8-3-14

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NFL

'Hall of Fame Game'

Believe it or not, it's the beginning of another football season as the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants square off Sunday in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Bills 2-2 SU/ATS in preseason last year ended regular season 6-10 (8-8 ATS). Bills will be an interesting group to watch. Think Bills were a ground-heavy attack team last year, they've just added Bryce Brown, Anthony Dixon complementing Spiller and Jackson. Giants had a rough start to 2013. After a 1-3 SU/ATS preseason, 'Big Blue' lost the first six but finished strong ending 7-9 SU/ATS on the campaign. This marks Giants fifth appearance in the Hall of Fame Game (2-1-1) with the last being in 2002 when they defeated expansion Houston Texans, 34-17. Buffalo has made three previous appearances in the HOF Game but have never won with the last loss against Titans in 2009. Oddsmakers have Buffalo -3 point favorite with the total set at 32.5. One factor to consider in making an NFL Sport Pick in this contest, the past six HOF games the designed home team is a perfect 6-0 (5-0-1 ATS) outscoring the opponent 21.3 to 13.0 in tallying 3 'Over', 3 'Under'. As always best of luck this season but above all enjoy the games.

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HOF Notes - Giants vs. Bills

Buffalo Bills

Head Coach: Doug Marrone
Quarterback Rotation: E.J. Manuel, Jeff Tuel, Dennis Dixon, Thad Lewis

Doug Marrone enters his second season as Buffalo’s head coach. He’s been in the NFL for seven years, from 2006-08 he served as the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints after a four-year span as the offensive line coach of the New York Jets (2002-05). With this being only Doug Marrone’s second year as a Head Coach: we don’t have much to go on for his preseason trends – however I’ve isolated something that may give us a solid play for the Bills this preseason. Since he's still a fairly new head coach, I can see Marrone wanting to put out a solid effort as the Bills put together a 2-2 SU/ATS record in his first preseason in 2013, which includes a 44-20 blowout of the Colts in the exhibition opener last August.

New York Giants

Head Coach: Tom Coughlin
Quarterback Rotation: Eli Manning, Ryan Nassib, Curtis Painter

A solid money-making trend has shown up for the Giants as of late as Tom Coughlin in the past four years has seemed to put no effort in the Giants dress rehearsal game as the Giants are 0-4 both straight up and against the spread. This year’s dress rehearsal game is on Aug. 22 against the Jets. The Giants captured their preseason opener in 2013 over the Steelers, 18-13 as 2.5-point road underdogs, but lost their final three exhibition contests. New York owns a solid 4-1 ATS record in preseason openers since 2009, while the 'over' went 3-2 in those games.

Hall of Fame Game History & Trends

Recent Trends

-- The Giants have gone 2-2 all-time in the Hall of Fame game with their last appearance coming in 2002 when they defeated the Texans 34-17.

-- The Bills have gone 0-3 in their three HOF game appearances.

-- The margin of victory has been by more than three points in six of the last seven HOF games.

-- The 'over' has gone 2-1 in the last three HOF games.

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Hondo

Hondo held his ground Saturday thanks to the Mets, whose triumph over the Giants offset the loss with Royals and left the negative number holding at 1,245 stiebs.

Sunday: Mr. Aitch will take Stro’ against the ’Stros — 10 units on Marcus and the Blue Jays.

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Gamblers Data

Free Plays Sunday

Buffalo/Giants over 33.5

Dodgers -1.5 +116

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Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports


Free play SUN: Giants -125 w/ Bumgarner

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Today's MLB Picks

NY Yankees at Boston

The Yankees look to follow up yesterday's 6-4 win and come into tonight's contest with a 4-1 record in Clay Buchholz' last 5 home starts against New York. New York is the pick (+105) according to Dunkel, which has the Yankees favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (+105). Here are all of today's MLB picks.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 Time Posted: 8:00 a.m. EST

