Tweet
-
MLB betting cheat sheet: Shark Attack
Here's a comprehensive look at betting notes for the mid-week major-league games:
Dickey Digs the Road
R.A. Dickey brings his knuckleball to the Pacific Northwest Wednesday as he leads the Toronto Blue Jays (+148, 7) into Seattle for a date with the Mariners. Dickey is just 3-8 away from the Rogers Centre, but he has a respectable 3.79 road ERA while allowing just six homers in 76 innings.
A.J. Not AOK
A.J. Burnett will try to end an ugly string of appearances Wednesday as the Philadelphia Phillies (+181, 7.5) visit the Los Angeles Angels. Burnett is 1-8 SU and 7-2 O/U over his last nine appearances, and has surrendered five or more runs in three of his last five.
Shark on the Attack
Jeff Samardzija will look to extend his recent hot streak Thursday as he guides the Oakland Athletics into Kansas City. Samardzija is 5-0 SU over his last five starts - all as a considerable favorite - while the Athletics have scored nearly 7 1/2 runs per game for him over that span.
Pitching Notes
* Baltimore right-hander Chris Tillman brings an 11-game quality-start streak into Wednesday's encounter with the New York Yankees (+115, 8). That stretch includes a pair of outings against the Yankees, against whom Tillman is 5-5 with a 5.64 ERA for his career.
* Detroit righty Max Scherzer is hoping for a little run support Thursday as the Tigers entertain the Pittsburgh Pirates. Scherzer has given up just three earned runs over his previous two starts - but the Tigers lost both games, managing just three runs combined in those contests.
Hitting Notes
* Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has had trouble making contact against San Diego righty Ian Kennedy, who gets the call for the Padres (-162, 6.5) on Wednesday. Gonzalez is a .138 career hitter vs. Kennedy, with 13 strikeouts in just 29 at-bats.
* Tampa Bay Rays newcomer Nick Franklin hopes a change of scenery will change his fortunes against Texas righty Yu Darvish, who takes the hill Thursday. Franklin is just 1-for-6 against Darvish for his career, while striking out four times.
Totals Streak
Chicago Cubs (0-5-1 O/U): Low-scoring games have become the norm at Wrigley Field, with teams combining to score more than five runs just once during the first five games of a seven-game homestand. Chicago is 59-52-7 O/U for the season.
Prop of the Day
The Mariners are a strong bet to win Wednesday by more than three runs, a bet that pays +390. Dickey's 4.72 career ERA at Safeco Field is the third-highest of any stadium where Dickey has thrown at least 50 innings, while Seattle counterpart Hisashi Iwakuma has a 2.76 career ERA at home.
Injury Notes
* Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (thumb) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday. Phillips has missed 32 games this season, during which the Reds are 13-19 SU, 13-18-1 O/U and -789 units.
* The Cleveland Indians are expected to activate outfielder Michael Bourn (hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list this weekend. The Indians are 25-24 SU, 23-25-1 O/U and -220 units with Bourn out of the lineup in 2014.
Weather Watch
* Wind at Turner Field will blow from left to right field at 8 mph for Wednesday's game between host Atlanta (-109, 6.5) and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves were 17-4 SU in 21 games under similar conditions in 2013, with teams combining to hit .276 - well above the stadium average of .246.
Umpire Note of the Day
The home team is 10-2 in umpire Ted Barrett's last 12 games behind home plate involving Pittsburgh. Barrett will call the balls and strikes Wednesday when the Pirates (-103, 8.5) visit Detroit.
** Odds, stats, weather forecast and probable pitchers as of 12:40 p.m. ET Wednesday. -
Rangers' pitcher wrecking Rays during his career
Justin Hartling
Yu Darvish has faced the Tampa Bay Rays four times in his career and he has dominated them. Darvish and the Rangers are 4-0 in his four starts against the Rays.
Darvish has allowed three hits over those four games and has 28 strikeouts (average seven per game).Comment
-
Nationals not happy when this umpire calls the game
Justin Hartling
The Washington Nationals have not been able to figure out Brian Gorman's calls. The Nats are have lost four straight with Gorman behind the plate.Comment
-
Umpire not been kind for National League team
Justin Hartling
Tim Timmons has spelled bad things for the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers are 1-7 in their last eight games with Timmons behind the plate.
The Brewers will be playing at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs Thursday.Comment
-
I would like to welcome everyone to the 2014 Wyndham Championship.
Last week Rory McIlroy once again came out on top.It was one of the most exciting Major championship in recent history (though we would have rather had a Fowler victory). To have that group of talent all within two shots on the Final hole is pretty amazing. We move onto the Wyndham Championship this week, an event that saw us win on Patrick Reed at 70 to 1 last season.
This week the Touring Professionals will be tee it up in gorgeous North Carolina at Sedgefield Country Club. Tensions will be high as this is the player's final tune up prior to the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs. The first leg of the playoffs allows the Top 125 players in the Fed Ex Cup Rankings to compete in the tournament. Look for plenty of putts on Sunday to be extremely important on the 18th hole.
Players will have the opportunity to make plenty of birdies this week, as Sedgefield has been one of the easiest courses on Tour over the past 3 years. At only 7117 yards in length, and playing as a Par 70, players have the ability to go very low at this North Carolina golf course. Greens in Regulation are extremely high due to shorter rough and moderately difficult fairways. The greens are particularly receptive and allow players to even spin the ball out of the rough. Look for a winning score this week to be around 20 under.
Many of the Tour's big dogs are sitting this week out as they have already secured their spot in the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs. Some of the Top players competing this week include Webb Simpson, Bill Haas, Ernie Els, Hideki Matsuyama, Brandt Snedeker, and Fred Couples. With not much top-end talent this week, we have an excellent opportunity to get some great value out of players who are not as well known to the average fan.
Here are the 5 players I see having both excellent value and a great shot at winning this week. Enjoy the picks.
*Note there will be no write ups this week as I am under the weather for the 2nd day in a row.
