27 win over New Orleans, as they bumped their Over run to 11-7 since Cam Newton took over under center last season, and a closer look shows 6 of their 9 home games with Newton at QB have landed Over the total.
The Giants are coming off an Over of their own, as they combined with Tampa Bay for a whopping 75 total points on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
New York is dealing with a bevvy of injuries on the offensive side and this total has come down a couple of points since it opened around 51 points, still, I will side with the offenses to make a statement again tonight.
Make it a 7-3 Carolina Over run at home under Cam Newton.
2♦ N.Y. GIANTS-CAROLINA OVER