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Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:26 AM

Jaguars vs. Vikings Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 17th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/17/2018

The Jacksonville Jaguars had one of the top defenses in the National Football League last season, and it took them a long way since quarterback Blake Bortles was able to keep his turnovers to an amount that was palatable. And they have every reason to believe they can be a legitimate contender for the AFC title.

The Minnesota Vikings are brimming with optimism as they come into 2018 because they feel like they have upgraded themselves at the quarterback position. And since they can be confident that they will have a ground game that is more than good enough, they are the favorites in the NFC North.

These are two of the best stop units in the league, even though such a thing gets diluted a little because of the activity the second, third and even fourth team players wind up getting in pre-season games. But early on, things will be interesting as they meet on Saturday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

See all the NFL Preseason Previews

Minnesota won its opening game by a 42-28 score visiting the Denver Broncos, while Jacksonville lost at home to the New Orleans Saints last week by a 24-20 score.

TV: 1 PM ET, NFL Network. LINE: Vikings -4. O/U: 40.5

ABOUT THE JAGUARS: Blake Bortles had an outing relatively without an accident in the pre-season opener, completing six of his nine passes without an interception or sack. He led the team on a fifteen-play drive to score in the first quarter and punctuated it with a two-yard touchdown run. He struggled in the first joint practice with the Vikings, finding himself confused a little by the coverages and throwing the ball into the hands of Minnesota defensive backs on a couple of occasions. Cody Kessler, whose NFL reputation is that he throws the short ball well but can't get a team down the field, but he was sharp against the Saints, hitting on 14 of his 17 attempts. The real nightmare was experienced by Tanner Lee, a sixth-round pick out of Nebraska who completed four of eight passes, fumbled the ball twice and suffered five sacks. All of this happened in the fourth quarter. Needless to say, he's facing an uphill battle to make the squad. Running backs Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon were among the Jacksonville players who more or less took a neutral stance for the National Anthem, choosing to stay in the locker room. The Jags played "clean" last week, being flagged only three times for 25 yards. Doug Marrone has shown an indifferent attitude toward success in the pre-season, with a 5-9 straight-up, 3-8-3 ATS mark.

ABOUT THE VIKINGS: The Vikings could not have asked for much more from Kirk Cousins than what they got in his one and only series, as he completed all four of his passes with a touchdown. He looked sharp and in command, and good to go for the regular season. Of course, he'll get some more work this week, against a challenging defense. The Vikings were #1 in the NFL last season in scoring defense and total defense, but the Jags were #2 in both categories. For what it's worth, Denver (last week's opponent) was third in total defense in 2017. It appeared as if backup quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Kyle Sloter were especially psyched up to play against their former teammates. Siemian, who basically switched teams with Case Keenum, was 11-of-17 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Sloter connected on nine of 11 passes with a TD. We know that Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray are going to be the top two running backs for the Vikings, but there is room for someone else, and Roc Thomas would like to volunteer for the job. He made a nice bid last week, with a 78-yard TD catch (in which he did all the work himself) and another touchdown reception. Thomas is an undrafted rookie out of Jacksonville State (in Alabama), who had transferred from Auburn. He is well worth watching. Mike Zimmer improved his pre-season record to 14-4 straight-up and 13-5 against the spread, so his disposition toward exhibition games is a bit different than that of Doug Marrone.

EXTRA POINTS

1. These teams are holding joint practices this week, and in light of some of the skirmishes that have taken place in similar situations, a dozen players from both the Jags and Vikings sat down and met in an effort to avoid fighting during these scrimmages.

2. Minnesota's offensive line suffered a blow when left guard Nick Easton was forced to have neck surgery, ending his season. Kaleb Johnson, recently cut by the Chicago Bears, was signed in his place. He's been with six NFL teams but has yet to play in the regular season.

3. Jacksonville cornerback Jalen Ramsey and defensive end Dante Fowler have each been suspended a week for an incident surrounding a dust-up between Fowler and a teammate and a local beat reporter who showed a video of it. Since then, Ramsey was revealed to have unloaded on some NFL quarterbacks in a magazine interview, calling Josh Allen "trash" and Matt Ryan "overrated," among other criticisms.

PREDICTION: Vikings 28, Jaguars 13

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:26 AM

Raiders vs. Rams Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 17th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/17/2018

The Oakland Raiders have a few things to work on, and it may take a while for Jon Gruden to find himself in mid-season form. But some bad calls had him fired up in last week's game, as he explained: "Chucky was starting to come put." That would appear to be a good sign.

The Los Angeles Rams may have made more bold moves than any other NFL team in the off-season, adding players who could be legitimate difference-makers in their bid for an NFL title. But none of that was in evidence in the pre-season opener, as almost all the starters were rested.

The Raiders opened up their schedule with a 16-10 victory over the Detroit Lions, while the Rams looked like they were going through the motions a little in a 33-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

See all the NFL Preseason Predictions

These teams will meet up on Saturday afternoon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

TV: 4 PM ET, NFL Network. LINE: Rams -2.5. O/U: 38.5

ABOUT THE RAIDERS: On the Raiders' second play from scrimmage against the Lions last week, Marshawn Lynch took a handoff and went 60 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Alas, the play was called back due to a penalty, and Gruden was, in his own words, "really ticked off." A holding call was assessed against left tackle Kolton Miller, a rookie and first-round draft pick out of UCLA, but the new/old head coach nonetheless called it a "well-blocked play." By the way, offensive coordinator Greg Olson, in his second tout of duty with the team, explained that "Chucky" (Gruden's nickname, from derived from the popular 'Child's Play' character) actually came out on the third day of practice, after the players had hit a bit of a "lag." Gruden says "I don't want time to go by like that. I want an urgency. And when I sense a lack of urgency, I react." Connor Cook, who started the last playoff game the Raiders were in, get the bulk of the quarterback work, as he went 11 of 19 for 141 yards. EJ Manuel, generally known as being a flopped first-round pick for the Buffalo Bills, had 46 yards passing, but did not look at all in command of the offense. Manuel admitted that after being rushed into the starting spot in Buffalo by coach Doug Marrone, then getting benched in favor of veteran Kyle Orton, "My confidence took a huge hit, honestly. I can speak on that very openly cause I’ve gone through a lot. I think I went through a period of somewhat depression." Gruden is now 31-16 straight-up in pre-season games, and that's one of the best marks among active coaches. That translates to a 25-18-4 ATS mark.