STEVE'S SELECTIONS
2 UNITS on WEBB SIMPSON 18 TO 1
NICK WATNEY 35 TO 1
BROOKS KOEPKA 38 TO 1
FRANCESCO MOLINARI 45 TO 1
MICHAEL PUTNAM 65 TO 1
72 HOLE HEAD TO HEAD
(2 Units on Each)
BROOKS KOEPKA (-115) OVER TIM CLARK
FRANCESCO MOLINARI (-120) OVER BRENDON DE JONGE
We will get some bounces and have a great fall. Enjoy this week in golf and we will be back next week with full write ups again.
Steve
1146 Baird Street, London, ON N6H 0G5, CANADA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber OptionsComment
-
StatSystemsSports
Inside The Huddle – Thursday
AFC Battles Of Week: Trench Warfare Gets A Nod
Systems Analyst William Stillman
With National Football League training camps entering their final phase, the incessant hype surrounding quarterbacks and other big name players is being trumped by struggles for survival in the sizzling heat of August. A survey by StatSystemsSports.net Systems Analyst William Stillman covering every AFC team shows that most camps are now featuring lesser-known names just trying to maintain their honorable anonymity as a first- or second-team offensive lineman in their brutal, but often overlooked trench wars.
Even the New England Patriots seem more curious about who will handle the ball on every snap even before quarterback Tom Brady does his thing. Ryan Wendell, the starting center for two years, is being challenged by Dan Connolly for the honor of having Brady's hands on his butt. Ditto in Indianapolis, where starting center Khalid Holmes is sidelined, leaving two undrafted rookies -- Jonothan Harrison and FN Lutz -- fighting recently re-signed Thomas Austin for the chance to snap the ball to quarterback Andrew Luck. And of course, the New York Jets wouldn't be the New York Jets without a big-name quarterback controversy, and regardless of the team's party line to the contrary, Geno Smith is only a couple of ill-timed hiccups away from being replaced by the talented Michael Vick.
Here is a closer look at AFC Battles of the Week (teams listed alphabetically within each division) :
•Buffalo Bills
Strong Safety - Da'Norris Searcy vs. Duke Williams
Searcy is No. 1 on the depth chart, but Williams is giving him a strong run for the starting job. Searcy started the first preseason game against the Giants, and then had a personal situation that forced him to leave camp for a couple days prior to the game against Carolina. Thus, Williams was given the start against the Panthers. Both players have made plays. Searcy made an interception and a tackle for loss against Carolina, while Williams had a crunching hit in run support. Against the Giants, Williams was in on three tackles and Searcy two.
"When we feel that we have players that can play, we'll rotate them around and I don't want to get into reps," said coach Doug Marrone. "We may be looking at different things, but right now Da'Norris is the starting safety."
•Miami Dolphins
PR/KOR - Marcus Thigpen vs. Jarvis Landry
This could be a crucial battle for Thigpen because he probably won't make the roster solely as a wide receiver. In Friday's game at Atlanta, Thigpen, the veteran who has held the return job for Miami for the last two seasons, had two punt returns for 41 yards and one kickoff return for 31 yards. Landry, the rookie second-round pick from LSU, had one punt return for 48 yards and one kickoff return for 26 yards. Landry will make the team as a wide receiver. Thigpen needs to make the team as a wide receiver/return man, and if Landry can handle that job, Thigpen is in trouble.
•New England Patriots
Center - Dan Connolly vs. Ryan Wendell
Wendell has been the starter for the Patriots the last two seasons and re-signed as a free agent this spring with an $850,000 bonus as part of a two-year deal. Connolly has been the starter at right guard the last two seasons and is in the final year of his contract with a cap number of just over $4 million. Connolly started the preseason opener in Washington at center and played the first half; Wendell played the second half.
Cutting Wendell would mean an $850,000 hit of dead money on the cap, and he has no real value as a backup given he's limited to playing center. Cutting Connolly would save $3 million against the cap, but he's a versatile guy who can play all three interior line spots. One of the two is likely to win the starting center job, and Connolly could still return to the right guard spot. But there is a battle going on in the interior mix and the two veterans are literally at the center of it all.
•New York Jets
Quarterback - Geno Smith vs. Michael Vick
The Jets have a bigger hole at cornerback, but nobody is ready to provide legitimate competition to the underwhelming Dimitri Patterson. At quarterback, however, Michael Vick proved he's not going to be just another clipboard holder by leading the Jets to their only touchdown in Thursday's 13-10 win over the Colts. Geno Smith, who directed the Jets to three points in two drives on Thursday, will almost surely open the season as the starter. But Vick began putting the heat on him on Thursday.
•Baltimore Ravens
Wide Receiver - Kamar Aiken
Wide receiver Kamar Aiken is quietly making his move as he tries to climb the depth chart. Aiken caught a team-high four passes for 46 yards in reserve duty. Aiken, who was on the Ravens' practice squad last season, is big and fast. He's drawn praise recently from coach John Harbaugh and is competing for the sixth and final wide receiver roster spot.
•Cincinnati Bengals
No. 4 Defensive Tackle - Devon Still vs. Christo Bilukidi
The defensive line is the most talented position group on the team as well as the deepest. Still was a second-round pick three years ago, but he missed six games with injuries last year and was excused for most of this spring's OTAs and minicamp when his 4-year-old daughter Leah was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer. He's been back since the start of training camp, but he admitted it's impossible to give football his full focus.
Bilukidi signed with the Bengals in December last year after being waived by the Raiders, and he has been impressive in practice and in the preseason opener at Kansas City, where he recorded one of the team's six sacks. Still played twice as many snaps as Bilukidi (22 to 11) against the Chiefs, but Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis signaled Bilukidi out as one of the bright spots in the game. With Geno Atkins, Domata Peko and Brandon Thompson locks to make the roster, Still and Bilukidi are likely fighting for the final defensive tackle spot.
•Cleveland Browns
Running Back - Ben Tate vs. Terrance West
Tate dominated early in training camp when the pads went on, but West has shown he will not go meekly. Even if Tate does win the starting job, West has showed he deserves more than a handful of carries. West showed a burst and slick moves on a 10-yard run against the Lions. Tate will get most of his yardage between the tackles. He shot through left guard for an eight-yard gain in the first quarter. Tate finished the preseason opener with 25 yards rushing on six carries. West rushed for 22 yards on 10 carries and caught a pass for eight yards. However it plays out, the Browns are far, far ahead of where they were last year when Willis McGahee was their leading rusher.
