10-16-14

[Can'tPickAWinner]

[Can'tPickAWinner]

BEN BURNS

Thursday Roast Oregon State

Thursday BEST BET! (2-0 in series last year)
jets/pats under

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Sports Insights

Best Bet

Jets +10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Gilztips

new england -9.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Maddux Sports

10* Pittsburgh +3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

EZWINNERS

3* Pitt -1.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tiger:

* NFL (1304) 1H TOTAL u23.5-115 (1H NY JETS vrs 1H NE PATRIOTS)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Today's NFL Picks

NY Jets at New England

The Patriots host the Jets on Thursday night and come into the contest with an 8-2 ATS record in their last 10 home games. New England is the pick (-9 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Patriots favored by 18 1/2. Dunkel Pick: New England (-9 1/2). Here are all of this week's picks.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 Time Posted: 6:00 a.m. EST (10/16)

Game 303-304: NY Jets at New England (8:25 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: NY Jets 123.454; New England 141.770 Dunkel Line: New England by 18 1/2; 52 Vegas Line: New England by 9 1/2; 45 Dunkel Pick: New England (-9 1/2); Over

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Game of the Day: Utah at Oregon State

Utah Utes at Oregon State Beavers (+2.5, 52.5)

Utah quarterback Kendal Thompson is expected to make his first start Thursday when the Utes visit Oregon State, which won last season’s meeting 51-48 in overtime. Thompson, who transferred in the offseason from Oklahoma, replaced an inefficient Travis Wilson and rushed for 83 yards to spark No. 23 Utah’s 30-28 upset of UCLA on Oct. 4. Utes coach Kyle Whittingham hasn’t named a starter for Thursday, but all signs point to Thompson getting the nod.

After opening Pac-12 play with a 35-10 loss at USC, Oregon State bounced back from a with a 36-31 victory at Colorado on Oct. 4. Beavers senior quarterback Sean Mannion threw five touchdowns in last year’s win over Utah, but brings a 5-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio into this season’s matchup. While Mannion and his young receiving corps has struggled throughout the first half of the season, Oregon State ranks second in the Pac-12 in total defense at 331.4 yards allowed per game.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1.

LINE HISTORY: Utah opened as 2-point road favorites and were bet as high as -3, before settling at -2.5. The total opened at 52 and is now up to 52.5.

INJURY REPORT: Oregon State - OL Garrett Weinreich (questionable Thursday, knee). Utah - N/A.

WEATHER REPORT: It will be mostly cloudy at kickoff with seven mile per hour wind blowing towards the northwest endzone. There will be a slight nine percent chance of rain.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Utah (-10.5) - Oregon State (-4) + home field (-3) = Oregon State +3.5

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We opened Utah as a 1.5 point favorite on the road on Sunday and quickly went to -2 as we took a sharp bet at the 1.5 number. On Monday we went up to Utah -3 but by the end of the day we settled on Utah -2.5 were we currently sit with 64 percent of the action. We opened the total 54.5 yesterday and saw a flood of public money come in on the under pushing us to 53.5 this morning we adjusted to 53 then to 51.5 where we had some sharp money come in on the over at that number forcing us back up to 53 with 59% of the action now on the over." - Michael Stewart of Carbonsports.ag

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Pac-12 rivals Utah and Oregon State will meet in Corvallis on Thursday night. Both teams are 4-1, and both are well rested coming off a bye. The Utes though have climbed into the rankings after upsetting UCLA in Pasadena. The Beavers will likely have their hands full trying to stop Utah's power running game." - Covers Expert Jesse Schule.

ABOUT UTAH (4-1, 4-1 ATS, 2-3 O/U): Running back Devontae Booker had 156 yards on 33 carries against UCLA and could post similar numbers against an Oregon State front seven that is missing two injured starters. The Utes’ defense leads the nation in sacks (5.6 per game) and tackles for loss (10.2 per game), and defensive end Nate Orchard ranks first in the country with 8.5 sacks. The Utes boast one of the top special teams units in the country, led by kicker Andy Phillips and kick returner Kaelin Clay, who leads the Pac-12 in punt return average (23.1).

ABOUT OREGON STATE (4-1, 2-3 ATS, 2-3 O/U): Terron Ward provided a boost for the Beavers’ offense with 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Colorado, but Mannion has struggled at times while waiting for receivers such as Victor Bolden and Richard Mullaney to become consistent downfield threats. The Beavers rank second in the league in passing efficiency defense, led by linebackers Michael Doctor, D.J. Alexander and Jabral Johnson. Kicker Trevor Romaine has been on a tear since missing the first two games, going 8-for-8 on extra points and 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 47-yarder.

TRENDS:

* Oregon State is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Utah is 4-0 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
* Under is 7-1 in Utah's last eight games versus a team with a winning record.
* Under is 5-1 in Oregon State's last six home games.

