Saturday 8-25-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 05:53 AM

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Arlington
Arlington - Race 10

$2 Win/Place/Show / $1 Exacta / $0.50 Trifecta / $0.10 Superfecta $0.20 Jackpot High-5 (15% takeout)

Claiming $10,000 • 1 Mile • Turf • Ages 3 and up • CR: 91 • Purse: $12,500 • Post: 5:54P
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS OR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 121 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE AT A MILE OR OVER SINCE JULY 25, 2018 ALLOWED 3 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $10,000 (RACES WHERE ENTERED FOR $8,000 OR LESS NOT CONSIDERED IN ELIGIBILITY OR ALLOWANCES). LANE 3. (IF THE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERS IT INADVISABLE TO RUN THIS RACE ON THE TURF COURSE, IT WILL BE RUN ON THE MAIN TRACK AT ONE MILE AND ONE SIXTEENTH).
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds

Race Type: Lone Stalker. STARSTRUCK KITTEN is the Lone Stalker of the race. * KEY ANGLES * STARSTRUCK KITTEN: Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. MCHENRY: Horse has run a Good Race within the las t 30 days. FLATTER THE QUEEN: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. SUMMER DISCO: Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation. RETURN OF THE ROCK: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days.
3
STARSTRUCK KITTEN
5/1

5/1
6
MCHENRY
5/2

7/1
5
FLATTER THE QUEEN
2/1

7/1
9
SUMMER DISCO
8/1

8/1
8
RETURN OF THE ROCK
10/1

9/1

P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
8
RETURN OF THE ROCK
8

10/1
Front-runner
90

86

79.9

76.3

68.8
5
FLATTER THE QUEEN
5

2/1
Front-runner
89

85

75.9

81.2

76.2
3
STARSTRUCK KITTEN
3

5/1
Alternator/Stalker
93

90

75.7

79.2

72.7
9
SUMMER DISCO
9

8/1
Trailer
91

77

71.8

80.8

73.3
6
MCHENRY
6

5/2
Trailer
90

91

54.6

79.2

74.7
7
HIDE THE EVIDENCE
7

30/1
Trailer
80

65

35.6

68.2

53.2
1
FIST FULL
1

6/1
Alternator/Non-contender
79

73

82.5

76.0

66.5
2
MR. STEIN
2

20/1
Alternator/Non-contender
83

78

65.4

65.4

50.4
4
STEALTHY TRAVELER
4

30/1
Alternator/Non-contender
83

75

50.6

72.4

55.9

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 05:56 AM

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

$1 PICK 4 (Races 4-5-6-7) (15% take-out) / .20 PICK 3 (Races 4-5-6) .20 SUPERFECTA / .20 TRIACTOR / EXACTOR / QUINELLA

Claiming $5,000 • 1 Mile • Dirt • Ages 3 and up • CR: 76 • Purse: $8,300 • Post: 8:59P
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 119 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE IN 2018 ALLOWED 2 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds

Race Type: Paceless Race. There is no true early speed in this race. * KEY ANGLES * COOL BREWSKI: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. SMITTYS GUNSLINGER: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. D' POP: Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation. Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days . IFIWANTTO: Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Class Rating at the distance/surface.
1
COOL BREWSKI
6/5