ABOUT THE RAMS: You can consider Sean McVay's motivation to win the first pre-season game to be low at best. There is no other explanation as to why he would sit 20 of his 22 starting players for the game against the Baltimore Ravens, a team that has a pretty good pre-season record under John Harbaugh. The result was a rather embarrassing 33-7 defeat. Jared Goff was held out of the proceedings, which left things in the hands of backups. There is a little panic about Sean Mannion, who connected on just three of his 13 passes and was sacked twice. He is considered the #2 guy, but there is some speculation as to whether the Rams might have to go to the "street" and seek some veteran help to back up Goff. Interestingly, Mannion, who set Pac-12 records while at Oregon State, had been a 65% pre-season passer in each of the last two years. Brandon Allen (10-15, 73 yards) is talented, but not ready to take the reins of an NFL offense if it came to that. Goff gave the Rams' staff a bit of a scare on Wednesday when, during a simulated game, he went down after one of his linemen was pushed into him. QB's are not supposed to get hit under such circumstances, but prior to this, Ben Roethlisberger had gone down and hit his head in a similar situation, and that put him in concussion protocol. So naturally, McVay was relieved when his QB was alright. "To say I was holding my breath, I think it would be probably a little bit more than that,” the head coach said. The Rams were outgained by a 403-170 margin and flagged for eleven penalties against the Ravens. Needless to say, they'll try to improve upon their eleven first downs against a Raider defense that is somewhat vulnerable.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wide receiver Martavis Bryant, who was picked up by the Raiders in a trade with Pittsburgh, was ticketed to make an impact but he has been downgraded on the depth chart. He was targeted four times against Detroit and caught one pass for 16 yards.

2. The Raiders, of course, spent thirteen seasons in Los Angeles and played at the Coliseum (1982-1984). They won Super Bowl XVIII as the Los Angeles Raiders, beating the Washington Redskins 38-9.

3. Rookie running back John Kelly, a sixth-round pick from Tennessee, is making a bid to be a backup for Todd Gurley with the Rams. He had 77 yards in the losing cause against Baltimore. Last season, Kelly lost yardage on 27% of his carries, worst of all eligible backs.

PREDICTION: Raiders 20, Rams 19

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:26 AM

Bengals vs. Cowboys Preview and Predictions in NFL in NFL

NFL Previews 16th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/16/2018

The Cincinnati Bengals had to be happy with at least some of what they were doing last week against the Chicago Bears, and they were able to get what they wanted out of their first-team offense. Considering that they have to do battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, they've got their work cut out for them.

The Dallas Cowboys have been rather consistent on the road during pre-season play, going without a win since 2014, and that pattern held last week against the San Francisco 49ers, as they blew a double-digit lead. But such things are secondary when it comes to exhibition play; they were also satisfied with what they saw out of their signal-caller and they know they have a good-looking rookie wide receiver.

NFL Football Previews and Predictions

Cincinnati had a nine-point halftime lead but had to score a late touchdown to beat the Chicago Bears 30-27 last week, while Dallas allowed two fourth-quarter TD's to drop a 24-21 decision to the Niners.

Now these teams meet in the third leg of an NFL Network triple-header on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

TV: 7 PM ET, NFL Network. LINE: Cowboys -3 (-120). O/U: 41.5

ABOUT THE BENGALS: Cincinnati scored a 30-27 win over Chicago last week, but what must have pleased fans the most was the play of quarterback Andy Dalton, who has been much maligned in some circles and isn't exactly a favorite of fantasy players. Dalton completed six of his eight passes for 103 yards, and threw for a pair of scores. He also threw a pick-six, but the general consensus is that John Ross blew his route and the interception resulted. Ross, last year's first-round pick, did not contribute at all as a rookie, and if he can't make a recovery this season, it's going to throw a monkey wrench into Marvin Lewis' plans to have an offense that can really stretch the field. Ross' speed is well-known and well-documented; in fact, he set a record with 4.22 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine. Auden Tate, a seventh-round pick this year, caught the winning TD pass last week and is being hailed by no less an authority than A.J. Green as "a young Brandon Marshall." Joe Mixon, who did not blow anyone's doors off last year as a prospective feature back, has lost a lot of weight in a quest to do what's needed to be the workhorse. He left Wednesday's practice, limping off the field for reasons unexplained. Interesting - among those backs who carried the ball at least 170 times, only two had lower averages than his 3.5 ypc, and one of them was his Oklahoma teammate, Samaje Perine. What's also interesting is how down-the-middle Marvin Lewis' record has been in pre-season games: 31-30 straight-up and 31-30-1 against the spread.

ABOUT THE COWBOYS: Dak Prescott didn't play long in last week's game in Santa Clara against the 49ers, but he was sharp, leading the team down the field on a touchdown drive, capped off by a 30-yard TD pass to rookie Michael Gallup of Colorado State. Gallup is the guy Cowboys fans have been keeping an eye on, as he demonstrated precise route-running in college. This is a team that is looking for answers at the receiver spot. Believe it or not, sixteen different people caught passes last week. Cooper Rush may have the inside track on the backup job. He wasn't too bad last week, going 15 0f 23 for 145 yards and a score. Mike White, the rookie out of Western Kentucky, made his debut and was 6-of-11 for 63 yards. Prescott says the guy he's been most impressed with in camp is Tavon Austin, who may not have been utilized the right way with the Rams. "He's a guy you can put out there, inside, outside and trust he's going to get open," says Dak. Ezekiel Elliott says that he doesn't think the NFL's new helmet rule will have much of an effect on him. "Most of the time, running backs, you're not going to be a defenseless player unless you're catching the ball, so a lot of times it's going to be a receiver," he says. The Cowboys covered, even in defeat last week, so Jason Garrett's pre-season record improved to 11-19 ATS.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cowboys center Travis Frederick, one of the best in the business, sustained some stingers in practice and so he went to see a neck and spine specialist, who confirmed that he wasn't dealing with major issues. But he will not likely play in Saturday's game.