Game 951-952: San Francisco at NY Mets (1:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Bumgarner) 15.121; NY Mets (Colon) 16.773 Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1 1/2; 6 Vegas Line: San Francisco (-125); 6 1/2 Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (+105); Under

Game 953-954: Cincinnati at Miami (1:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Leake) 16.804; Miami (Turner) 14.664 Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 2; 8 Vegas Line: Miami (-115); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-105); Over

Game 955-956: Philadelphia at Washington (1:35 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Hamels) 16.722; Washington (Strasburg) 15.771 Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1; 7 Vegas Line: Washington (-165); 6 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+145); Over

Game 957-958: Milwaukee at St. Louis (2:15 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Garza) 17.329; St. Louis (Lackey) 15.855 Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: St. Louis (-140); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (+120); Under

Game 959-960: Chicago Cubs at LA Dodgers (4:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Jackson) 14.662; LA Dodgers (Beckett) 17.248 Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 2 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-220); 8 Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-220); Under

Game 961-962: Pittsburgh at Arizona (4:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Liriano) 17.331; Arizona (Cahill) 14.409 Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 3; 9 Vegas Line: Pittsburgh (-150); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-150); Over

Game 963-964: Atlanta at San Diego (4:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Harang) 14.809; San Diego (Ross) 17.332 Dunkel Line: San Diego by 2 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: San Diego (-130); 6 1/2 Dunkel Pick: San Diego (-130); Over

Game 965-966: Texas at Cleveland (1:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Darvish) 16.221; Cleveland (Bauer) 14.660 Dunkel Line: Texas by 1 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: Texas (-115); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Texas (-115); Under

Game 967-968: Seattle at Baltimore (1:35 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Iwakuma) 16.911; Baltimore (Tillman) 14.748 Dunkel Line: Seattle by 2; 7 Vegas Line: Baltimore (-115); 8 Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-105); Under

Game 969-970: LA Angels at Tampa Bay (1:40 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Weaver) 17.399; Tampa Bay (Odorizzi) 15.662 Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1 1/2; 8 Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-125); 7 1/2 Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (+105); Over

Game 971-972: Minnesota at Chicago White Sox (2:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Gibson) 14.219; White Sox (Quintana) 15.738 Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-165); 8 Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (-165); Under

Game 973-974: Toronto at Houston (2:10 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Stroman) 17.442; Houston (Feldman) 14.907 Dunkel Line: Toronto by 2 1/2; 7 Vegas Line: Toronto (-160); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-160); Under

Game 975-976: Kansas City at Oakland (4:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Shields) 18.211; Oakland (Kazmir) 16.856 Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1 1/2; 6 Vegas Line: Oakland (-165); 7 Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+145); Under

Game 977-978: NY Yankees at Boston (8:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Phelps) 15.422; Boston (Buchholz) 14.510 Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1; 8 Vegas Line: Boston (-125); 9 Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (+105); Under

Game 979-980: Colorado at Detroit (1:05 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (De La Rosa) 16.773; Detroit (Sanchez) 15.609 Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 8 Vegas Line: Detroit (-200); 8 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+170); Under

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WNBA Basketball Picks

Connecticut at Los Angeles

The Sun head to Los Angeles today to face a Sparks team that is 6-20 ATS in its last 26 home games. Connecticut is the pick (+6 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Sparks favored by only 4. Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (+6 1/2). Here are all of today's WNBA picks.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 Time Posted: 8:00 a.m. EST

Game 651-652: New York at Atlanta (3:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: New York 107.769; Atlanta 114.386 Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 6 1/2; 160 Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 9; 154 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+9); Over

Game 653-654: Connecticut at Los Angeles (3:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Connecticut 107.968; Los Angeles 112.106 Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 4; 161 Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles by 6 1/2; 156 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (+6 1/2); Over

Game 655-656: Washington at Chicago (6:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Washington 108.389; Chicago 115.262 Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 7; 148 Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 4 1/2; 153 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-4 1/2); Under