•Pittsburgh Steelers
Left Tackle, although this seems to be decided
The job apparently belongs to Kelvin Beachum, who started 11 games there last season after beating out Mike Adams, who started the first four games of 2013. Adams, a second-round draft pick in 2012, was expected to mount a challenge for the job this summer but it never materialized. Beachum, their seventh-round draft pick in 2012, has improved and Adams has not. Beachum (6-3, 300) is a lot smaller than Adams (6-7, 323) but uses technique and his hands and feet to better advantage.
•Houston Texans
Running Back - Jonathan Grimes vs. Alfred Blue
Grimes, a veteran running back in his third season, originally came to the Texans as an undrafted free agent. With Arian Foster on the sideline, he's worked with the first team. He started against Arizona and ran 10 times for 39 yards. Blue, a sixth-round pick who averaged six yards a carry at LSU, came off the bench behind Grimes and carried five times for 30 yards. He also had two catches for 14 yards. Blue is pressuring Grimes for the spot behind Foster.
•Indianapolis Colts
Center - Jonothan Harrison vs. FN Lutz and Thomas Austin
With Khalid Holmes sidelined for at least three weeks with an ankle injury, a pair of undrafted rookies - Jonothan Harrison and FN Lutz - along with recently re-signed Thomas Austin are all battling for a roster spot. Harrison played pretty well in relief of Holmes against the Jets Thursday night. And Lutz got work for the entire fourth quarter. Austin was with Indianapolis last season and already has a good working knowledge of the offense. Rookie guard Jack Mewhort is also getting looks at center, a position he played in college at Ohio State.
•Jacksonville Jaguars
Interior Line -- RG/C Jacques McClendon vs. C Mike Brewster vs. RG Brandon Linder
This 3-way battle began during OTAs and has carried over to training camp and may not be decided until the week of the regular season opener against Philadelphia. Three players are contending for two spots on the offensive line. McClendon has the advantage in that he's been playing both the guard spot and center position. Brewster has played guard in the past, he started a couple games at guard last year, but has been strictly used at center thus far this season. Linder has only been employed at the guard spot. Brewster had two costly bad snaps in the Tampa Bay game, twice sending the ball past quarterback Chad Henne and costing the Jaguars a chance to attempt a pair of field goals. Linder was a third-round draft pick in May, fueling speculation that he would eventually be the starter.
•Tennessee Titans
Kicker - Maikon Bonani vs. Travis Coons
Neither of the Titans inexperienced kickers seem to have completely gained an upper hand (foot) in the kicking competition, but Coons has been the better of the two. Bonani missed an extra point in the monsoon conditions Saturday night, while Coons converted his only try.
•Denver Broncos
Backup Middle Linebacker
On a team with few positions up for grabs, this is one of the most intriguing, behind starter Nate Irving, whose first contract expires after the season. Rookie Lamin Barrow is the likely successor; the fifth-round pick has improved so much in his reading of run plays that defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said he "wasn't even the same player" he was when camp began.
But right behind Barrow is Steven Johnson, arguably the Broncos' best special-teamer. Johnson intercepted a pass against the Seahawks, but his key statistic was on special teams, where he played more snaps than any other Bronco. He blocked a punt last year and was one of the few stable presences on a unit that was rocked by injuries. There may only be room for one of them to be on the game-day active roster, and Johnson's special teams work may give him an edge.
•Kansas City Chiefs
Middle Linebacker
The spot playing next to Pro Bowl inside linebacker Derrick Johnson has been a revolving door for several seasons now. Last year, after he was released by Philadelphia, Akeem Jordan was signed to handle the spot. This year it's seven-year veteran Joe Mays. But in training camp practices, Mays is getting competition from James-Michael Johnson. The third-year pro joined the Chiefs off the waiver wire from Cleveland before the 2013 regular-season opener and was largely a special teams performer. He has elevated his level of performance and has caught the coaching staff's eye due to his ability in pass coverage.
Mays and J-M Johnson may end up sharing the linebacker spot next to Derrick Johnson. He was released by Philadelphia, Akeem Jordan was signed to handle the spot. This year it's seven-year veteran Joe Mays. But in training camp practices, Mays is getting competition from James-Michael Johnson. The third-year pro joined the Chiefs off the waiver wire from Cleveland before the 2013 regular-season opener and was largely a special teams performer. He elevated his level of performance and has caught the coaching staff's eye due to his ability in pass coverage
•Oakland Raiders
Wide Receiver - Denarius Moore vs. Andre Holmes
Holmes opened as the starter and is listed as first on the depth chart on his side as the Raiders love his size and ability to fight for the ball. In a game situation, however, Round 1 went to Moore. He caught three passes for 28 yards but two of them were impressive because they came on throws when he had to reach back for passes from Carr that were behind him and he made the catch anyway.
•San Diego Chargers
Wide Receiver - Seyi Ajirotutu vs. Dontrelle Inman
The back end of the wide receiving unit continues to be interesting with a spirited competition. Ajirotutu has long been a favorite of Philip Rivers in previous stints with the Chargers. He is trusted in big situations -- he won the game with his final-minute catch in Kansas City last year -- and is a dynamite special- teams player. Ajirotutu had a catch for 10 yards and played well on the coverage units against the Cowboys. But he needs a good showing with Inman pushing him.
Inman, who played two years in the CFL, is making some great catches in practices. But any coach wants to see an unproven player perform in games. Inman did his part, racing 70 yards for touchdown after exposing the Cowboys' single outside coverage. There's also a speedy rookie in Tevin Reese with a game-seeking consideration. This could come down to the player showing the most in the games counting the least to others. So far, Inman is up 1-0.