2. After Andy Dalton led a Cincinnati TD drive that beat Baltimore and helped Buffalo get to the playoffs, Bills fans made numerous donations to Dalton's charity as a way of thanking him. Now Dalton and his wife has tanked them back, by making a donation to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

3. Jaylon Smith, the linebacker who missed all of last season with a knee injury after being drafted out of Notre Dame, made just one tackle for the Cowboys against San Francisco, but Will McClay, the team's VP of Player Personnel, says that "His recovery is remarkable. He's 100 times better than he was last year."His recovery is remarkable. He's 100 times better than he was last year."

PREDICTION: Cowboys 24, Bengals 17

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:26 AM

Buccaneers vs. Titans Preview and Predictions in NFL in NFL

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers know that they are "up against it" in the NFC South, and that head coach Dirk Koetter is on the proverbial "hot seat" if things don't go well. They got off to a winning start in the pre-season, not that it was the most important thing on the agenda. And they are looking pretty good with the "Plan B" they have to cover for Jameis Winston during his three -game suspension.

The Tennessee Titans are set to make the next move forward after replacing Mike Mularkey with new head coach Mike Vrabel. What's really important to them is getting a bounce-back season out of QB Marcus Mariota, who faltered a bit last year, although that did not prevent the Titans from making it to the playoffs.

Tampa Bay came away with a 26-24 victory over the Miami Dolphins in their opening game, while Tennessee took it on the chin to the tune of 31-17 at Lambeau Field at the hands of the Green Bay Packers.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks get together as the Titans and Bucs meet up on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

TV: 8 PM ET, Local coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Titans -3 (+100). O/U: 41

ABOUT THE BUCS: Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to keep the quarterback seat warm for the Bucs until Winston serves his three-game suspension out, and he was in very good form in the pre-season opener, completing all eight passes. Ryan Griffin saw a lot of action, going 20 of 26 for 179 yards and a touchdown, and his presence will be needed as the primary backup once the season gets underway. Winston got more reps than usual with the starting unit, since he'll have that period of inactivity once September gets here. He was crisp too, going 11 of 13 for 102 yards. Vernon Hargreaves, a mainstay in the Tampa Bay defensive backfield, is sidelined with a groin injury, so there are youngsters back there who have to step up for the team. They devoted a lot of their drafting to that area of the field - M.J. Stewart (Auburn), Carlton Davis (Auburn) and Jordan Whitehead (Pittsburgh). They are all likely to make the team, but they'll have a chance to cement themselves into the picture. The Buccaneers need all the help they can get; remember, this is a team that surrendered more yardage from scrimmage than any other club in the NFL last season (378 yards a game).

ABOUT THE TITANS: Mariota didn't see much time in the opener against Green Bay, throwing just three passes. But he led the team on a first quarter touchdown drive. Blaine Gabbert, who is ticketed for backup duty, is an old hand at this stuff, and he went nine for 15, but the guy who got the real baptism was Luke Falk, the rookie out of Washington State who completed ten of 19 and had a TD pass. He is the Pac-12's all-time career leader in completions, passing yards and touchdowns. But the "Air Raid" system he played under coach Mike Leach at Wazzu doesn't necessarily make it conducive to a smooth transition to the NFL, and so one can expect that the transition will be bumpy. The Titans' secondary did not get the job done last week; the Packers had 356 yards through the air (almost eight yards an attempt) and ran up 31 first downs. All three QB's - DeShone Kizer, Brett Hundley and Tim Boyle - all threw for over a hundred yards, so whether it was first, second or third team, Tennessee wasn't stopping anybody, although they did record three sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tony Dungy recently got inducted into the Bucs' Ring of Honor, and he had this to say about Winston to a Tampa Bay Times reporter: “For Jameis, he has to be a leader all the time. He’s a great leader on the field. He’s a great leader in the locker room.......Now, he has to take it on his shoulders to lead off the field and away from the building as well.”

2. The new member of the Tennessee backfield, Dion Lewis, said that the New England Patriots, where he rushed for 896 yards last year, didn't necessarily make an effort to keep him in the fold. "If they wanted me they could’ve had me," he told a reporter. "But obviously, they didn’t want me, they didn’t think I was good enough to be there."

3. The Titans and Bucs have been conducting joint practices, and Koetter has been very impressed by the way his corps of receivers has been handling the Tennessee secondary. "They came out smoking," the head coach said.

PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Titans 20

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:27 AM

49ers vs. Texans Preview and Predictions in NFL in NFL

NFL Previews 16th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/16/2018

The San Francisco 49ers like to think they are launching into a new era with a new quarterback, and they are very optimistic that they can mount a strong bid to win the NFC West division title. And it had to be an encouraging thing that the reserves - who are battling for the opportunity to make the team - came from behind to capture a victory in the pre-season opener.

The Houston Texans finally found themselves a productive quarterback last season, but unfortunately they lost him to a knee injury. Now they have him back, and he got himself back into the swing of things last week, and that was a good thing. In a competitive AFC South, they will need their on-field leader.

NFL Football Previews and Predictions

So the Niners, off the 24-21 home win over the Dallas Cowboys, pay a visit to NRG Stadium to face the Texans, who beat the Kansas City Chiefs last week, in the second pre-season game for both squads.

TV: 8 PM ET, Local coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Texans -2.5. O/U: 41.5

ABOUT THE NINERS: Jimmy Garoppolo was used for only one drive in the pre-season opener against Dallas, completing three of six passes. CJ Beathard, who started some games last year and really took his lumps before Jimmy G assumed the starting role, was 10 for 20. Nick Mullens, a first-year pro out of Southern Miss, led the team on two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, including a seven-yard TD pass to rookie Richie James to win it. The Niners' offensive line did not allow a sack. The team is very excited about second-round draft pick Dante Pettis, who has been wowing everybody in practice and hauled in a 53-yard pass against the Cowboys. He's also got a baseball pedigree, as his dad, Gary Pettis, a major league center fielder, is third base coach for the Astros. So when Dante got to town for the Niners' joint practices with the Texans', he took batting practice with the team and reportedly hit more than share of pitches out of Minute Maid Park. Injuries have hit the Niners hard, and one move made recently was to sign Alfred Morris, who has been a 1000-yard rusher in the past, to a deal. By the way, Richard Sherman, still recovering from his Achilles injury, is taking it slow and has only had a few reps in practice drills. Kyle Shanahan is now 3-2 straight-up and against the spread in pre-season for his brief NFL coaching career.

