Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Thursday 9/6/18
Thursday
Falcons @ Eagles— Last 15 years, Super Bowl champs are 8-4-3 vs spread in their first game the next year; they’re 3-3 SU the last six years. Philly is 6-3 in its last nine games vs Atlanta, beating Falcons 15-10 in playoffs LY, blanking Atlanta in 2nd half. Falcons lost eight of last nine visits here, with three of those losses in playoffs. Eagles are 5-4 vs spread as home favorites under Pederson; under is 14-9 in their home games last three years. Falcons are 8-3 as road underdogs under Quinn; under is 18-12 in their road games last four years. Under is 10-3 in Falcons’ last 13 road openers. Eagles won three of last four home openers. Under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 home openers. Matt Ryan is from Philly, so this is a homecoming for him. Nick Foles gets start at QB for the Iggles, with Wentz still not 100% after knee surgery.
Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles Preview and Predictions
NFL Previews 6th September 2018 by Gracenote
After serving as the site of a months-long party in the wake of the Philadelphia Eagles' first Super Bowl title in franchise history, the City of Brotherly Love will host the 2018 NFL regular-season opener when the Atlanta Falcons pay a visit on Thursday. The Eagles, who embraced the "underdog" role despite being the top seed, began their postseason journey with a 15-10 triumph over the Falcons in the NFC divisional round.
Nick Foles, who has been named the starter for Thursday's contest, relieved the injured Carson Wentz (knee) late in the season and steered Philadelphia to a 41-33 win over New England in the NFL's signature game while garnering Super Bowl MVP honors in the process. With a wide receiver corps in flux due to injury, the Eagles -- who scored a league third-best 28.6 points per game in 2017 -- may need to rely on Jay Ajayi, Corey Clement and a ground game that ranked third with an average of 132.2 yards per contest. Atlanta's Matt Ryan, who is a Philly area native, followed his 2016 NFL MVP season by eclipsing 4,000 yards for his franchise-record seventh consecutive campaign before signing a five-year, $150 million contract on May 3. Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones led the NFC with 1,444 receiving yards in 2017 and has four straight 100-plus receiving yard performances versus the Eagles, who boasted the NFL's stingiest pass defense in 2017.
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Eagles -2.5. O/U: 45
ABOUT THE FALCONS (2017: 10-6, 3RD IN NFC SOUTH): Devonta Freeman and fellow running back Tevin Coleman fueled Atlanta's eighth-ranked offense and kept defenses off balance last season by combining for over 2,100 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns. Coach Dan Quinn, however, said he expects even more production out of the backfield this season, starting with a date against a Philadelphia team that had the third-best rush defense in 2017. "I think it's two good line of scrimmage teams. Who can do that better and execute better?" Quinn said. "... We didn't run it quite as well as we'd liked, but we know that's a big part of what we do and kind of marries up with the play-action and the keepers that going along with that. That's what makes us so difficult to defend." Freeman had a touchdown reception against the Eagles in their playoff encounter.
ABOUT THE EAGLES (2017: 13-3, 1ST IN NFC EAST): Philadelphia became the 11th team in NFL history with three players recording at least eight touchdown receptions last season, with Zach Ertz leading all NFC tight ends with 74 receptions and 824 yards to go along with a career-high eight scores. Alshon Jeffery (nine TDs) and fellow wideout Nelson Agholor (eight TDs) are on that list, with the former already ruled out for Thursday's contest as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Defensive end Brandon Graham, who stripped Tom Brady of the ball in the final two-plus minutes of Super Bowl LII, had a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2017 and also had one in the last encounter against Atlanta. Linebacker Nigel Bradham also registered a sack in the last meeting versus the Falcons after collecting a team-leading 88 tackles in the regular season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Atlanta LB Deion Jones joined Carolina's Luke Kuechly and Jacksonville's Telvin Smith as the lone players to record 100-plus tackles and three-plus interceptions last season.
2. Philadelphia's Markus Wheaton, who was cut by the team in May, was re-signed on Tuesday to add depth to the ailing wide receiver position.
3. The Eagles have won six of their last seven season openers while the Falcons have emerged victorious in three of their last four.
PREDICTION: Falcons 24, Eagles 14
MLB
Long Sheet
Thursday, September 6
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SAN DIEGO (55 - 86) at CINCINNATI (59 - 81) - 6:40 PM
ERIC LAUER (L) vs. LUIS CASTILLO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN DIEGO is 23-46 (-16.6 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
SAN DIEGO is 144-179 (+13.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 3 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 23-24 (+10.9 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters this season.
SAN DIEGO is 15-7 (+14.7 Units) against the money line after getting shut out over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 23-21 (+14.3 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss this season.