______________________________________________
NFC Battles Of Week: Fierce Feuds For #2 Spots
Systems Analyst James Vogel
Once again, as most National Football League teams head into their final week of training camp - and into Game #2 of the 2014 Preseason, battles for starting jobs are becoming clear and many of the more intriguing duels are for backup spots -- where the loser may be odd man out. That was a constant theme in a survey by StatSystemsSports.net Systems Analyst James Vogel on the key Battles of the Week on NFC team.
Best example: the Trojan war in Philadelphia, where quarterback Mark Sanchez seems to have an edge over fellow USC alum Matt Barkley for the No. 2 spot behind starter Nick Foles. Sanchez put distance between himself and Barkley with an impressive performance in Friday's 34-28 preseason loss to the Chicago Bears. Barkley is now feeling a little heat from the team's fourth quarterback, G.J. Kinne, who completed 8 of 10 passes for 88 yards against the Bears, albeit against third- and fourth-stringers. Other NFC teams with intriguing competition for backup quarterback are Green Bay, San Francisco and Seattle.
Here is a closer look at NFC Battles of the Week (teams listed alphabetically within each division):
•Dallas Cowboys
No. 3 Running Back
Joseph Randle is out front in the battle for the third running back spot with Ryan Williams. Randle has had a strong start to training camp and continued that with an impressive effort in the preseason opener, rushing 13 times for 50 yards. Williams had had carries for 29 yards. Randle was a disappointment as a rookie last season and has come to camp a more mature player with a better attitude. It has showed in his work ethic, attention at meetings and ability to pick up the blitz and handle the teams one-cut concepts.
•New York Giants
Fullback
After a lop-sided showing in the team's preseason opener, fullback John Conner turned in a strong showing on Saturday against the Steelers. Conner, who came into the game in the second quarter, got a chance to work with the majority of the starting offense, and contributed a three-yard run for a first down. He is currently competing against Henry Hynoski, listed as the starter on the Giant's unofficial depth chart in a battle that remains too close to call and which could go down to the wire.
•Philadelphia Eagles
Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley for the backup quarterback job
They entered training camp essentially even, but Sanchez has pulled away. He completed 7 of 10 passes and led the Eagles to two touchdowns Friday against Chicago. Barkley was 7-for-16 with an interception.
•Washington Redskins
Kicker
Kai Forbath connected on 35 of 40 field-goal attempts during his first season-plus with Washington. However, a relatively small percentage of Forbath's kickoffs went for touchbacks, putting pressure on the Redskins' poor special teams. In response, Washington drafted strong-legged Arkansas kicker Zach Hocker in the seventh round in May. The competition in camp has been close. However in the preseason opener, Forbath missed from 34 -- the errant kick was negated by a penalty -- and 46 yards while making a 39-yarder and recorded one touchback in three kickoffs, sending another out of bounds. Hocker converted a 27-yarder and had one touchback in three tries while also making a tackle on one of his other two kickoffs.
Forbath said, "Obviously things didn't go quite as planned," seemingly leaving Hocker a leg up, pun intended, but neither the rookie nor Gruden saw it that way. "The hang time was OK and the tackle was cool, but one touchback out of three kickoffs ain't gonna cut if I'm going to try to make this team," Hocker said. "That's a decision that's going to come after the fourth preseason game," Gruden said. "There's really nobody leading right now, it's going to be down to the wire I'm sure." Each kicker went 4-for-4 on field goal tries during the first practice after the Patriots' game.
•Chicago Bears
Third Wide Receiver
Coach Marc Trestman said the broken collarbone suffered by second-year wide receiver Marquess Wilson will most likely keep him sidelined into the regular season, so the battle for the third receiver position was thrown wide open. Eric Weems and Josh Morgan both made quick statements. Morgan has more experience than many of the candidates, but Michael Spurlock is a player who had a touchdown catch in the preseason opener and also is on the roster because he is a return man. Players who can show the added special teams dimension will get priority.
The Bears also gave Santonio Holmes a workout but signed inexperienced Greg Herd instead. The cost of signing Holmes could be too high. The battle for this spot could actually become more of a battle for two spots since they'll need to keep an extra receiver until Wilson is ready to return. None of the candidates have the combination of size (6-4) and speed that Wilson has.
•Detroit Lions
Outside Linebacker
After the Lions drafted BYU's Kyle Van Noy in the second round, general manager Martin Mayhew said he expected the outside linebacker to start. It makes sense for the 6-foot-3, 243-pound linebacker to start because of his combination of pass rush and coverage abilities, but so far, veteran Ashlee Palmer hasn't relinquished the job. Palmer started in Saturday's preseason game against the Browns and had a tackle. Van Noy, who was in with the starters for a four-linebacker set, had a pass defended, which was nearly a forced fumble. He also whiffed on a sack of quarterback Johnny Manziel. Van Noy's upside makes him the favorite to still start, but it might wait for a few games..
•Green Bay Packers
No. 2 Quarterback
With a healthy Aaron Rodgers given the night off, head coach Mike McCarthy followed through on his intention to take a long look at incumbent backups Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien in the first preseason game at Tennessee on Saturday. Conditions for handling the football and throwing it were far from ideal because of heavy rain that fell at the outset of the game. Yet, Tolzien fared much better than Flynn did from a statistical standpoint. Flynn made the start in Rodgers' absence but completed just five of 10 passes for 49 yards and had a subpar passer rating of 64.2 before exiting late in the first half. In turn, Tolzien went 8-of-12 throwing for 124 yards with a strong efficiency rating of 100.7 before he gave way to undrafted rookie Chase Rettig in the final quarter.
Since McCarthy wanted Rettig to get some in-game work, the coach acknowledged afterward that he probably short-changed Tolzien on playing time. Hence, Tolzien, a fourth-year pro who made a good impression on McCarthy with his tempo and footwork in running the no-huddle offense against the Titans, may wind up working ahead of Flynn in the playing rotation with Rodgers expected to start Saturday's game at the St. Louis Rams. Conditions in the dome will be more favorable for getting a better gauge on whether Tolzien has a viable shot to overtake Flynn, a seventh-year pro with some big fill-in performances for Rodgers to his credit, for the No. 2 job.