ABOUT THE TEXANS: While the Niners signed a Morris, the Texans cut one. Houston used three quarterbacks in the pre-season opener against Kansas City, but Stephen Morris, who is #4 on the depth chart, didn't see action. He was let go on Monday as coach Bill O'Brien made other roster moves. DeShaun Watson, who led the Texans to a lot of points before suffering a knee injury last year, got a series, and is a full participant in the joint practices. O'Brien has no doubt that last year's first-round draft pick will be ready for the regular season opener. If anything happens to Watson, the Texans would have to turn to Brandon Weeden, who was once seen as the answer at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns but has since settled into the role of career backup. He was nine of 11 for 97 yards and two touchdowns last week, earning himself a QB rating of 143.0. Another quarterback on the Houston roster is a good guy to have around. Joe Webb, who once started an NFL playoff game for the Minnesota Vikings, is the third stringer, and can also line up at any number of positions, including running back and wide receiver, and he chips in on special teams and even a little defense. He's thrown only seven passes in regular season play since 2011. O'Brien hasn't been a bad coach in pre-season play, with a 10-6 record, both straight-up and against the number.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Texans have signed Nick Rose, who has kicked for the Redskins and Chargers, to a contract. Ka'imi Fairbairn, their regular kicker, is out for this week with an injury.

2. In a joint practice between the Niners and Texans, DeAndre Hopkins got into a fight with San Francisco corner Jimmy Ward (who got burned by Dak Prescott on a touchdown pass last week) and was ejected from the proceedings. He did, however, shake Ward's hand before he left the field.

3. San Francisco running back Matt Breida suffered a shoulder injury against Dallas, and head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he expects him to be out "for some time." Tight end George Kittle also injured his shoulder in the game. They'll probably miss the rest of the pre-season.

PREDICTION: Texans 21, Niners 17

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:27 AM

Bears vs. Broncos Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 17th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/17/2018

There are some people who are giving the Chicago Bears a chance to make an impact in the NFC North, and a lot will depend on a quantum leap by their second-year signal-caller and his rapport with a revamped corps of receivers. Matt Nagy, the new head coach, is trying to create a positive atmosphere in camp, but you can't beat the boost that comes when you are able to sign a first-round draft choice who was holding out, and who they'll need to go toe-to-toe with the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions.

The Denver Broncos are already in the middle of an interesting quarterback controversy, which has arisen not because of a two-touchdown loss last week, but because of what happened that almost brought this team back from a big deficit. Chad Kelly, making his first appearance, showed a lot of swagger and has now surpassed disappointing Paxton Lynch on the depth chart, and Lynch is none too happy about it. Does he have to do something dramatic to save his NFL life?

National Football League Previews and Predictions

We'll find out on Saturday night as the Bears and Broncos do battle at Mile High Stadium. In their pre-season opener, the Bears lost 30-27 to the Cincinnati Bengals, while the Broncos dropped a 42-28 home decision to the Minnesota Vikings.

TV: 9 PM ET, Local coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Broncos -3 (-125). O/U: 41

ABOUT THE BEARS: The Bears finally got first-round draft pick Roquan Smith, the All-America linebacker from Georgia, to sign a contract, and he quickly demonstrated his skills on the practice field, where, in the words of first-year head coach Matt Nagy, "his instincts showed up." It is possible that Smith could see some snaps against the Broncos. When a team has invested its future in a young quarterback, you naturally take a look at the progress he's making in pre-season games. But Mitchell Trubisky, who only started one year at North Carolina before the Bears made him the second selection in the 2017 draft, then came into the lineup in mid-season to take over from Mike Glennon, got to throw only four passes against Cincinnati. Tyler Bray, trying to hold on to the #3 spot behind Trubisky and Chase Daniel, got the bulk of the activity, and he had his ups and downs, going 18 of 27 for 219 yards. Ryan Nall, an undrafted rookie from Oregon State, had a 69-yard run, and tight end Daniel Brown, who is vying for a roster spot, had a 56-yard reception. Rookie wideout Anthony Miller didn't get a whole lot of activity, but he continues to be very impressive in team drills. Allowing two first-quarter touchdowns, however, does not make a strong statement for the defense. Remember that even with the regime change, this unit retained some continuity as coordinator Vic Fangio was kept on board.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS: Obviously the Broncos were not at the same place defensively that they are going to be in the regular season, but to surrender 406 yards from scrimmage and 42 points in the pre-season opener is an indication that there is much work to be done. And to be shredded by a pair of quarterbacks who had previously been rejected by this team was also an embarrassment. What made some of this palatable was the story that emerged at the quarterback spot. In the second half, Chad Kelly came into the game and engineered a pair of touchdown drives that actually put the Broncos ahead 28-27. This came after a rather lackluster effort by Paxton Lynch, who completed six of 11 passes for 24 yards. Remember that Lynch is the guy who had been drafted in the first round out of Memphis, and has been given several chances to prove he could take command of the offense, but hasn't. Meanwhile, Kelly, who had been thrown off the team at Clemson but went on to have success at Ole Miss, including a memorable upset of Alabama, was "Mr. Irrelevant," as the last player taken in the 2017 draft, and did not get to compete because of an injury. Now Kelly, who made some rookie mistakes but also went 14-of-21 for 177 yards and those two TD's, is the name on everybody's lips because Bronco fans are looking at a future beyond Case Keenum, who isn't seen as a long-term solution. And he has surpassed Lynch on the depth chart, so look for him to see extended action against second-team players this week. John Elway, the chief football executive for this team, who traded up to take Lynch in the 2016 draft, admitted that he may have made a mistake there and that he may seek some veteran help to back up indicating Lynch's days in the Rockies may be numbered.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Elway may indeed look for that veteran backup, but Colin Kaepernick won't be under consideration. He explained that the Broncos wanted to trade for Kaepernick after Peyton Manning retired, but the controversial signal-caller would not agree to a contract offer that included a pay cut.

2. Von Miller, Super Bowl MVP and All-Pro pass rusher for the Broncos, called Trubisky a "great quarterback" after a joint practice between the teams. "He was great last year," Miller said. "Great in college as well. He's their franchise quarterback... He can do a little bit of everything so you have to be prepared for everything."

3. There are spots open in the Broncos' backfield, and Phillip Lindsay, who played at the University of Colorado, is making a strong bid for one of them. Lindsay, who was not drafted, had only a couple of carries, but also returned kicks and had a 19-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter to put Denver ahead.