Game 657-658: San Antonio at Seattle (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 105.550; Seattle 109.735 Dunkel Line & Total: Seattle by 4; 144 Vegas Line & Total: Seattle by 1; 148 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-1); Under

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Drivers to Bet - Pocono

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - GoBowling.com 400

Date: Sunday, Aug. 3
Time/TV: ESPN, 1:15 p.m. ET
Venue: Pocono Raceway
Location: Long Pond, Pennsylvania

For the second time in less than two months, the NASCAR drivers will try to maneuver around the “The Tricky Triangle” for Sunday's GoBowling.com 400 at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. This superspeedway resides in the Pocono Mountains and its tri-oval shape measures 2.5 miles. Although the straightaways are all a nearly-flat 2° of banking, they all are measured at different lengths. The frontstretch is the longest at 3,740 feet, the backstretch is 3,055 feet, and the shortstretch is a mere 1,780 feet. Each turn has a different degree of difficulty. Turn 1 has 14° of banking, Turn 2 is just 8° and Turn 3 is the flattest at 6°.

There have been 10 different winners in the past 12 races at Pocono, with Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon as the only two-time champions in the span. Dale Earnhardt Jr. took home the checkered flag in June at this track, while the winner of last year's GoBowling.com 400 was Kasey Kahne.

Drivers to Watch

Jeff Gordon (7/1) - Among all active drivers, only Jimmie Johnson (8.7) has a better career average finish at "The Tricky Trangle" than Gordon (10.0). Gordon has won six times at this track as part of 19 top-5's in 43 starts (44%). He also has 30 top-10 showings (70%) at this venue. This success is not all ancient history either, as Gordon won in 2011 and 2012, while finishing as the runner-up in last year's GoBowling.com 400. He's also been strong this season, remaining in the top-six in the points standings in each of the past eight weeks thanks to a win at Martinsville. Of all the chalk out there on Sunday, put your largest wager on Gordon.

Carl Edwards (60/1) - I'm stunned that Edwards has such favorable odds, especially since he went off at 20-to-1 at this track in June. In his career at "The Tricky Triangle," Edwards has posted two wins (2005, 2008), five top-5's and an average finish of 14.8 over 19 starts. His four top-5's and eight top-10's this season have kept him among the top-8 drivers in the Points Standings. At this price, Edwards is certainly worthy of a sizable bet.

Matt Kenseth (20/1) - Kenseth is a great value play on Sunday, especially considering he got 10-to-1 odds both last fall and two months ago at this venue. He has not been very successful at this track with only three top-5's in 29 starts, but Kenseth has knocked out 4th-place finishes in three of his past four starts this year to move up to fourth in the current Points Standings. I see no reason Kenseth can't post his ninth top-5 finish of the season and compete for the title on Sunday.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (8/1) - Earnhardt Jr. has a great chance to sweep the Poconos, which is why his price tag is so unfavorable to bettors. Over his past eight races, the No. 88 car has an average finish of 7.3, thanks to top-9 showings in six of these starts. Earnhardt has also fared extremely well on the Tricky Triangle recently. In his past seven starts at this venue, he has posted six top-9 showings, including three straight top-5 finishes. Go ahead and drop a unit on Earnhardt Jr. for Sunday.

Ryan Newman (25/1) - Another darkhorse for Sunday's race is Newman, who was tabbed with much less-favorable odds of 15-to-1 last summer at this venue. He has the fourth-best average finish (11.5) among active drivers at Pocono, helping this average out in June when he placed 7th at "The Tricky Triangle," to mark his sixth top-10 showing in his past seven starts at this venue. That race also started a nice run for Newman this year, as he has inched his way up to seventh in the Points Standings with a 10.9 average finish over the past seven starts.