•Minnesota Vikings
Middle Linebacker - Jasper Brinkley vs. Audie Cole
Brinkley was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in 2009. After spending the 2011 season on injured reserve, he replaced the highly-respected E.J. Henderson, starting 15 of 16 games, but wasn't impressive. So he was allowed to walk in free agency. After starting just three games in a failed season in Arizona, the desperate Vikings brought him back to compete as a two-down middle linebacker. He's a thumper against the run, but is limited laterally and of little use in pass coverage. He has a slight edge on Cole because the Vikings shift Chad Greenway to the middle in the nickel and are experimenting with rookie Anthony Barr as the lone linebacker in their dime packages.
Cole, however, is gaining momentum on Brinkley. Cole is faster, a better athlete and, at 6-5 with long arms, he's tougher to throw over and around. Cole, a seventh-round pick in 2012, surprised everybody when he played so well in place of Erin Henderson last season. Not long after being released and re-signed in a procedural move to adjust the game-day active roster, Cole made his NFL starting debut and responded with 18 tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss at Green Bay. His upside is higher than Brinkley's. Cole also is a strong special teams player and can play the weak-side linebacker spot. He was moved there to start camp, but was shifted back to the middle to give Brinkley stiffer competition.
•Atlanta Falcons
Free Safety - Dwight Lowery vs. the Field
With Lowery recovering from a concussion and third-round pick Dezmen Southward coming back from a knee injury, third-stringers Kemal Ishmael and Sean Baker received extensive action against the Dolphins. The Falcons are trying to replace Thomas DeCoud, who was released this offseason, and the injuries to Lowery and Southward have muddled the competition. Ishmael, a second-year player drafted in the seventh round in 2013 out of Central Florida, has shown flashes of spectacular play. "Kemal has had a good camp," defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said. "He is one of the guys who has been able to take advantage of the front line being stouter, just from the standpoint of coming up and closing the gap." Baker has "stepped up his game," Nolan said.
•Carolina Panthers
Nickel Cornerback - Charles Godfrey vs. Bene Benwikere
The Panthers are trying to convert Godfrey from safety to nickel corner, and it has not gone well. The seven-year veteran has not only had trouble at a new position, but he may still have lingering effects from last year's torn Achilles. Benwikere, the team's fifth-round pick, has been one of the most-impressive players in camp. The San Jose State product is also getting some work in on punt return. It will be interesting to see how long the Panthers keep Godfrey out there with the ones if he continues to struggle.
•New Orleans Saints
Right Cornerback - Corey White vs. Stanley Jean-Baptiste
With Champ Bailey out for more than a week and Patrick Robinson leaving practice early Sunday with an unknown injury, White and Jean-Baptiste will be given extra reps in the three practices that will wrap up the Saints' training camp stay in West Virginia. White, a physical three-year veteran, has shown flashes when he's gotten a chance in his first two seasons. But he's also given up big plays at times. Jean-Baptiste, the Saints' second-round draft pick this spring, has not really distinguished himself so far -- especially in training camp -- but will have to step up to push White for opportunities.
•Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No. 2 Running Back - Bobby Rainey vs. Charles Sims
Rainey has the experience, having led the Bucs in rushing a year ago after being claimed off waivers from the Browns. He also could be a more valuable special teams players. But the coaching staff really loves Sims, who at 6-feet, 217-pounds gives the Bucs a bigger back with superb hands. Slight edge to Rainey after Friday's game at Jacksonville.
•Arizona Cardinals
Kicker - Rookie Chandler Catanzaro vs. incumbent Jay Feely
Catanzaro took a large step to winning the job with his performance in the preseason opener. Catanzaro made all three extra points and all three field goals. Just as important, all of his five kickoffs were impressive. Two were touchbacks. The other three went well into the end zone, and the Texans started inside their 20-yard line each time. Feely will have his turn this week in Minnesota. He's reliable but his leg isn't as strong as Catanzaro's, at least not on kickoffs. Feely's advantage is experience, and he's made clutch kicks. But coach Bruce Arians has never been enamored with Feely, and the Cardinals wouldn't mind getting much younger at the position. The competition will go throughout the preseason, and Catanzaro will be tested in the finale in San Diego. That will be outdoors as opposed to last week's game in Glendale.
•St. Louis Rams
Third/Fourth Tight End Or Practice Squad
Undrafted free agent Alex Bayer is making a move to win the job as the team's fourth tight end. His main competition is Justice Cunningham, who had a drop against New Orleans. Bayer, meanwhile, had five receptions for 71 yards, including one for 42 yards. Coach Jeff Fisher said, "We felt like he had a chance. We liked what we saw, the athleticism, the pass catching ability, he was well-coached there (Bowling Green). (Tight ends coach) Rob Boras went out and had a private workout with him a week before the draft. We were kind of hoping he would fall, he did and so far it's worked out for us. He takes a lot of snaps here at camp and played a lot of snaps yesterday. I think he played over 40 snaps yesterday, 45 snaps. He's hanging in there and continues to make the plays, so reliable. He's getting to the right spot and the young quarterbacks trust him."
•San Francisco 49ERS
No. 2 Quarterback
After an uninspiring 3-for-11 performance from Blaine Gabbert in the first half of Thursday's loss, the 49ers' No. 2 quarterback job might still be up for grabs. "I think all the quarterbacks...are coming out of this thinking there are a few (throws) they want back," Harbaugh said. "I think they all did about the same. A couple of good throws and runs and extending the play, and a few they'd like to have back, too."
Gabbert struggled with his accuracy and making reads in the preseason opener. He starred down tight end Derek Carrier before throwing an interception to a Raven defensive back in basic zone coverage. He also overthrew a wide open Quinton Patton on two occasions. Reserve quarterback Josh Johnson fared much better, completing 6 of 8 passes for 63 yards and didn't throw an interception. He did, however, fumble a snap on the reserve unit's most promising drive of the evening in Baltimore's territory. The key caveat to the backup quarterback situation is Gabbert's fully-guaranteed $2 million contract for 2014.