PREDICTION: Broncos 21, Bears 17

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:27 AM

Seahawks vs. Chargers Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 17th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/17/2018

It's kind of hard to tell what we're going to get out of the Seattle Seahawks this season because they have had to bid farewell to so many familiar names who helped guide the team to a Super Bowl championship and establish an atmosphere of intimidation. Right now what they'd really like to have is a ground game that produces, but their top draft pick isn't available to aid that quest at the moment.

The Los Angeles Chargers overcame a lot of early-season difficulties to come within a whisker of making the playoffs last season, and many of the pundits are expecting that they will carry their momentum from last year into the current campaign and win the AFC West. But they will have to clean up some of their mental mistakes from last week if they plan to do so.

All Preseason NFL Previews

In their pre-season opener, the Seahawks lost 19-17 to the Indianapolis Colts, providing a nice re-entry for Colts' quarterback Andrew Luck. The Chargers dominated from scrimmage against the Arizona Cardinals, but mistakes doomed them to a 24-17 defeat in the desert.

These teams meet up in the late game on Saturday at the smallest venue in the NFL - the StubHub Center in Carson, CA.

TV: 10 PM ET, Local coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Chargers -3 (-120). O/U: 39

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS: Seattle saw what it needed to out of starting quarterback Russell Wilson, who had the offense for just one drive, but took it down the field, completing four of five passes, culminating with a TD pass to Nick Vannett, who is trying to fill the void at tight end that was left by the departure of Jimmy Graham. First-round draft choice Rashaad Penny (San Diego State) suffered a broken finger and had to have surgery. It should keep him out until after the season opener, but it shouldn't be all that serious a thing for the long haul. Of course, head coach Pete Carroll is counting on Penny to be the guy who carries the load for a club that failed to get a consistent ground game going in 2017. CJ Prosise, the Notre Dame alum, is dealing with a hip flexor, so this opens up the door for a number of others, including Chris Carson, who had four carries for 26 yards. But there are not a lot of alternatives to choose from. Rookie Alex McGough had extensive action at the quarterback position (playing the whole second half) and completed ten of his 13 passes, getting sacked twice. McGough, whose name is pronounced "Magoo," has a lot of native ability and was impressive in spring drills after being drafted in the seventh round. But the learning curve for him has been a big one. he has struggled with grasping the playbook, and one must keep in mind that he didn't have a whole lot to work with when he played at Florida International. He'll continue to get snaps, but most of his throws will probably be of the low-risk variety, and he's not really a strong possibility to beat out Austin Davis for the backup job. At the moment, the Seahawks are +4500 to win the Super Bowl and +450 to capture the NFC West.

ABOUT THE CHARGERS: Anthony Lynn did not use Philip Rivers in the first pre-season game because he feared the action would be "too sloppy." But he will utilize his starting quarterback on Saturday. In his stead, the battle for the backup QB spot commenced against Arizona. Geno Smith had the most success, completing 14 of 23 passes for 218 yards. Cardale Jones hit on half of his twelve passes, and Nic Shimonek came in during the fourth quarter and averaged 2.8 yards an attempt. Truth be told, Shmonek, a rookie from Texas Tech, would like to hang around as the #3 man while Smith or Jones is sent packing, but he did not capitalize on a last-second drive that could have tied or won the game, even though the officials aided the Bolts with some key penalty calls. The Chargers ran out of time inside the Cards' five-yard line. Lynn was upset at the post-game press conference, citing his team's undisciplined play, which included four turnovers and had 155 yards in penalties. "Like I just told the guys, it doesn’t matter how much you dominate a team. If you lose in those two ways, it’s going to be a long night. And it was long," said Lynn. Joey Bosa, the Pro Bowl defensive lineman, will miss his second straight pre-season game on Saturday, the residue of a foot injury. The Chargers are +110 favorites to win the AFC West championship and a +1750 shot for Super Bowl 53.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Brian Schottenheimer is the new offensive coordinator for the Seahawks; he is the son of long-time head coach Marty Schottenheimer and has served as an assistant for a number of teams, including the St. Louis Rams, where he was the offensive coordinator from 2012-14.

2. The turnovers and penalties ruined what was a pretty good Charger effort, at least from a statistical standpoint. They had a 387-174 yardage edge, with 35 minutes of possession time, while holding the Cards to 0-for-11 on third down. It was the first time since 2016 that a team failed to convert a third down opportunity in a pre-season game.

3. Pete Carroll has put together a tremendous record in the pre-season; even after last week's loss, he is 32-18 straight-up and 31-16-3 against the spread in the exhibition slate.

PREDICTION: Chargers 23, Seahawks 17

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:27 AM

BC Lions vs. Toronto Argonauts Preview and Predictions 08-18-2018 in CFL

CFL Previews 15th August 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 08/15/2018

The Toronto Argonauts look to build on their thrilling Week 8 victory when they host the BC Lions on Saturday. The Argonauts erased a 24-point deficit in the third quarter en route to a 42-41 win against the Ottawa Redblacks on Aug. 2 to complete the second-biggest comeback in franchise history, and the defending Grey Cup champions hope to ride the momentum to back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

"We are not going to anoint ourselves with one win but I think we gave ourselves an opportunity to find out a little more about ourselves," Toronto coach Marc Trestman told reporters. "We just know we have something inside of us that we can start with this week." BC played its way back into playoff contention with a crucial 31-23 victory against the Edmonton Eskimos last week. The Lions outscored the Eskimos 21-3 in the second half to secure their first win in the series since Aug. 6, 2015, and hope the offence continues to improve under the leadership of veteran quarterback Travis Lulay after posting their highest scoring output of the campaign. BC has dropped all four of its road games this season, but has won four straight meetings in Toronto and can move back to .500 for the first time in more than a month with a victory at BMO Field.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN Plus

ABOUT THE LIONS (3-4): Lulay threw for 239 yards and a touchdown against Edmonton to become the 35th player in CFL history to reach 20,000 passing yards (20,029). Chris Rainey was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after accumulating 211 all-purpose yards, including a 79-yard punt-return touchdown in the second quarter, which kept the Lions within striking distance of the Eskimos. Running back Jeremiah Johnson, who leads the team in rushing, is expected to return after missing last week's game because of a lingering ankle injury.