COVERS CONSENSUS: Just under 52 percent of wagers are backing Utah at -2.5.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Thursday Night Football: Jets at Patriots

New York Jets at New England Patriots (-10, 44)

Looking like a team whose time had passed just a couple of weeks ago, the New England Patriots are back atop the AFC East and preparing to face an opponent they have dominated in recent years. The Patriots aim to pad their division lead when they host the New York Jets on Thursday. New England has won six of the past seven meetings, but New York claimed a 30-27 overtime win in last season's second showdown.

The Patriots were all but counted out after a 41-14 drubbing by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night in Week 4, but they've claimed two straight impressive victories, including a 37-22 win at Buffalo on Sunday to move to the top of the standings. While the Jets have lost five straight since a 19-14 win over Oakland in Week 1, they gave defending AFC champion Denver a scare before falling 31-17 on Sunday. The Patriots have won 32 straight home games against AFC opponents, the longest streak since the NFL merger in 1970.

TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, CBS.

LINE HISTORY: After opening at Patriots -9.5, the line has since shifted to -10 where it sits currently. The toal opened as 45, but has sinced dropped a point to 44.

INJURY REPORT: Jets - WR David Nelson (Ques-Ankle) Patriots - DL Dominique Easley (Ques-Shoulder), CB Brandon Browner (Ques-Ankle), LB Dont'a Hightower (Ques-Knee)

WEATHER REPORT: Rain is suppose to be hitting Gillette Stadium hard from Wednesday night straight through till kickoff. Rain is supposed to open up right around kickoff and dropping 15 mm of rain. Winds are expected to be blowing between five and six mph.

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: The Patriots made it two straight wins to take over first place in the AFC East and now start a three-game homestand. The Pats are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games after scoring more than 30 points. New York has failed to cover a single game this season after getting frontdoored last Sunday. The road team has covered 4 of last 5 in the series with New England.

ABOUT THE JETS (1-5 SU, 0-5-1 ATS, 3-3 O/U): New York ranks 30th in the league in total offense (303.3 yards per game) and last in passing (182.2) but coach Rex Ryan insists he is committed to second-year quarterback Geno Smith. Smith has thrown seven interceptions — at least one in every game — and has completed only 57.1 percent of his passes, so the Jets have leaned heavily on running backs Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson to power the offense. The Jets rank sixth in the league in total defense but 25th in scoring defense, largely because of unfavorable field position thanks to 12 giveaways.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS, 4-2 O/U): After a disastrous game against the Chiefs, Tom Brady and the Patriots' offense have come back to life the past two games, though the loss of running back Stevan Ridley is a big one. Shane Vereen becomes the featured back with Ridley out, but Brady might have to go to the air more often. The Patriots lead the NFL with a plus-9 turnover margin in large part because of an AFC-best seven interceptions and will try to force Smith into the type of poor decisions he is prone to make.

TRENDS:

*Jets are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
*Over is 14-3 in Patriots last 17 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
*Over is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings in New England.
*Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.

COVERS CONSENSUS: 57.48 percent of Covers users are backing the Patriots -10, with 64.14 percent taking the over.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

marc lawrecne phone plays

Jets

oregon state

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Today's MLB Picks

St. Louis at San Francisco

The Giants look to clinch the NLCS following yesterday's 6-4 win and come into tonight's contest with a 10-2 record in Madison Bumgarner's last 12 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in the previous game. San Francisco is the pick (-140) according to Dunkel, which has the Giants favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-140). Here are all of today's MLB picks.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 Time Posted: 7:30 a.m. EST

Game 969-970: St. Louis at San Francisco (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Wainwright) 14.303; San Francisco (Bumgarner) 15.897 Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1 1/2; 5 Vegas Line: San Francisco (-140); 6 Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-140); Under

[Can'tPickAWinner]

StatFox Super Situations

CFB | MARSHALL at FLA INTERNATIONAL
Play On - Favorites of 21.5 to 31 points (MARSHALL) dominant team - outscoring opponents by 17 or more points/game, after scoring 37 points or more in 3 straight games
46-18 over the last 10 seasons. ( 71.9% | 26.2 units )
1-2 this year. ( 33.3% | -1.2 units )

CFB | CLEMSON at BOSTON COLLEGE
Play On - A road team vs. the money line (CLEMSON) after covering the spread in 4 or 5 out of their last 6 games, good team, winning 60-80% or more of their games on the season
86-56 over the last 5 seasons. ( 60.6% | 0.0 units )
1-0 this year. ( 100.0% | 0.0 units )

CFB | UTAH at OREGON ST
Play Over - Road teams where the first half total is between 25 and 28 after a win by 6 or less points
89-45 over the last 5 seasons. ( 66.4% | 39.5 units )
4-4 this year. ( 50.0% | -0.4 units )

[Can'tPickAWinner]