•Seattle Seahawks
No. 2 Quarterback
This may not be the most critical spot for the Seahawks, especially with Russell Wilson as the starter, but Seattle has an intriguing battle on it is hands between veteran Tarvaris Jackson and former Ohio State star Terrelle Pryor, whom the team acquired in April. Jackson got two series against Denver and led a field-goal drive at the end of the first half. Pryor got three series and led two field-goal drives (one after an interception gave the Seahawks the ball at the Denver 24) and led a potential game-winning drive in the final minutes before throwing an interception that sealed the game. Seattle could make it easy and just keep both, though the Seahawks haven't often had three quarterbacks on its roster the last two seasons.Comment
-
#401 JACKSONVILLE @ #402 CHICAGO - 8:00 PM
Line: Bears, Total: 42.5
The Chicago Bears will play their second home preseason game in less than a week when they host Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Soldier Field on Thursday. Chicago opened exhibition play on a positive note last Friday when tight end Zach Miller caught two touchdown passes and the Bears upended the Philadelphia Eagles, 34-28, in the preseason opener for both teams. Jay Cutler threw a 10-yard pass to Miller in the back of the end zone late in the first quarter, and Miller caught another touchdown pass from Jordan Palmer in the second.
Cutler finished with 85 yards on 9-of-13 passing for the Bears, whose backups also proved effective. Palmer completed 8-of-11 throws for 104 yards with an interception, while Jimmy Clausen tossed for two scores. Clausen connected with Chris Williams and Micheal Spurlock for TDs after Matt Barkley's scoring strike to David Fluellen had given the Eagles a 28-17 lead early in the second half. "It was a good win," Bears coach Marc Trestman said. "It took all 90 guys and all four quarters to win this game. I'm really excited about that. It's going to take all 60 minutes to win games all season."
The Jaguars, meanwhile, also started in the black thanks to Denard Robinson's touchdown run in the fourth quarter which lifted Jacksonville to a 16-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bortles, the third pick in this year's draft, went 7-for-11 passing for 117 yards in his first NFL action, leading the team on one scoring drive in about two quarters of action. Chad Henne started under center for the Jaguars and was 4-for-7 for 30 yards. "The main thing is we're all excited to be here," said Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny. "We just need to work on improving our communication and getting better each day."
Henne will get the nod again in Chicago but Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley indicated he might change plans and enable Bortles to take reps with the first team before the final preseason game, his original intention. "I wouldn't count on it this week," Bradley said before gushing about his young QB: "He's tough He'll stand in there. We believe that he'll have the poise in pressure situations when teams are applying pressure." Running back Toby Gerhart, who signed a three-year deal with the Jags as a free agent in the offseason, missed the preseason opener with a hip flexor but could return against the Bears. "I don't know what the whole process is to (be able) return to the field, but each and every day, the workouts we've done, I've felt good and (the hip has) felt better," Gerhart told the Florida Times-Union.
The Bears and Jaguars will be meeting for just the second time in the preseason. The two teams originally squared off in 2002 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. with Jacksonville winning 24-16.
StatSystemsSports.net has searched its database for all past games where the posted line or total were similar to this game's and where the final game statistics were comparable to the estimator's projections. (Yards/Play and turnovers) Here are the results against the spread, against the total, and straight up:
--In past games, the favorite covered the spread 11 times, while the underdog covered the spread 7 times. *No EDGE. In past games, the favorite won the game straight up 13 times, while the underdog won straight up 5 times. 5 games went over the total, while 3 games went under the total. *No EDGE.
--In past games, the favorite covered first half line 31 times, while the underdog covered first half line 17 times. *No EDGE. 10 games went over first half total, while 3 games went under first half total. *No EDGE.
•SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS: Play On - Favorites of 2 to 6 points versus the first half line (CHICAGO) - after a game where they committed 3 or more turnovers against opponent after a game with a turnover margin of +2 or better.
(25-6 since 1993.) (80.6%, +18.4 units. Rating = 2*)
The average first half line posted in these games was: Team favored by 3
The average first half score in these games was: Team 15.1, Opponent 5.5 (Average first half point differential = +9.5)
The situation's record this season is: (0-0).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (2-0).
Over the last 5 seasons the situation's record is: (3-0).
Over the last 10 seasons the situation's record is: (11-1).Comment
-
NFL Betting: Jacksonville at Chicago August 14, 8:00 EST
Blake Bortles was the first quarterback taken in this year's draft, and so far through one preseason game it looks as if the Jacksonville Jaguars made the right call as the rookie completed seven-of-11 passes for just over 100 yards. This coming Thursday Bortles and the Jaguars will take on the Chicago Bears, a traditional team that has turned more offensive than defensive-minded in recent years, making it likely Bortles has a strong second outing and further makes his case to be the team’s starting quarterback.
Players We're Watching
Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars- Bortles' rookie debut could hardly have gone better, but the rookie still has a long way to go and this second preseason game will be a telling one. If he continues to look the part of a franchise signal caller in the preseason it's more likely he'll get a start early in the season, but if he tapers off and shows he's in fact not ready for the spotlight he could be buried on the depth chart like originally planned.
Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears- Martellus Bennett was a nice surprise for the Bears last season as the veteran tight end set career highs in receptions, targets, and yards, and was a dangerous third option for quarterback Jay Cutler. Bennett has been reinstated by the Bears after being suspended for a scuffle in practice, but if he can prove last season was no fluke this is a Bears offense that could be one of the best in the entire league with Bennett showing the potential to double his five touchdowns from last year.
Preseason Coaching Trends
Both Gus Bradley of the Jaguars and Marc Trestman of the Bears are entering their second NFL season as a head coach, and neither seemed to care all that much about preseason games last year as Trestman went 2-2 and Bradley 1-3 in the early season scrimmages. This year may be a bit different, however, as both teams won their first preseason game with the Bears putting up 34 points on the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jaguars scoring 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Prediction
The Bears were impressive in their first preseason game as they had two quarterbacks pass for over 100 yards, neither being starter Jay Cutler. The Bears offense is built to move the ball down the field, and against a rebuilding Jaguars defense they very well could repeat their performance against the Eagles and score a total of four offensive touchdowns. The only thing stopping the Bears from an easy victory will be their defense, which struggled at times last week but ultimately held an explosive Chip Kelly offense to just one touchdown. The Jaguars have a quietly good first-team offense, but it's not on the same level as the Bears' which is why Trestman should remain undefeated in the 2014 preseason.