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (2-5): McLeod Bethel-Thompson had a debut to remember as he threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning toss to Armanti Edwards with one second remaining, to lift Toronto past first-place Ottawa. S.J. Green ended a six-game touchdown drought with a pair of TD catches to go along with nine receptions for 134 yards against the Redblacks. Linebacker Bear Woods, who made 90 tackles in 17 games with Toronto in 2017, could make his season debut after missing the first seven games with a back injury while running back Anthony Coombs is also ready for his first appearance of the campaign after coming off the six-game injured list.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Toronto is 1-5 against West Division opponents.

2. Rainey leads the league in kickoff return yards (608).

3. Argonauts backup QB James Franklin has three rushing touchdowns in his last two games.

PREDICTION: Lions 27, Argonauts 24

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:27 AM

Montreal Alouettes vs. Edmonton Eskimos Preview and Predictions 08-18-2018 in CFL

CFL Previews 15th August 2018 by Gracenote
Alouettes vs. Eskimos Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/15/2018

The Edmonton Eskimos look to bounce back from a disappointing Week 9 defeat when they host the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday. The Eskimos, who are the most penalized team in the league, were called for 14 infractions in the 31-23 loss to the BC Lions and hope to cut down on the mental mistakes as they aim to beat the Alouettes for the 10th consecutive time.

"We're an undisciplined football team," Edmonton coach Jason Maas admitted to reporters. "We're going to start kicking guys out of practice for messing up and start taking game time away from guys who continue to take penalties." Johnny Manziel showed improvement in his second CFL start but Montreal dropped a 24-17 decision to the Ottawa Redblacks to remain in the East Division cellar. The Alouettes have lost 18 of their last 19 games, including five in a row this season, and to make matters worse could be without Manziel, who suffered a concussion, as they aim to beat the Eskimos for the first time since Oct. 5, 2013. "In view of the hit he received on Saturday and the potential mitigating side effects of his prescribed medications the Alouettes' medical staff has placed Manziel under the CFL concussion protocol," a statement from the club read. "Manziel will be closely observed and assessed in the next few days."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS, ESPN2

ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (1-7): Manziel completed 16-of-26 passes for 168 yards and no interceptions against the Redblacks after throwing four picks in his CFL debut last week against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Manziel missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday after taking a hard hit against Ottawa and will be reassessed later in the week. All-star defensive back Tommie Campbell is expected to play after he was a late scratch last week for personal reasons while Antonio Pipkin took snaps with the first team in Manziel's absence.

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (5-3): Derel Walker caught five passes for 117 yards and a score against the Lions to extend his touchdown streak to three games while Nate Behar hauled in the first TD of his CFL career. Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga is ready to return after missing the last two games with a concussion while fellow linebacker Adam Konar could suit up for the first time since the season opener after being taken off the six-game injured list. Wide receiver Samuel Giguere, who had two receptions for 32 yards in six games this season, was released Wednesday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Edmonton has won the last two meetings with Montreal by an average margin of 19.5 points.

2. The Eskimos have committed 84 penalties for 895 yards in 2018.

3. The Alouettes have been held to 18 points or fewer in six of their eight games.

PREDICTION: Eskimos 35, Alouettes 19

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:30 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Albuquerque
Albuquerque - Race 8

Exacta / 50 Cent Trifecta / 10 Cent Superfecta / Second Leg Pick 4

Maiden • 350 Yards • Dirt • Age 2 • CR: 71 • Purse: $16,200 • Post: 9:00P
QUARTER HORSE 350Y, FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD. WEIGHT, 120 LBS. (DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE LA FIESTA FUTURITY NOMINEES PREFERRED).
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds

Race Type: Not Applicable (Quarter Horse). * KEY ANGLES * THE FAVORITE PIE: Quarter horse has the highest last race Equibase Speed Rating. Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation. Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Ra ting. LAMONT LADY: Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Class Rating at the distance/surface.
6
THE FAVORITE PIE
5/1

3/1
8
LAMONT LADY
6/1

5/1

P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
1
ROYAL KOA
1

15/1
Slow
0

0

6.3

0.0

0.0
2
HA JET WAVES
2

20/1
Slow
58

47

9.0

0.0

0.0
3
DASHING KATT
3

15/1
Average
66

55

4.7

0.0

0.0
4
DASHING FOR SUCCESS
4

10/1
Fast
62

46

0.0

0.0

0.0
6
THE FAVORITE PIE
6

5/1
Fast/Trouble-prone
77

66

3.0

0.0

0.0
7
HANDSOM LANE
7

8/1
Fast
0

0

0.0

0.0

0.0
8
LAMONT LADY
8

6/1
Average/Trouble-prone
71

62

5.6

0.0

0.0
9
LS POWER
9

12/1
Fast
0

0

3.0

0.0

0.0
10
LOUISIANA STREAKER
10

3/1
Average
69

52

4.9

0.0

0.0
11
BIG AND TALENTED
11

20/1
Slow
0

0

6.4

0.0

0.0

Unknown Running Style: LOOP HOLES (4/1) [Jockey: Cano Porfirio - Trainer: Danley Fred I], FLASH OPEN (20/1) [Jockey: Rivera Alonso - Trainer: Carrete Jesus J].

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:31 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Arlington - Race #1 - Post: 1:30pm - Maiden Claiming - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $13,500 Class Rating: 75

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#5 TIZ ROMEO (ML=9/2)
#2 J Z'S LAST TRY (ML=5/1)

TIZ ROMEO - I like that this first-timer has been working over the Arlington oval and makes his debut here today. This jock and trainer have a positive ROI when they are put together. J Z'S LAST TRY - With 'blinkers-on' this gelding should be very competitive.

