Winning Points
South Carolina over Vanderbilt* by 8
A major revenger here for the Old Ball Coach after being embarrassed 17-6 at home vs. the Commodores last year, and Spurrier’s defense can do their share against that young Vandy OL. But laying points with the Gamecock offense on the road is out of the question at this juncture.
SOUTH CAROLINA 24-16
*New York Giants over Washington by 7
The Giants may be in for a Super Bowl hangover after a banquet-filled offseason and contract squabbles. But they still should handle Washington at Giants Stadium, where they have beaten and covered against the Redskins three of the past four years outscoring them, 85-39. Redskins first-year coach Jim Zorn, like former Redskins novice coach Steve Spurrier, is going to find out the hard way that preseason is much different than regular season.Redskins QB Jason Campbell is learning a new offense.The Giants have the pass rushers to hinder that development.
NY GIANTS 23-16
The Sports Reporter
SOUTH CAROLINA over *VANDERBILT by 11
Of South Carolina’s 34 points last week, 21 came in the fourth quarter against a tired defense that realized that the offense was not about to chip in. Spurrier’s offense lacks play-makers, but should find some success between the tackles and via play-action. Vandy’s resurgent QB Nickson can create problems with his legs, but his squad won’t come close to the 5.4 ypc that they hit against Miami-OH. Both teams put up 34 points in week one, so if Vegas gets lazy, the UNDER could be a solid play.
SOUTH CAROLINA 24-13
*NY GIANTS over WASHINGTON by 6
The Zorn-for-Gibbs move means a more efficient offense for the Redskins, even if they haven’t shown it yet. Nor would anyone be surprised to see Redskins’ veteran Todd Collins come off the bench at some point of this game, to give the Washington offense a lift if Jason Campbell still can’t spark a unit filled with decent offensive talent. But that would mean that Washington is trailing, and attempting a comeback against an opponent that has a well-balanced offense with an ability to control the clock and make coming from behind harder than it normally would be. The Giants’ defense got 58 sacks when it had Omenyiora and Strahan at the ends last year. Neither is there now, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuola is liable to blitz from anywhere, the Giants secondary is pretty good in coverage, and Washington’s best wide receivers won’t be out-jumping anybody. Redskins have a nice defense, too, but Jason Taylor’s absence offsets the Giants’ DE woes. The Giants sobered up from a Super Bowl hangover when they watched tape of their mistake-filled, weather-blown Week 15 home loss to Washington last season.
NY GIANTS 27-21
Lou Diamond
So Carolina / Vanderbilt
Take Under
South Carolina Under is 4-0 in Gamecocks last 4 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. Under is 4-1 in Gamecocks last 5 games following a S.U. win. Under is 25-9 in Gamecocks last 34 road games. Under is 20-8 in Gamecocks last 28 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Under is 5-2 in Gamecocks last 7 games overall. Vanderbilt Under is 8-1 in Commodores last 9 conference games. Under is 7-1 in Commodores last 8 home games. Under is 6-1 in Commodores last 7 games on turf. Under is 6-1 in Commodores last 7 games in September. Under is 4-1 in Commodores last 5 games following a S.U. win. Under is 4-1 in Commodores last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game. Under is 4-1 in Commodores last 5 games following a SU win of more than 20 points. Under is 4-1 in Commodores last 5 games following a ATS win. Under is 7-2 in Commodores last 9 vs. a team with a winning record. Under is 10-3 in Commodores last 13 games overall. Under is 5-2 in Commodores last 7 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game. Under is 5-2 in Commodores last 7 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Dave Cokin
PIT Pirates / CIN Reds
Take PIT Pirates
Tough year for both starters in today's Pirates-Reds hookup, as Gorzelanny and Fogg have each battled injury issues. Both seem to be rounding into better form of late, and I was impressed with Gorzy in his last effort against Milwaukee. He's the better pitcher in this matchup. Plus, the Pirates would love to complete a rare road sweep with one more win against the Reds. I think they've got a good shot to accomplish the feat, and I'll back the Bucs in this one.