7/2
5
SMITTYS GUNSLINGER
15/1

6/1
3
D' POP
6/1

7/1
7
IFIWANTTO
8/1

10/1

P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
1
COOL BREWSKI
1

6/5
Stalker
80

83

71.1

50.2

45.2
3
D' POP
3

6/1
Alternator/Stalker
74

63

35.1

52.1

44.1
5
SMITTYS GUNSLINGER
5

15/1
Alternator/Trailer
75

62

49.4

55.3

48.8
7
IFIWANTTO
7

8/1
Alternator/Trailer
69

60

40.8

51.2

45.2
2
ROYAL NICK
2

20/1
Alternator/Non-contender
66

52

50.0

50.8

41.3
6
ACTION PACKED
6

12/1
Alternator/Non-contender
57

50

48.0

40.2

29.2
4
TOBILLS
4

4/1
Alternator/Non-contender
69

59

47.4

46.1

36.6

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 05:56 AM

Handicapped by Top Horse Analytics at Del Mar

08/25/18, DMR, Race 2, 2.33 PT
1 1/16M [Turf] 1.39.03 CLAIMING. Purse $34,000.
Claiming Price $32,000. FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON A RACE IN 2018
$1 Exacta / $2 Quinella / .50 Cent Trifecta - $2 Rolling Double / $1 min. Rolling Pick Three - $1 Superfecta (10-cent min.) - .50 Cent Early Pick 4 (Races 2-3-4-5) / $2 WPS Parlay
Best in race - (J)ockey (T)rainer (S)peed (F)inish (E)arnings (W)orkouts (L)ead (C)loser
Top Horse Win Percent 14.06, $1 ROI 0.62, For Race Category Non-Maiden Turf
Rating Pgm# Horse Name M/L Jockey Trainer FLAGS
100.0000 6 Mr. Opportunist 9/2 Figueroa H Kitchingman Adam
099.1556 1 Yes Yes Yes 5-1 Lopez P Miller Peter JT
097.9527 3 Hard Fought 8-1 Roman E A Hess. Jr. Robert B. FL
097.0866 5 Royal Albert Hall (GB) 3-1 Fuentes R Jacobson David S
097.0477 2 Popyhowuspelcupcak 6-1 Conner T Morey William E. WC
096.3099 7 Westwood's Wizard 4-1 Gonzalez S Jones Martin F. E
096.0637 4 Broken Up 7/2 Quinonez A Martin John F.
If Race Is Off Turf
Top Horse Win Percent 29.17, $1 ROI 1.21, For Race Category Non-Maiden Dirt
Rating Pgm# Horse Name M/L Jockey Trainer FLAGS
100.0000 6 Mr. Opportunist 9/2 Figueroa H Kitchingman Adam
099.2139 1 Yes Yes Yes 5-1 Lopez P Miller Peter J
098.3799 2 Popyhowuspelcupcak 6-1 Conner T Morey William E. TWC
098.1388 7 Westwood's Wizard 4-1 Gonzalez S Jones Martin F. E
097.7007 3 Hard Fought 8-1 Roman E A Hess. Jr. Robert B. FL
097.1200 5 Royal Albert Hall (GB) 3-1 Fuentes R Jacobson David S
096.6391 4 Broken Up 7/2 Quinonez A Martin John F.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 05:57 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Evangeline Downs - Race #3 - Post: 6:46pm - Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Turf. Purse: $15,000 Class Rating: 62

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#6 EMPRESS B (ML=5/2)
#5 SUPER SUPER SASSY (ML=4/1)

EMPRESS B - This jockey and conditioner have a positive return on investment when they are put together. Searching through the past performances for this race, I noted right away this animal's last effort was more than meets the eye. Showed good speed, fell back, and then ran evenly. SUPER SUPER SASSY - Ran last race out against a high class rated field at Evangeline Downs. The move down the ladder based on class should suit her well. Modica must think that this filly will adapt to the tight turns at Evangeline Downs, perhaps because she's had success on the turf.

Vulnerable Contenders: #7 THE THRILL IS ON (ML=9/2), #3 BECCA'S WHISPER (ML=5/1), #4 APRIL MAE (ML=6/1),

THE THRILL IS ON - I'd like to see more conducive recent outings with morning line odds of 9/2. BECCA'S WHISPER - Doesn't appear to have enough positive angles to support the reward. APRIL MAE - Somewhat easily forgotten rating in the last race at Evangeline Downs at 6 furlongs. Don't feel this steed will improve too much in today's event.

Top HatGUEST COMMENTARY: The Turf Man - EMPRESS B - Last race turf figure for this filly is superior to the rest of these mounts. You would be wise to consider gambling on this horse.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Putting our cash on #6 EMPRESS B to win. Have to have odds of at least 7/5 or better though

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [5,6]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 05:57 AM

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

Race 5 - Allowance - 400y on the Dirt. Purse: $4500 Class Rating: 85

QUARTER HORSE 400Y, FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. WEIGHT, 120 LBS.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 1 STRIPSTEAK 1/1

# 3 DONT HEZITATE 3/1

# 4 CANADIAN TIMBER 2/1

I think STRIPSTEAK is a competitive choice. Is a solid contender based on figures posted recently under today's conditions. Will probably come out sharp - I have liked the way this gelding has moved rapidly to the lead recently. Should be given a chance in this race if only for the very good speed figure recorded in the last competition. DONT HEZITATE - Ought to be carefully examined here if only for the very good speed fig earned in the last competition. A solid 83 avg Equibase class figure may give this filly a distinct class edge versus this field. CANADIAN TIMBER - Should finish in the top three without any problem. Has earned sound speed figures in short races in the past.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 05:58 AM

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

Race 9 - Allowance - 350y on the Dirt. Purse: $13100 Class Rating: 109

QUARTER HORSE 350Y, FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 122 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS.

RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 4 JESS HAWK 8/5

# 3 FLASH N BLING 2/1

# 1 ELICITY 8/1

JESS HAWK is my choice. Overall the Equibase Speed Figures of this horse look formidable in this race. Has been running admirably lately and should be up on the lead early on. Posted a quite good speed figure last time out. FLASH N BLING - Has very good Equibase Speed Figures and has to be considered for a bet in here. Conditioner has sharp win rate (16 percent) at this distance and surface. ELICITY - Ran a solid last race. Recent figs for the jock - 19 win percent - make this filly stand out in this group of horses in this race.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 05:58 AM

Handicapped by Top Horse Analytics at Saratoga

08/25/18, SAR, Race 3, 12.41 ET
6 1/2F [Dirt] 1.13.04 ALLOWANCE. Purse $87,000.
(UP TO $15,138 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $10,000 OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, STARTER OR STATE BRED ALLOWANCE
Exacta, Trifecta (.50), Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (3-5), Double
Best in race - (J)ockey (T)rainer (S)peed (F)inish (E)arnings (W)orkouts (L)ead (C)loser
Top Horse Win Percent 27.19, $1 ROI 0.83, For Race Category Non-Maiden Dirt
Rating Pgm# Horse Name M/L Jockey Trainer FLAGS
100.0000 6 Hollywood Star 8-1 Ortiz. Jr. I Romans Dale L. JFWC
099.0050 4 Souper Catch 4-1 Franco M Casse Mark E.
098.6521 1 Tommy T 9/5 Rosario J Barbara Robert L
098.2429 8 Silver Dust 7/2 Saez L Calhoun W. Bret
097.0621 2 Fixedincome Larry 20-1 Cohen D Englehart Jeremiah C. T
096.9103 3 Honorable Treasure(b+) 10-1 Hernandez. Jr. B J McPeek Kenneth G.
096.5821 5 Soutache 8-1 Cancel E Nicks Ralph E. SE
095.6770 7 Cerretalto 6-1 Davis D Bond H. James

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 05:59 AM

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Thistledown - Race #8 - Post: 5:10pm - Maiden Claiming - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $9,500 Class Rating: 52

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#8 AMERICAN LOUVE (ML=7/2)
#5 MIA PROMESSA (ML=6/1)

AMERICAN LOUVE - Each one of this filly's recent finish positions has been progressively better. Horses that finish in the place spot in Maiden races and finish well ahead of the third horse are generally good bets next time out. Wolochuk drops her down to this class. You don't need too much more data to figure that this thoroughbred has a shot at this level. Traditional handicapping theory - 3rd or 4th start after a layoff generally leads to a big effort. Going to run a good one. MIA PROMESSA - Last race out on July 27th was a good tune-up for today. Got pretty good betting action in that one, but finished tenth. Expect better right here. I sense a pace scenario where the pace will fade, setting up a perfect situation for her late kick. Puhl moves this filly to the main track today. Look for a significant improvement from the most recent race on the grass.

Vulnerable Contenders: #10 SHARI'S TIME (ML=9/2), #11 LITTLE TITA (ML=5/1), #6 KELLS (ML=6/1),

SHARI'S TIME - Hard to keep chasing this sort of 'hanger' horse. LITTLE TITA - You think this horse is going to win just because she's always close. Just doesn't get the job done often. KELLS - If you keep choosing these sort of 'bridesmaid' types, you're going to be let down most every time.

Top HatGUEST COMMENTARY: Winston - MIA PROMESSA - I enjoy betting on big class droppers like this one. Much easier group this time out.

STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Go with #8 AMERICAN LOUVE on top if we're getting at least 8/5 odds

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [5,8]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Skip

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Skip

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 06:01 AM

Chiefs vs. Bears Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 22nd August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/22/2018

The Chicago Bears have a tough assignment because they have to contend with three teams in their own NFC North division who have the capability of making the playoffs. And so the question is whether they have done enough in the way of improvements to make themselves relevant. First-year coaches sometimes find success right away, and maybe Matt Nagy can catch lightning in a bottle.

The Kansas City Chiefs are beginning a new "era," if you will, as they have handed the ball to a new quarterback, trading the previous one who had guided them to playoff appearances. So in a sense, this is like starting over, and they are going to have to live with the mistakes a near-rookie is going to make at the game's most critical position.

Previews and Predictions for the NFL

The Bears have already played in three pre-season games (remember that they were in the Hall of Fame Game) and last week they beat Denver 24-23. The Chiefs scored a 28-14 win over an indifferent Atlanta team. Now, these clubs meet at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday afternoon.

