Mr. IWS
09-11-2008, 10:17 AM
Burns
Personal Favorite = CWS
NORTH CAROLINA
Game: North Carolina vs. Rutgers Game Time: 9/11/2008 7:45:00 PM Prediction: North Carolina Reason: I'm taking the points with NORTH CAROLINA. I respect the Scarlet Knights and consider them to be a solid team. However, I also really believe that the Tar Heels are going to be much improved this season and feel that they're currently flying somewhat under the radar. While Rutgers suffered some key losses, most notably Ray Rice, North Carolina brought back a whopping 18 starters. That was the most in the ACC. Butch Davis returns for his second year as head coach. Looking back to last year and we find that the Tar Heels were actually very competitive on the road under Davis. Early in the season, the Tar Heels covered at East Carolina and Virginia Tech and then they closed out the season by losing their final two road games (at Georgia Tech and NC. State) by just two and four points. As I've already stated, I feel that this team will be much improved from last year's. The Tar Heels are 5-3 ATS the last couple of seasons when listed as underdogs in the +3.5 to +10 range. During the same stretch, the Scarlet Knights were just 1-4 ATS as favorites in the -3.5 to -10 range. That includes an 0-2 SU/ATS mark as home favorites in the -3.5 to -7 range. Note that Fresno State already came in here and upset the Scarlet Knights as a dog in that range. Its true that UNC wasn't overly impressive in defeating McNeese State in its opener. However, I feel that will work in our favor. For starters, it's kept the line generously high. Additionally, it will ensure that the Tar Heels weren't complacent during practice. Senior RT Garrett Reynolds summed up the Tar Heels attitude: "...when we got back in the locker room after the first game, a lot of guys felt it was not even like a win because we know we can play better. We were not happy about it..." Look for a much better effort from the Tar Heels here as they take this game down to the wire with a strong shot at the upset. *Main Event
WHITE SOX
Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Chicago White Sox Game Time: 9/11/2008 8:10:00 PM Prediction: Chicago White Sox Reason: I'm playing on CHICAGO. The Jays had been on a real 'emotional high' recently, as they entered yesterday's game having won 10 straight games. That streak came to an end yesterday though, as the White Sox roughed up Jays' ace Roy Halladay. The Jays attempted to rally late but fell short by a run. That only serves to make the loss that much more frustrating. I also expect the fact that it was Halladay on the mound for that loss to have a negative affect on the team's morale heading into tonight's series finale. Halladay is usually so good that the team really comes to expect him to get it done every time out. Note that the last time the Jays lost one of Halladay's starts, (8/9) they responded by losing 4-0 the following day. Marcum gets the call for Toronto and he's had a solid season. However, he's been much better at home than he has been on the road. At home, he's got a 2.81 ERA with opponents batting just .199. On the road, he's got a 4.37 ERA (1.347 WHIP) with opposing hitters batting .259. He'll be opposed by Gavin Floyd, who will have the advantage of starting against the Jays for the first time. Floyd has enjoyed an excellent season and has gone an impressive 9-2 in 15 home starts, while recording a 3.57 ERA and 1.119 WHIP. Opposing hitters batted just .206 and the Sox were a highly profitable 13-2 (+10.7) in those games. Note that Floyd has lasted an average of 6 2/3 innings in his home starts while Marcum has averaged 5 2/3 innings in his road starts. The Jays average 4.4 runs per game on the road while the White Sox average 5.7 at home. Look for yesterday's game to provide the White Sox with some positive momentum while having the opposite effect on the Jays. *Personal Favorite
Personal Favorite = CWS
NORTH CAROLINA
Game: North Carolina vs. Rutgers Game Time: 9/11/2008 7:45:00 PM Prediction: North Carolina Reason: I'm taking the points with NORTH CAROLINA. I respect the Scarlet Knights and consider them to be a solid team. However, I also really believe that the Tar Heels are going to be much improved this season and feel that they're currently flying somewhat under the radar. While Rutgers suffered some key losses, most notably Ray Rice, North Carolina brought back a whopping 18 starters. That was the most in the ACC. Butch Davis returns for his second year as head coach. Looking back to last year and we find that the Tar Heels were actually very competitive on the road under Davis. Early in the season, the Tar Heels covered at East Carolina and Virginia Tech and then they closed out the season by losing their final two road games (at Georgia Tech and NC. State) by just two and four points. As I've already stated, I feel that this team will be much improved from last year's. The Tar Heels are 5-3 ATS the last couple of seasons when listed as underdogs in the +3.5 to +10 range. During the same stretch, the Scarlet Knights were just 1-4 ATS as favorites in the -3.5 to -10 range. That includes an 0-2 SU/ATS mark as home favorites in the -3.5 to -7 range. Note that Fresno State already came in here and upset the Scarlet Knights as a dog in that range. Its true that UNC wasn't overly impressive in defeating McNeese State in its opener. However, I feel that will work in our favor. For starters, it's kept the line generously high. Additionally, it will ensure that the Tar Heels weren't complacent during practice. Senior RT Garrett Reynolds summed up the Tar Heels attitude: "...when we got back in the locker room after the first game, a lot of guys felt it was not even like a win because we know we can play better. We were not happy about it..." Look for a much better effort from the Tar Heels here as they take this game down to the wire with a strong shot at the upset. *Main Event
WHITE SOX
Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Chicago White Sox Game Time: 9/11/2008 8:10:00 PM Prediction: Chicago White Sox Reason: I'm playing on CHICAGO. The Jays had been on a real 'emotional high' recently, as they entered yesterday's game having won 10 straight games. That streak came to an end yesterday though, as the White Sox roughed up Jays' ace Roy Halladay. The Jays attempted to rally late but fell short by a run. That only serves to make the loss that much more frustrating. I also expect the fact that it was Halladay on the mound for that loss to have a negative affect on the team's morale heading into tonight's series finale. Halladay is usually so good that the team really comes to expect him to get it done every time out. Note that the last time the Jays lost one of Halladay's starts, (8/9) they responded by losing 4-0 the following day. Marcum gets the call for Toronto and he's had a solid season. However, he's been much better at home than he has been on the road. At home, he's got a 2.81 ERA with opponents batting just .199. On the road, he's got a 4.37 ERA (1.347 WHIP) with opposing hitters batting .259. He'll be opposed by Gavin Floyd, who will have the advantage of starting against the Jays for the first time. Floyd has enjoyed an excellent season and has gone an impressive 9-2 in 15 home starts, while recording a 3.57 ERA and 1.119 WHIP. Opposing hitters batted just .206 and the Sox were a highly profitable 13-2 (+10.7) in those games. Note that Floyd has lasted an average of 6 2/3 innings in his home starts while Marcum has averaged 5 2/3 innings in his road starts. The Jays average 4.4 runs per game on the road while the White Sox average 5.7 at home. Look for yesterday's game to provide the White Sox with some positive momentum while having the opposite effect on the Jays. *Personal Favorite