Jim Feist
WAS Nationals / ATL Braves
TakeWAS Nationals
Atlanta is favored here, despite being in a second half slump because of injuries. Chipper Jones twisted his right knee taking groundballs in batting practice Tuesday and had to be scratched from the lineup. Jones has been on the disabled list this year with a hamstring injury and missed time with a sore quadriceps, back spasms. The Braves are 8-21 in games Jones misses. It also doesn't help to go with starter Jo-Jo Reyes, who is 3-10 with a 5.49 ERA. He's winless in his last 3 starts with a 6.32 ERA. Play the Nationals.
John Fina
Selection: Oakland/Kansas City Over 9 [Game #2]
Put us down on the Oakland Athletics/Kansas City Royals Over 9 [Game #2] for our Free MLB Selection on Thursday. Today we see a high-scoring game as the Oakland Athletics do battle with the Kansas City Royals. One reason why we see a high-scoring game is because both these teams will send to the mound struggling starting pitchers. This says it all... The Oakland Athletics Starting Pitcher (Dan Meyer) has a 6.94 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Kansas City Royals Starting Pitcher (Kyle Davies) has a 5.17 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, both these pitchers have been having huge pitching problems as of late. To say the least, we should see a high-scoring game. Take the Oakland Athletics/Kansas City Royals Over 9 [Game #2]!
Tony Mathews
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds
Selection: Pittsburgh/Cincinnati Over 9.5
The Cincinnati Reds will use starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny. Tom Gorzelanny has been having huge pitching problems this season. In fact, Tom Gorzelanny has a 6.61 ERA on the season. In addition, Tom Gorzelanny has a 8.82 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Tom Gorzelanny pitching another bad game today.
The Cincinnati Reds will use starting pitcher Josh Fogg. Josh Fogg has also been having huge pitching problems this season. In fact, Josh Fogg has a 7.29 ERA on the season. We see Josh Fogg also pitching another bad game today.
The bottom line, we see both teams scoring many runs today!
Take the Pittsburgh Pirates/Cincinnati Reds Over 9.5
Brian Marshall
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves
Play: Washington/Atlanta Over 10
The Washington Nationals will be lead by starting pitcher Jason Bergmann. Jason Bergmann has been struggling as of late. In fact, Jason Bergmann has a 6.88 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Jason Bergmann giving up many runs once again today.
The Atlanta Braves will be lead by starting pitcher Jo Jo Reyes. Jo Jo Reyes has also been struggling as of late. In fact, Jo Jo Reyes has a 6.32 ERA in his last 3 starts. We also see Jo Jo Reyes giving up many runs today.
The Over is a perfect 6-0 in the last 6 meetings between these teams, and we see another high-scoring game today!
Take the Washington Nationals/Atlanta Braves Over 10
PlusLineSports
LAA vs Detroit
LAA-1.5
SCOTT FERRALL
BEST IN BOLD
LITSCH AND TORONTO -115 over Slowey and Minnesota
Angels -145 at Detroit--Ervin Santana over Kenny Rogers
Milwaukee -220 over San Diego--Suppan ends the Brew Crew skid
Vegas Experts
South Carolina at Vanderbilt
When these two SEC rivals met last year, they combined for a scant 23 points and we look for a similar low-scoring battle tonight, noting that the "other USC" has #2 Georgia on deck and won't look to do anything remarkably new on offense here. We also don't forsee another 21-point 4th Quarter explosion from the Gamecocks on the horizon. Spurrier's team is also 8-2 Under in the road favorit role.
Play on: Under
Matt Fargo
Minnesota Twins vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Play: Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto picked up yet another big come from behind victory last night over Minnesota giving it four straight wins and keeping slim hopes alive. The Blue Jays are now 39-29 at home and after getting shutdown for a three-game stretch, the offense has come alive with 6.3 rpg over the last four games. The pitching remains the constant as Toronto has a 3.61 ERA on the season including 3.22 at home, 1st and 3rd respectively in baseball. The 1.25 WHIP is also best in the bigs.