CINCINNATI is 413-375 (-81.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN DIEGO is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against CINCINNATI this season
3 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.0 Units)
ERIC LAUER vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
LAUER is 1-0 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 1.400.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)
LUIS CASTILLO vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
CASTILLO is 0-1 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 5.90 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 1-1 (-0.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.0 units)
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CHICAGO CUBS (82 - 57) at WASHINGTON (69 - 71) - 7:05 PM
KYLE HENDRICKS (R) vs. STEPHEN STRASBURG (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1777-1819 (-262.9 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 58-53 (-15.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1313-1355 (-203.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 96-82 (-21.0 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 865-794 (-152.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
HENDRICKS is 28-27 (-13.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
HENDRICKS is 7-12 (-12.5 Units) against the money line after a win this season. (Team's Record)
CHICAGO CUBS are 26-9 (+11.9 Units) against the money line when playing on Thursday over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 69-71 (-27.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 20-24 (-10.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
WASHINGTON is 33-36 (-21.2 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 35-35 (-20.2 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
WASHINGTON is 44-43 (-11.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
WASHINGTON is 55-48 (-9.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
WASHINGTON is 33-35 (-11.7 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
WASHINGTON is 35-38 (-11.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
WASHINGTON is 12-20 (-12.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO CUBS is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against WASHINGTON this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.9 Units)
KYLE HENDRICKS vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
HENDRICKS is 3-2 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 2.85 and a WHIP of 1.183.
His team's record is 6-2 (+4.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 6-2. (+4.0 units)
STEPHEN STRASBURG vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
STRASBURG is 2-2 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 1.48 and a WHIP of 0.884.
His team's record is 5-2 (+1.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-4. (-1.7 units)
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ATLANTA (76 - 63) at ARIZONA (75 - 64) - 9:40 PM
ANIBAL SANCHEZ (R) vs. ZACK GREINKE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 11-22 (-11.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
SANCHEZ is 11-25 (-14.7 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ARIZONA is 169-136 (+14.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 23-11 (+11.5 Units) against the money line when playing on Thursday over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 121-93 (+11.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 96-72 (+13.7 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
GREINKE is 61-26 (+21.4 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 since 1997. (Team's Record)
GREINKE is 45-12 (+21.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -175 to -250 since 1997. (Team's Record)
GREINKE is 141-76 (+45.9 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997. (Team's Record)
GREINKE is 107-54 (+37.5 Units) against the money line in home games in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
GREINKE is 71-32 (+28.6 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997. (Team's Record)
ATLANTA is 76-62 (+14.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 96-91 (+24.6 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 26-21 (+17.3 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +175 over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 39-29 (+16.0 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
ATLANTA is 47-43 (+21.3 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 25-18 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in road games in night games this season.
ATLANTA is 58-41 (+17.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
ATLANTA is 36-26 (+8.7 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
ATLANTA is 103-85 (+29.6 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1997.
ATLANTA is 20-12 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ARIZONA is 26-28 (-11.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
ARIZONA is 902-804 (-102.3 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997.
ARIZONA is 16-19 (-10.8 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
ARIZONA is 635-580 (-79.6 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters since 1997.
ARIZONA is 22-36 (-18.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ARIZONA is 13-19 (-10.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against ATLANTA this season
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.0 Units)
ANIBAL SANCHEZ vs. ARIZONA since 1997
SANCHEZ is 4-1 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 3.71 and a WHIP of 1.125.
His team's record is 6-2 (+4.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-4. (-1.1 units)
ZACK GREINKE vs. ATLANTA since 1997
GREINKE is 4-2 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 2.60 and a WHIP of 0.914.
His team's record is 6-4 (+1.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-4. (+1.9 units)
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CLEVELAND (79 - 60) at TORONTO (63 - 76) - 7:05 PM
SHANE BIEBER (R) vs. SAM GAVIGLIO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 79-60 (-16.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 21-24 (-19.5 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
CLEVELAND is 34-31 (-10.3 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
CLEVELAND is 46-40 (-17.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
CLEVELAND is 60-44 (-13.6 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
CLEVELAND is 44-34 (-9.0 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
TORONTO is 49-44 (+6.3 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
CLEVELAND is 34-13 (+18.6 Units) against the money line when playing on Thursday over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 63-76 (-11.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
TORONTO is 32-43 (-14.6 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
TORONTO is 83-103 (-24.8 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 57-81 (-28.9 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 2-1 (+2.1 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
3 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.0 Units)
SHANE BIEBER vs. TORONTO since 1997
No recent starts.
SAM GAVIGLIO vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
No recent starts.
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