Thursday’s Betting Tips
Covers.com
Who’s hot
CFL: The Stampeders are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as an underdog.
WNBA: Under is 17-5 in the Shock's last 22 road games.
WNBA: Sparks are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.
Who’s not
CFL: The Alouettes are 1-8 ATS in their last nine games overall.
WNBA: Lynx are 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.
WNBA: Fever are 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.
Key stat
5 – The Los Angeles Sparks will play their fifth game in the span of eight nights Thursday at Indiana. So far the busy schedule hasn’t slowed them at all. They’re riding a run of 4-0 both straight up and against the spread as they head into Indiana as 3.5-point underdogs.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Anthony Calvillo, Montreal Alouettes – Calvillo is still nursing a bruised left shoulder but has been able to practice this week and plans to start Thursday against Calgary. The news for Calgary’s starting quarterback isn’t so good. Drew Tate is out indefinitely with his own shoulder injury, forcing veteran Kevin Glenn to step in.
Game of the day
Calgary Stampeders at Montreal Alouettes (-6, 56)
Notable quotable
"It's the Midwest. It's the type of golf course that I grew up on. I can drive here from home. It's comfortable surroundings. I enjoy the course. I enjoy coming here. . . . But I really can't put a finger on it." – Steve Stricker about going for his fourth John Deere Classic title. He’s set as the tournament favorite at +700.
Notes and tips
The New Jersey Nets reportedly signed Brook Lopez to a four-year, $60-million deal Wednesday, which effectively ended the recent talk of the Nets acquiring Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. Lopez played just five games last year due to foot and ankle injuries but averages 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in his career. The Nets also finalized earlier deals with Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson.
The Knicks are set to match the Houston Rockets' four-year, $28.8 million offer to restricted free agent Jeremy Lin, retaining the point guard for at least the next three seasons. The Knicks said they would match any offer Lin receives to keep him, even after bringing veteran Jason Kidd in on a free-agent deal.
A CBSSports.com report indicates the Los Angeles Dodgers are talking with the Chicago Cubs about the availability of starting pitchers Matt Garza and Ryan Dempster. Garza has struggled with a 4-7 record and a 4.32 ERA, while Dempster, a free agent at the end of the season, is 4-3 in 13 starts with a tidy 1.99 ERA.
Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen told ESPN’s Dan LeBatard that he intends to use a closer-by-committee system at least to begin the second half. Miami’s bullpen ranks third from the bottom of the bigs with a 4.65 ERA.
The Warriors acquired veteran point guard Jarrett Jack from the New Orleans Hornets as part of the trade that will send Dorell Wright to Philadelphia. The Hornets received the draft rights to 2006 second-round pick Edin Bavcic in return. Bavcic played in Greece last season. Wright averaged 16.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 2010-11 but his production dipped last season (10.3/4.6). Jack averaged 15.6 points and 6.3 assists with New Orleans last season.