Vulnerable Contenders: #4 LIELIELIE (ML=2/1), #1 SATELLITE (ML=7/2), #6 ANDREW THE GIANT (ML=4/1),

LIELIELIE - Just cannot play this racer. Didn't show me anything last out or on June 28th. The speed figs are going downward. I'm not throwing a few bucks at this runner off of that trend. SATELLITE - Tough to play any entrant to turn things around if there is no value to taking the risk. Not easy to wager on this steed in today's event. Make him show you something in a short distance event before you play him in a race of 6 furlongs. ANDREW THE GIANT - Run-of-the-mill speed figure last time out at Arlington at 6 furlongs. Don't think this steed will improve too much in today's event.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#5 TIZ ROMEO to win at post-time odds of 3/1 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [2,5]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
None

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:32 AM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Delaware Park
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 1 - Claiming - 5.5f on the Dirt. Purse: $10000 Class Rating: 89

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON TWO RACES SINCE FEBRUARY 18, 2018. THREE YEAR OLDS, 120 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE JULY 18 ALLOWED 2 LBS. A RACE SINCE MAY 18, 2018 ALLOWED 4 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $4,000.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 6 STUDENT UNION 7/2

# 5 POSSE DREAMIN 6/5

# 1 CUBAN COWBOY 12/1

STUDENT UNION is my choice. With one of the best riders in terms of profits at the window, don't count this gelding out. Should come out solid - I have liked the way this gelding has moved quickly to the front end recently. With a quite good 71 Equibase Speed Figure last time out, will clearly be a factor in this affair. POSSE DREAMIN - Overall the Speed Figures of this horse look strong in this competition. Ness has one of the best winning percentages in this group with entries running at this distance and surface. CUBAN COWBOY - Win percentage under similar conditions may be the key for this gelding. Will probably go to the lead and should never look back.

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:33 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Ellis Park - Race #5 - Post: 2:42pm - Maiden Claiming - 8.5 furlongs on the Turf. Purse: $10,900 Class Rating: 65

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#2 PARADISE REUNION (ML=3/1)
#1 JUST HATTIE (ML=6/1)

PARADISE REUNION - Trainer Mott moves this one down in the class scale to face a lower level today. Look for a nice effort this time out. Lasix can take some getting used to, especially for a filly. They usually hit stride the 2nd time using it, like we have with this horse. This filly's last speed figure earned on July 4th is at the top in last race speed ratings. JUST HATTIE - I like to wager on this angle, a thoroughbred coming back off a strong effort within the last 30 days. Nice return on investment for this rider and handler duo. A repeat of that most recent race on August 3rd where she earned a speed rating of 64 looks strong enough to prove victorious in this race. Had a dominant closing move in the last race, running the last quarter in less than 25 seconds. A similar race today, and it's straight to the winner's circle.

Vulnerable Contenders: #9 BANNER WAVE (ML=4/1), #4 MISS PINKERTON (ML=5/1), #10 ONZAWAY (ML=6/1),

BANNER WAVE - No value in playing this mount. Probably won't improve off that July 27th event. MISS PINKERTON - I'm predicting a lackluster attempt out of her this time around. ONZAWAY - I can't play this habitual non-winner. Gets the task completed from time to time.

Top HatGUEST COMMENTARY: The Turf Man - PARADISE REUNION - In today's contest this racer owns the best average class number. She is one of the top contenders against these thoroughbreds.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Bet on #2 PARADISE REUNION to win if you can get at least 5/2 odds

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [1,2]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Skip

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:33 AM

Handicapped by Top Horse Analytics at Gulfstream Park

08/18/18, GP, Race 12, 6.36 ET
1M [Turf] 1.31.02 MAIDEN CLAIMING. Purse $19,000.
Claiming Price $12,500. FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLDAND UPWARD
$1 Exacta / $.50 Trifecta / $.10 Superfecta / $1 Super Hi 5
Best in race - (J)ockey (T)rainer (S)peed (F)inish (E)arnings (W)orkouts (L)ead (C)loser
Top Horse Win Percent 26.67, $1 ROI 0.92, For Race Category MSW_MCLM Turf
Rating Pgm# Horse Name M/L Jockey Trainer FLAGS
100.0000 7 Winnie 12-1 Camacho S Nagle Sarah T
095.9259 6 Three Questions 4-1 Batista J A Pinchin Jose FE
093.8034 4 Peggity 6-1 Vasquez M A Pompay Teresa M.
093.6603 5 Rigel's Halo 7/2 Juarez N Fawkes David
093.1433 10 Not Nice 8-1 Montalvo C Belsoeur Yvon S
093.0502 15 Venezuelan Spirit 8-1 Reyes L Delgado Alexis
091.7471 3 Surely Temple 5-1 Gutierrez R Campitelli Jessica J.
091.5964 11 Rate of Return 8-1 Maragh R R Gracida Ruben L
091.3894 14 Show Biz Liz 12-1 Camacho S Wasilewski Christine C
091.0510 8 Boastful Contessa 20-1 Ulloa O Smith Vickie
090.0560 16 She'sabig Machine 20-1 Panici L Bush George S.
089.0610 1 Dixie Legend 30-1 Alvarado. Jr. R Escobar Alison W
089.0318 2 Beautiful Gladys(b+) 15-1 Gonzales J J D'Angelo Francisco
087.6920 12 Soroa(b-) 20-1 Berrios H I Azpurua. Jr. Eduardo
085.7841 9 Casimira 30-1 Mena R Deaton William E.
085.6903 13 Princess Zoe 30-1 Gutierrez R Sano Antonio
If Race Is Off Turf
Top Horse Win Percent 19.89, $1 ROI 0.63, For Race Category MSW_MCLM Dirt
Rating Pgm# Horse Name M/L Jockey Trainer FLAGS
100.0000 7 Winnie 12-1 Camacho S Nagle Sarah T
095.5179 6 Three Questions 4-1 Batista J A Pinchin Jose E
093.5036 5 Rigel's Halo 7/2 Juarez N Fawkes David
093.3840 10 Not Nice 8-1 Montalvo C Belsoeur Yvon
093.2114 4 Peggity 6-1 Vasquez M A Pompay Teresa M.
092.5621 3 Surely Temple 5-1 Gutierrez R Campitelli Jessica J.
092.1984 15 Venezuelan Spirit 8-1 Reyes L Delgado Alexis F
091.2645 8 Boastful Contessa 20-1 Ulloa O Smith Vickie
091.0100 11 Rate of Return 8-1 Maragh R R Gracida Ruben L
090.8230 14 Show Biz Liz 12-1 Camacho S Wasilewski Christine C
090.3114 2 Beautiful Gladys(b+) 15-1 Gonzales J J D'Angelo Francisco
090.2451 1 Dixie Legend 30-1 Alvarado. Jr. R Escobar Alison W
089.9580 16 She'sabig Machine 20-1 Panici L Bush George S.
089.1872 12 Soroa(b-) 20-1 Berrios H I Azpurua. Jr. Eduardo
087.1662 13 Princess Zoe 30-1 Gutierrez R Sano Antonio
086.0627 9 Casimira 30-1 Mena R Deaton William E.