Minnesota is now a game back of the White Sox in the American League Central as it has been on a rough stretch as this roadtrip may finally be catching up. After winning the first two road games in Anaheim, the Twins are 3-8 over their last 11 to drop to 31-39 away from home on the season. Pitching has been the problem on the road as Minnesota has a 5.01 ERA which is 6th worst in all of baseball. The Twins have now lost all five meetings with Toronto this year and eight straight dating back to last season.
Kevin Slowey is pitching some fantastic baseball right now and that is the main reason for this favorable line. However more should go into it than that and that is why this price is so good. Slowey has allowed two runs or fewer is five straight starts and his K:BB ratio has been silly at 42:3 over his last seven starts. Despite his last two outings on this trip, he has had trouble on the road with a 4.13 ERA and 1.22 WHIP and I don’t see him making it three straight quality performances on the road.
While Slowey has been excellent, Jesse Litsch has been pitching nearly as good. After a stint down in the Minors to fix some things, he is back to his early season form that saw him post a 3.18 ERA through his first 11 starts of the season. Since being promoted, he has tossed three straight quality starts, while putting up a 1.37 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. He has been solid at home, going 5-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 10 starts, six of which were quality. He is 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in three career starts against Minnesota. Play Toronto Blue Jays 1.5 Units
Drew Gordon
Minnesota at TORONTO -110
Looking for the Blue Jays to break out the brooms here tonight at home, as they continue their recent dominance of the Twins, adding to their already impressive 8 straight wins in this series tonight!
How do they do it? Well, it all starts with Jesse Litsch, who's been downright nasty over his last 3 starts, going 1-1 with a lockdown 1.37 ERA! That includes his last home start, where he tossed 6 scoreless innings against the high-powered Red Sox offense! Litsch is also 5-2 with a 3.18 ERA at the Rogers Centre this season AND 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 3 career starts against the Twins!
We already saw this match up once, with Litsch squaring off against Kevin Slowey back on May 13th, and although it was close, Litsch was clearly the winner. Same goes for tonight, as despite pitching well in his last 3 starts, Slowey has not pitched well against the Blue Jays, going 0-1 with an ugly 5.91 ERA in 2 career starts against them. Also, his ERA is almost a run higher on the highway, jumping from 3.23 at the Metrodome to 4.13 anywhere else!
Besides the fact Minnesota is winless in their last 8 tries against the Toronto, there's also the bullpen factor, which we saw play a prominent role in the first two games of this series. Joe Nathan is struggling bad, as is the rest of Twins bullpen, posting 5.33 ERA over their last 10 games, compared to a 1.75 ERA over the same span for the Blue Jays. In the end, the Twins have obviously lost focus on this long road trip and its paid dividends for the Blue Jays... More of the same tonight, as Litsch and the Jays 'pen once again outdo the Twinkies in this one!
Take Toronto behind Litsch over Minnesota and Slowey in this MLB match up.
2♦ TORONTO
The Gold Medal Club
Washington @ Atlanta
PLAY OVER 9.5
On a very short card tonight we found a play that deserves considering.We are not exactly dealing with dominant pitchers in tonight's match up.Bergman who goes for the Nationals is 0-1 in his last 3 starts with an era of 6.89. Jo Jo Reyes has been horrid in his last 3 starts, going 0- in his last 3 starts with an era of 6.32, but even more disturbing is his season long record of 2-7 with an era of 7.74! We take note that 4 of 5 played this season in Atlanta between these teams has gone OVER.
Expect lots of runs in this game.
JB's Computer Picks
Toronto Blue Jays -115
Washington Nationals +105
Milwaukee Brewers -240
NFL
New York Giants - 4½