Betting Odds

Brad Keselowski 4/1
Jimmie Johnson 5/1
Jeff Gordon 7/1
Kevin Harvick 7/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 8/1
Tony Stewart 10/1
Joey Logano 10/1
Denny Hamlin 10/1
Kasey Kahne 12/1
Kyle Busch 12/1
Kurt Busch 15/1
Kyle Larson 20/1
Matt Kenseth 20/1
Ryan Newman 25/1
Clint Bowyer 40/1
Jamie McMurray 60/1
Brian Vickers 60/1
Greg Biffle 60/1
Carl Edwards 60/1
Martin Truex Jr. 100/1
Austin Dillon 100/1
Paul Menard 100/1
Field (Any Other Driver) 100/1
AJ Allmendinger 300/1
Justin Allgaier 300/1
Marcos Ambrose 300/1
Aric Almirola 300/1
Ricky Stenhouse 300/1
Danica Patrick 300/1
Casey Mears 300/1

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StatFox Super Situations

WNBA | CONNECTICUT at LOS ANGELES
Play Against - Underdogs (CONNECTICUT) after allowing 75 points or more in 4 straight games against opponent after a loss by 10 points or more
46-18 since 1997. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
4-1 this year. ( 80.0% | 2.9 units )

WNBA | CONNECTICUT at LOS ANGELES
Play Against - Any team vs the money line (LOS ANGELES) after failing to cover 3 of their last 4 against the spread, playing with 3 or more days rest
72-42 over the last 5 seasons. ( 63.2% | 0.0 units )
8-10 this year. ( 44.4% | 0.0 units )

WNBA | NEW YORK at ATLANTA
Play Against - Home favorites vs. the 1rst half line (ATLANTA) off an road win where they scored 85 or more points
109-58 since 1997. ( 65.3% | 45.2 units )
8-3 this year. ( 72.7% | 4.7 units )

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Yankees, Red Sox wrap up series Sunday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox


NEW YORK YANKEES at BOSTON RED SOX

First pitch: Sunday, 8:00 p.m. ET

Two storied rivals meet Sunday night when the Red Sox host the Yankees, and each team will have a fresh look for the rest of the season after shaking things up at Thursday’s trade deadline.

Both New York and Boston were extremely active on the phones Thursday, as both teams looked to make changes after disappointing throughout the season. The Yankees were able to acquire 3B Martin Prado (.270 BA, 5 HR, 42 RBI) and 2B Stephen Drew (.176 BA, 4 HR, 11 RBI), while giving up practically nothing. The Stephen Drew move was one of very few trades between these long-time rivals. Boston traded SP Jon Lester, OF Jonny Gomes and cash to the Oakland A’s for OF Yoenis Cespedes (.256 BA, 17 HR, 67 RBI). Boston also shipped SP John Lackey to St. Louis for 1B/OF Allen Craig (.237 BA, 7 HR, 44 RBI) and traded lefty reliever Andrew Miller to Baltimore. Both teams are now significantly different, but New York had won the only series these teams played in Boston this season. They won two out of three games in that series and had won six out of 10 meetings this year before Friday. SP David Phelps (1.34 WHIP) will take the mound for New York and he will be up against SP Clay Buchholz (5.87 ERA and 1.56 WHIP). The Yankees are still very much alive in the hunt for a Wild Card spot in the American League.

Heading into the series against Boston, the Yankees were just 3.5 games out of a spot in the American League playoffs. New York made a drastic change to its lineup with the acquisitions of Martin Prado and Stephen Drew. Both players should immediately start for the team in the infield. David Phelps gets the ball for the Yankees on Sunday night after allowing four earned runs on eight hits in 6 IP against the Rangers. Heading into that start, Phelps had pitched five straight games where he allowed two runs or less. He has given the Yankees some much-needed stability at the back-end of their rotation. For Phelps, it is absolutely crucial that he can pitch a solid six or seven innings because the Yankees bullpen has been strong this year. Closer David Robertson (1.08 WHIP) has saved 27-of-29 opportunities this season, and if the Yankees can make it to him, they should have the final game of this series won. 3B Chase Headley (10-for-33, 8 K’s) has been excellent since joining the Yankees. He has come through with some timely hits and has looked more like the successful player he was in 2012, when he batted .286 and finished the season with 31 HR and 115 RBI.