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:34 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Indiana Downs
Indiana Downs - Race 4

Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta / 50 Cent Trifecta / Superfecta 10 Cent Superfecta / 50 Cent Pick 3 (Races 4-5-6) 10 Cent Grand High 5 (Pentafecta)

Claiming $5,000 • 6 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 3 and up • CR: 57 • Purse: $11,000 • Post: 7:29P
FOR REGISTERED INDIANA BREDS THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 118 LBS.; OLDER, 122 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE JULY 18 ALLOWED 2 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds

Race Type: Basic Race. This race has a mixed pace scenario. Check on scratches of any of the Front-runners (to look for a lone Front-runner). * KEY ANGLES * LEO D: Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse has the highest average Equ ibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. Horse has the highest average Equibase Class Rating at the distance/surface.
3
LEO D
2/1

8/5

P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
1A
SIR SHACK
9

8/1
Front-runner
62

55

56.8

50.0

39.5
6
DOCTOR DEMENTO
5

10/1
Front-runner
49

49

48.0

44.2

32.2
3
LEO D
2

2/1
Trailer
80

71

33.4

70.0

64.0
2
SHATTERPROOF
1

5/2
Trailer
59

59

16.0

50.8

46.3
5
ALLDAYLONG
4

9/2
Alternator/Trailer
57

55

34.8

48.2

40.2
7
DRUNK UNCLE
7

6/1
Alternator/Trailer
73

58

27.6

49.8

39.3
4
BROTHER WINSLOW
3

15/1
Alternator/Non-contender
47

47

53.8

37.2

23.2
8
PROFESSIONAL ROPER
8

15/1
Alternator/Non-contender
58

49

44.8

40.4

30.4
1
SOUTHERN SLUGGER
6

8/1
Alternator/Non-contender
47

47

27.6

40.0

26.0

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:35 AM

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Los Alamitos (Quarter Horse)
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 5 - Maiden Claiming - 300y on the Dirt. Purse: $6855 Class Rating: 83

QUARTER HORSE 300Y, FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD. WEIGHT, 124 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $8,000.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 3 UP FOR KIDS 7/2

# 6 ROCKIN LIZ 8/5

# 2 ONLY MONTY 6/1

UP FOR KIDS looks to be a very good contender. Is a strong contender based on numbers recorded lately under today's conditions. I like the jock on this filly - decent chance to win the race. Recorded a decent Equibase Speed Figure last time out. ROCKIN LIZ - Could beat this field given the 76 speed rating posted in her last outing. Is a sharp contender based on figs posted recently under today's conditions. ONLY MONTY - Bednar will almost certainly be able to get this gelding to break out early in this race. Should be given a chance in this race if only for the very good speed figure recorded in the last race.

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 07:35 AM

Handicapped by Top Horse Analytics at Saratoga

08/18/18, SAR, Race 9, 5.40 ET
1 1/4M [Dirt] 1.59.02 STAKES. Purse $600,000.
Grade 1
Exacta, Trifecta (.50), Super (.10), Double
Best in race - (J)ockey (T)rainer (S)peed (F)inish (E)arnings (W)orkouts (L)ead (C)loser
Top Horse Win Percent 27.17, $1 ROI 0.84, For Race Category Non-Maiden Dirt
Rating Pgm# Horse Name M/L Jockey Trainer FLAGS
100.0000 6 Figarella's Queen 15-1 Ortiz. Jr. I Cox Brad H. JTL
099.4098 3 Midnight Bisou 7/5 Smith M E Asmussen Steven M. FEC
098.8718 8 Talk Veuve to Me 5/2 Leparoux J R Brisset Rodolphe SW
098.2632 7 Coach Rocks 10-1 Saez L Romans Dale L.
097.8733 1 Piedi Bianchi 15-1 Velazquez J R Pletcher Todd A.
096.7750 2 Eskimo Kisses 6-1 Ortiz J L McPeek Kenneth G.
096.5768 4 She's a Julie 9/2 Santana. Jr. R Asmussen Steven M.
094.6638 5 Auspicious Babe 30-1 Geroux F Stewart Dallas

Can'tPickAWinner

08-18-2018, 10:11 AM

Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees Preview and Predictions 08-18-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 18th August 2018 by Gracenote
Blue Jays vs. Yankees Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/18/2018

The New York Yankees need to see a strong performance out of struggling ace Luis Severino when they continue a three-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Severino is coming off his shortest outing of the year - a four-inning stint against the New York Mets on Monday - and has seen his ERA rise from 1.98 at the beginning of July to 3.27.

He will hope for some of the run support the Yankees provided in a rain-shortened 7-5 win to open the series Friday night. Giancarlo Stanton homered for the sixth time in 11 games and Neil Walker slugged a three-run shot as New York improved to 8-4 since its ugly four-game sweep at Fenway Park earlier this month. The Yankees also moved to 10-4 against the Blue Jays to clinch the season series for the first time since 2014. Toronto blew a 4-0 lead in Friday's seven-inning affair and will turn to rookie right-hander Sean Reid-Foley on Saturday.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet (Toronto), TVA (Toronto), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sean Reid-Foley (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Luis Severino (15-6, 3.27)

Reid-Foley allowed three runs and six hits with three walks and three strikeouts over five innings in his major-league debut Monday at Kansas City. A second-round pick in the 2014 draft, he was 12-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 23 starts in the minors this year. He fanned 94 batters while allowing 68 hits across 82 1/3 innings at Triple-A Buffalo.

Severino has just one quality start in his last seven turns and owns a 7.50 ERA in that span. The rocky stretch began when he gave up three runs in five innings but picked up the win at Toronto on July 7. The 24-year-old has a 4.25 ERA in 10 career matchups (nine starts) with the Blue Jays and has been victimized by first baseman Justin Smoak, who is 7-for-18 with two homers and a double against Severino.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees All-Star RF Aaron Judge (wrist) played catch Friday but was unable to take dry swings due to some soreness, manager Aaron Boone told reporters.

2. Blue Jays C Luke Maile was placed on the paternity list and OF Billy McKinney, who was traded from New York to Toronto in the J.A. Happ deal last month, was brought up from Triple-A Buffalo.

3. The Yankees will have a pregame ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1998 team that won 114 games in the regular season before winning the World Series over San Diego.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Blue Jays 4