NFL Betting Pick: BearsComment
-
NFL Football Trends
NFL Preseason Betting Trends for Thursday, 8/14/14
Jacksonville at Chicago, 8:00 ET
Jacksonville: 16-6 ATS on the road off a home game
Chicago: 12-2 UNDER at home off a home game
NFL Preseason Betting Trends for Friday, 8/15/14
Philadelphia at New England, 7:30 ET
Philadelphia: 15-30 ATS in games where the line is +3 to -3
New England: 5-1 OVER after playing a non-conference game
Tennessee at New Orleans, 8:00 ET
Tennessee: 23-10 OVER in road games
New Orleans: 9-1 ATS in all games
Detroit at Oakland, 10:00 ET
Detroit: 6-3 ATS in all games
Oakland: 3-6 ATS in all games
San Diego at Seattle, 10:00 ET
San Diego: 20-7 OVER after allowing 14 points or less last game
Seattle: 7-0 ATS as a favorite
NFL Preseason Betting Trends for Saturday, 8/16/14
Green Bay at St Louis, 4:00 ET
Green Bay: 5-1 UNDER as an underdog
St Louis: 1-3 ATS as a home favorite
NY Giants at Indianapolis, 7:00 ET
NY Giants: 4-0 UNDER off an ATS Win
Indianapolis: 3-0 ATS as a home favorite of 3 points or less
Baltimore at Dallas, 7:00 ET
Baltimore: 28-14 UNDER in games where the line is +3 to -3
Dallas: 21-42 ATS after playing a non-conference game
NY Jets at Cincinnati, 7:00 ET
NY Jets: 8-1 ATS after a win by 3 or less points
Cincinnati: 2-5 ATS off an extremely close road loss by 3 points or less
Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 7:30 ET
Buffalo: 14-4 UNDER after a win by 6 or less points
Pittsburgh: 1-7 ATS in all games
Miami at Tampa Bay, 7:30 ET
Miami: 0-8 ATS in non-conference games
Tampa Bay: 14-3 ATS off a road loss
Atlanta at Houston, 8:00 ET
Atlanta: 19-6 OVER after allowing 14 points or less last game
Houston: 3-11 ATS after going under the total
Arizona at Minnesota, 8:30 ET
Arizona: n/a
Minnesota: n/a
NFL Preseason Betting Trends for Sunday, 8/17/14
Denver at San Francisco, 4:00 ET
Denver: 7-2 O/U WK-2
San Fran: 6-1 ATS home WK-2
Kansas City at Carolina, 8:00 ET
Kansas City: 1-3 ATS following WK-1 win
Carolina: 5-1 O/U home favorite
NFL Preseason Betting Trends for Monday, 8/18/14
Cleveland at Washington, 8:00 ET
Cleveland: 6-3-1 Under after scoring 14 or less points
Washington: 8-2 ATS home favoriteComment
-
Recently traded pitcher meaning wins for new team
Justin Hartling
When the Oakland Athletics acquired Jeff Samardzija they expected to have a dominate ace to guarentee wins. The A's have gotten what they wished for as they are 6-1 in Samardzija's seven starts for the team.
Samardzija has only allowed 17 runs since wearing the A's uniform which equals 2.4 runs per game.Comment
-
Win Total Update
The 2014 pro baseball regular season is coming to a close as teams enter the final quarter of the 162-game season. Before the season began the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino SuperBook (LVH) posted win totals for all 30 teams.
Prior to the All-Star break in late June, we looked at the win totals and forecasted the pace for every team in the majors. To figure out a team’s pace, you take their win percentage and multiply by 162. (Ex. Baltimore Orioles are on pace to win 93 games (162 x .576) based on their record as of Aug. 13)
In the below table, we looked at the latest projections and you can see that certain teams have turned up the heat in the past six weeks while other clubs have melted away in the summer.
In late June, the Giants and Brewers were on a torrid pace to win close to 100 games. As of mid-August, San Francisco is projected to win 84 games while Milwaukee is on pace for 89 victories.
Other clubs that have struggled in the second-half are the Rockies and Rangers, who are both on pace to have more than 90 losses.
Even though San Diego and Tampa Bay won’t be playing in the playoffs this October, the two teams have been very competitive in the second-half.
The Padres were projected to go ‘under’ their win total of 78 ½ at the midway point and now they’re on pace to win 77 games, which gives some win total bettors a chance. Despite the Rays’ second-half surge, they’ll likely go ‘under’ their season win total (87 ½).
Contenders that have picked up the pace the past eight weeks include Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Oakland.Comment
-
Wide-Open Wyndham
Tournament: 2014 Wyndham Championship
Date: Aug. 14-17
Venue: Sedgefield Country Club
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
2013 Winner: Patrick Reed
This week the PGA Tour will play its final official event of the season before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin. The Wyndham Championship is sandwiched between some huge tournaments with two majors and a WGC event coming before it, and the playoffs immediately following for the next month. With that said the field is extremely thin, as it contains only one player (Hideki Matsuyama) from the top 25 of the World Golf Rankings.
This will be the final week in which some players have a chance to join the top 125 players in the FedEx Cup standings for The Barclays next week; the first of four events in the playoffs. Last season, Patrick Reed won his first career PGA event here as he defeated fellow young stud Jordan Spieth on the second playoff hole.
Spectators should expect plenty of action this week as the winning score has been 14-under or better in all six years since having the tourney at Sedgefield CC, which is a par-70, 7,130-yard course. This event is certainly open to all who are competing this week with names like Arjun Atwal, Brent Geiberger and Shigeki Maruyama taking home the trophy in the last decade.
Let’s take a look at a few players who have a chance to move up the FedEx Cup standings with a strong showing this week.