The Red Sox were said to be sellers at the trade deadline, but they actually were able to get themselves a very well-established outfield. Bringing in Allen Craig and Yoenis Cespedes gives them a potent hitting outfield that will allow them to turn their focus to their pitching staff in the offseason. Craig is having a down year for the Cardinals, but he did bat .315 with 13 HR and 97 RBI in 2013. In his four years prior to this season, he was a very consistent hitter. Even with this subpar season, he is still batting .291 over the course of his career. Cespedes, on the other hand, gives the Red Sox some much needed power outside of 1B/DH David Ortiz. Heading into the series, Ortiz had homered five times in the previous nine games. Playing in Fenway Park, the righty should enjoy a lot more success than he did in the gigantic, pitcher-friendly O.co Coliseum. Cespedes hit 26 HR and drove in 80 RBI in 2013, and the Red Sox were wise to pick up a player like him. The Red Sox did, however, abandon nearly all of their pitching staff and Clay Buchholz, the lone member of their rotation who was with them when they won their last World Series, has struggled mightily in 2014. He will need to turn things around the rest of the way, in order to prove that he is a part of the future with this team.

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BigBetTiger

Total under 7.5 -115 (Tex vrs CLEV) (Darvish/Bauer)

Total Under 7.5 (LAA Vrs TAM) (Weaver/Odorizzi)

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No Limit Sports

3* NFL BUFFALO BILLS -2

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Powerplay wins

texas -110
pittsburgh -145
buffalo bills -3

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EZWINNERS

2* (971) Twins +$140
2* (974) Astros +$135
2* (974) Royals +$145
2* (959) Cubs +$166

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Game of the Day: Yankees at Red Sox

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (-122, 9)

The New York Yankees are trying to break out of a funk and stay in the race in the American League East. Several new arrivals attempt to give the Yankees a series win when they visit the Boston Red Sox in the rubber match of a three-game series. The Red Sox took the opener on Friday as they worked a slew of new players into the lineup but fell off on Saturday as New York earned a 6-4 victory to even the series.

The Yankees received contributions from newcomers Chase Headley, Stephen Drew and Martin Prado in Saturday’s triumph but it was veteran stalwarts Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira doing the bulk of the damage. New York is five games behind frontrunner Baltimore in the AL East and has won only two of its last seven to drop into third place. The Red Sox introduced Yoenis Cespedes to the home crowd on Saturday and could have both Cespedes and Allen Craig in the lineup for the finale.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

LINE HISTORY: Sportsbooks opened with the Red Sox as -122 home favorites and a total of 9.

INJURY REPORT: Red Sox - 1B Allen Craig (Questionable, ankle)

POWER RANKINGS: Yankees (-162), Red Sox (-119)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH David Phelps (5-5, 3.89 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (5-7, 5.87)

Phelps had a string of five straight starts allowing two or fewer earned runs come to an end on Monday, when he was reached for four runs and eight hits over six innings to suffer a loss at Texas. The Notre Dame product had not suffered a loss in eight straight outings before falling to the Rangers. Phelps made three appearances out of the bullpen against Boston in April and allowed a total of two unearned runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Buchholz is the lone starter left from the Red Sox’s opening day rotation, though his performance this season may have been one reason his name was not mentioned much at the trade deadline. The 29-year-old is 1-2 in three starts since the All-Star break, allowing 16 runs - 15 earned - and 23 hits in 17 innings during that span. Buchholz last started against New York on April 10 and was reached for four runs - two earned - on seven hits in six innings to suffer the loss.

TRENDS:

* Red Sox are 1-4 in Buchholz's last five home starts vs. Yankees.
* Yankees are 1-8 in Phelps' last nine starts as a road underdog.
* Red Sox are 2-9 in their last 11 overall.
* Under is 5-1 in Phelps' last six starts overall.

CONSENSUS: 56.63 percent of wagers on Consensus are backing the Yankees.