StatFox Super Situations

NHL | COLORADO at OTTAWA
Play On - Road Teams when the money line is -100 to -150 (COLORADO) poor team - outscored by their opponents by 0.3+ goals/game, after scoring 2 goals or less in 3 straight games
29-7 over the last 5 seasons. ( 80.6% | 21.3 units )
0-1 this year. ( 0.0% | -1.1 units )

NHL | SAN JOSE at NY ISLANDERS
Play Against - Road Favorites against the money line (SAN JOSE) after a close win by 1 goal in their previous game against opponent after scoring 6 goals or more in their previous game
34-18 since 1997. ( 65.4% | 26.6 units )
1-0 this year. ( 100.0% | 1.0 units )

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Giants beat Cards, one win from Series

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Buster Posey and the Giants already know how to win in October - even without all this help from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Even without home runs, or even hits.

Posey drove in three runs and San Francisco took advantage of some clunky defense by first baseman Matt Adams, beating the Cardinals 6-4 on Wednesday night to move within one victory of the World Series.

Chasing their third title in five years, the Giants lead the best-of-seven NL Championship Series 3-1 after poor throws cost the Cardinals yet again.

October ace Madison Bumgarner can pitch San Francisco to another pennant Thursday at home in Game 5. Struggling All-Star Adam Wainwright starts for St. Louis, now facing the same daunting deficit the Giants overcame to beat the Cardinals in the 2012 NLCS.

Kansas City awaits the winner after completing its ALCS sweep of Baltimore earlier in the day. The wild-card Royals will host Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night.

San Francisco climbed out of an early three-run hole, and back-to-back bad throws by Adams in the sixth inning helped the Giants rally - one night after a wild toss by St. Louis reliever Randy Choate allowed the winning run to score in the 10th inning.

''I think any time you can put pressure on the defense, you've got the opportunity for good things to happen,'' Posey said. ''We're able to come up with some big two-out RBIs to get back in the game.''

Minus injured catcher Yadier Molina again, the Cardinals were clinging to a 4-3 lead when San Francisco put runners at second and third in the sixth. Playing in with one out, the lumbering Adams backhanded Gregor Blanco's bouncer and stumbled as he tried to set himself to throw home.

Adams had trouble with the transfer, and his toss short-hopped catcher Tony Cruz as Juan Perez slid across with the tying run.

Joe Panik then hit a grounder right to Adams, who stepped on first base before firing wildly to second in trying for a double play. Brandon Crawford stopped about halfway between third and home, yet was able to score easily when Adams threw wide of the bag.

Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta came way off the base to catch the ball, but had no play at the plate.

''The play at home, there's a fast runner at third and I was going in on the ball and threw on the run,'' Adams said. ''Just should've made the throw, though. The second one, I should've just touched first and checked home.''

Posey added an RBI single off Seth Maness to make it 6-4. The star catcher also had a sacrifice fly in the first and a run-scoring single in the third.

These wild-card Giants joke about not needing hits and home runs to win, and they're showing that with timely bunts, small ball and a few miscues from the opponent. The tying and go-ahead runs came home on balls that didn't leave the infield.

Yusmeiro Petit pitched three scoreless innings to win in relief of an ineffective Ryan Vogelsong. Petit has been a valuable long man - he delivered six shutout innings in an 18-inning NLDS victory at Washington.

''He's been really good for us for a long time and he's finally getting some recognition. What a weapon to have,'' Posey said.

Sergio Romo worked the eighth and Santiago Casilla finished for his second save of the series.

A total of six Giants relievers held St. Louis scoreless over the final six innings.

Marco Gonzales took the loss after issuing a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Perez in the sixth and giving up a single to Crawford.

''A lot of these innings are set up with good at_bats early in innings,'' Giants outfielder Hunter Pence said.

The Giants haven't homered in six games since Brandon Belt connected in the 18th inning at Washington, but it hasn't mattered much.

Cardinals rookie Kolten Wong showed off more postseason power, but his solo homer was wasted.

Vogelsong was the only pitcher in major league history to yield no more than one run in his first five postseason starts, but his streak ended when he gave up four in three innings. San Francisco has still won all six of the postseason games he has started.

SANDOVAL'S STREAK

Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval has reached base in 22 straight postseason games dating to Game 4 of the 2012 NLDS on Oct. 12, 2012. That breaks Barry Bonds' franchise record set from 2002-03. Bonds threw out the ceremonial first pitch Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Wainwright believes he has worked out some kinks in his delivery that have kept him from getting out of the fifth in his first two playoff starts this year. He has allowed eight earned runs and 17 hits in nine innings. ''I just don't want to get a bad rap for not being a good playoff pitcher,'' Wainwright said. ''That's the time I want to shine the most.''

Giants: Bumgarner gave up four hits over 7 2-3 innings for a 3-0 win in Game 1. He pitched a four-hitter in San Francisco's 8-0 wild-card win at Pittsburgh before taking the loss in Game 3 of the NLDS against Washington.