Golfers to Watch
Hideki Matsuyama (17/1): Matsuyama is the top player from the World Golf Rankings playing this week and while he has not been doing too well against the tremendous fields the past few weeks, he took a victory in the last event he played (the Memorial) where the talent was not quite as strong. The Japan-born player has the 17th-best scoring average on tour (69.96) and has scored a birdie or better 50.5% of the time on par-5’s this year (5th on tour). Matsuyama is poised to add to his six career professional victories (1 PGA, 5 Japan Golf Tour) this week.
Patrick Reed (20/1): He was the victor in this event last season and has won another two times since. The 26th-ranked player in the world is on the brink of being one of the young studs in the sport, as Reed has placed in the top-26 three times in his last five tournaments. He has been inconsistent this season, but has proven that he can catch fire in a moment’s notice and dominate the field.
Brandt Snedeker (11/1): It has been a down year for Snedeker in 2014, as his 69th-place ranking in the FedEx Cup standings is his lowest of his career by a wide margin. The six-time winner on the tour has been playing well in his past two events, nailing down a 12th-place finish at the Bridgestone Invitational followed by placing 13th last week at the PGA Championship. His solid putting (.467 strokes gained putting, 16th on tour) and pedigree should keep him among the leaders this week. Snedeker is also due for a win with at least one victory in each of the past three seasons.
Martin Laird (55/1): Laird has a lot to play for this week as he ranks 136th in the FedEx Cup standings and already has four top-25 finishes this year in his 19 starts. He has made the playoffs in each of the past four years and even made it to a playoff at The Barclays in 2010 that he eventually lost to Matt Kuchar. Laird is ranked 33rd in total driving (146), a stat that looks at both accuracy and distance off the tee, and this mark should allow him to have plenty of scoring opportunities on the week.
Kevin Kisner (140/1): He is in the midst of a career year and comes into this event with some momentum after two strong finishes, a T-20th at the John Deere Classic and a T-9th at the RBC Canadian Open, in his past two times out. Kisner has gained .401 strokes putting (23rd on tour) this year and could compete for his first career victory this week amongst a poor field.
Wyndham Championship Betting Odds
Brandt Snedeker 25/2
Webb Simpson 17/1
Hideki Matsuyama 17/1
Patrick Reed 20/1
Bill Haas 24/1
Ernie Els 27/1
Tim Clark 28/1
Charles Howell III 35/1
Brooks Koepka 35/1
Nick Watney 40/1
Francesco Molinari 40/1
Robert Karlsson 40/1
Carl Pettersson 40/1
Brian Harman 40/1
Billy Horschel 40/1
Justin Hicks 50/1
Paul Casey 55/1
Brendon De Jonge 55/1
Bud Cauley 55/1
Martin Laird 55/1
Chad Campbell 60/1
Kyle Stanley 60/1
Bo Van Pelt 60/1
Michael Putnam 60/1
John Huh 65/1
Freddie Jacobson 65/1
Matteo Manassero 70/1
Peter Hanson 70/1
Robert Garrigus 70/1
William McGirt 75/1
Andres Romero 75/1
Aaron Baddeley 80/1
Stephen Gallacher 85/1
Scott Piercy 85/1
Joe Durant 95/1
Camilo Villegas 95/1
Scott Brown 95/1
Retief Goosen 95/1
Rafael Cabrera Bello 95/1
Luke Guthrie 95/1
David Toms 100/1
Jonathan Byrd 100/1
Michael Thompson 100/1
Shawn Stefani 100/1
Scott Langley 100/1
Johnson Wagner 110/1
Morgan Hoffmann 110/1
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 110/1
Fred Couples 120/1
Jhonattan Vegas 120/1
Boo Weekley 130/1
Ryo Ishikawa 130/1
Padraig Harrington 130/1
Billy Hurley III 130/1
Sang-Moon Bae 130/1
Brian Stuard 130/1
Jamie Lovemark 130/1
Ricky Barnes 130/1
Pat Perez 140/1
Martin Flores 140/1
Bryce Molder 140/1
Brad Fritsch 140/1
Andrew Svoboda 140/1
Chesson Hadley 140/1
Richard Sterne 140/1
Stuart Appleby 140/1
Robert Streb 140/1
Greg Chalmers 140/1
David Lingmerth 140/1
Scott Stallings 150/1
J.J. Henry 150/1
Danny Lee 150/1
Will Wilcox 150/1
Tommy Gainey 150/1
Charlie Beljan 160/1
Troy Merritt 180/1
Steven Bowditch 180/1
Hudson Swafford 180/1
Will MacKenzie 180/1
Roberto Castro 190/1
Sean O' Hair 190/1
Lucas Glover 190/1
James Hahn 190/1
Jeff Maggert 190/1
Ben Curtis 220/1
Trevor Immelman 220/1
Robert Allenby 220/1
Nicholas Thompson 220/1
Alex Prugh 250/1
Chad Collins 250/1
David Duval 250/1
Derek Ernst 250/1
Jim Herman 250/1
D.H. Lee 250/1
Eric Axley 250/1
Rocco Mediate 250/1
Glen Day 250/1
Andrew Loupe 250/1
Charlie Wi 250/1
Arjun Atwal 250/1
D.A. Points 250/1
John Peterson 250/1
Josh Teater 250/1
Ken Duke 250/1
Tyrone Van Aswegen 250/1
Matt Bettencourt 250/1
Steve Marino 250/1
Troy Matteson 250/1
Davis Love III 250/1
Dicky Pride 250/1
James Driscoll 250/1
Miguel Angel Carballo 250/1
Peter Malnati 250/1Comment
-
Arthur Ralph Sports
Free play Thurs
SL Cards w/ Lackey -165Comment
-
Hitters' wind at this stadium Thursday
Andrew Avery
Sluggers in the lineups for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers will be licking their chops Thursday as forecasts are calling for wind blowing out to left field at 12 mph at Comerica Park.
When wind blows out to left at Comerica Park, the Over has gone 5-1 thus far in the season. Furthermore, there is an average of 1.67 home runs per game when the wind blows out to left between 10 and 20 mph.
Oddsmakers have tabbed the game with a total of 7.5.Comment
Comment