TV: 1 PM ET, NFL Network. LINE: Bears -2. O/U: 47.5

ABOUT THE CHIEFS: In the win over Atlanta, three quarterbacks got a lot of work. Patrick Mahomes, of course, is the guy most Chiefs fans are interested in, and he was 8-12 for 138 yards. He was also intercepted. Chad Henne, a long-time backup with Jacksonville and one-time starter in Miami, had a 135.4 passer rating, and Matt McGloin, who has started for the Raiders in the past, was sharp, completing nine of 10. That would leave Chase Litton, the rookie from Marshall, as the odd man out, although there does exist the possibility that he could be put on the practice squad. Charcandrick West, the Chiefs rushing leader in the 2015 season, was cut from the squad this week. West was dealing with a concussion during training camp and yielded very little production last season, with the arrival of Kareem Hunt. Ultimately there was no room for him, but releasing him gives the Chiefs more than $1.6 million of additional salary cap room. And before camp began. Spencer Ware, part of the backup crew at RB, restructured his contract to make it more incentive-driven. And by the way, the running backs did not perform well against Atlanta, averaging just over two yards per carry. Orlando Scandrick has been signed to a contract and will provide some depth, at the very least, for a secondary that has been hit by injuries. The Chiefs have not disqualified the possibility that they could seek even more veteran help in the defensive backfield.

ABOUT THE BEARS: Roquan Smith, the first-round draft pick who recently ended a holdout and signed a contract, has hamstring issues, which may not be the most unexpected thing in the world. It's held him out of some practice, but how it is going to affect him for an extended period is anybody's guess. Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, a veteran standout, at out the Denver game with knee issues that happened all of a sudden. Leonard Floyd, the outstanding edge rusher, had to have surgery on his hand last week. It's not the kind of thing that is going to put him out for the year, but it might prevent him from making it to the season opener. In any event, you are going to be looking at a guy who's heavily wrapped or even has a cast in a broken right hand. These are three players the Bears are going to have to get a major contribution from, especially early in the season, while they wait for Mitchell Trubisky to develop into the kind of quarterback they think he'll be. While there is a new offensive system being employed, at least the defensive scheme didn't have to change, with Vic Fangio being kept on board as coordinator. Trubisky completed nine of 14 passes against the Broncos, while Chase Daniel gave Chicago great second-half work with 189 yards and two touchdowns, which helped overcome a 13-point Bronco lead in the fourth quarter. Newly-acquired tight end Trey Burton had four catches for 45 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Trubisky, who visited with Peyton Manning last week, revealed that he had gone to Manning during his junior year at North Carolina for some feedback on whether to enter the NFL Draft. Manning said Trubisky wrote his questions down and was very organized. "That really jumped out to me and I think that kind of discipline and eagerness to learn will help him be a better player."

2. Kansas City offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who is also currently a practicing physician, was recently featured on HBO's magazine show, "Real Sports." Teammates don't negotiate his full name but instead just call him "Larry."

3. Andy Reid is now 36-42 straight-up and 35-42-1 against the pointspread in his career as an NFL coach in the pre-season.

PREDICTION: Bears 21, Chiefs 20

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 06:01 AM

Titans vs. Steelers Preview and Predictions in NFL

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that knows what to do when the bell rings. So no one should be interpreting their pre-season results as any indication of what they are going to do in the regular season.

At the same time, when you go into one of these exhibitions without any of your big guns, and the other team is sufficiently motivated, the results could get ugly, as we saw last week from Mike Tomlin's club. So it is perhaps worthwhile to check on who is going to play and who isn't when they go into this "dress rehearsal" game on Saturday afternoon against the Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee, of course, is moving forward with a new head coach (Mike Vrabel), even though they made the playoffs last season. And they have not been very impressive when it comes to slowing down passing games of any kind, even when they have starters in the ballgame.

Last week the Titans dropped a 30-14 decision to the Tampa Bay Bucs, the week after allowing 31 points to the Green Bay Packers, the team that waxed Pittsburgh last week to the tune of 51-34.

And now the Steelers and Titans clash at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on the NFL Network.

TV: 4 PM ET, NFL Network. LINE: Steelers -4. O/U: 45.5

ABOUT THE TITANS: The secondary has to be something of a concern. When they played the Packers, they were giving up all kinds of big plays, and undrafted free agent quarterbacks like Tim Boyle were moving through them with ease. And last week against Tampa Bay, they were torched in joint practice sessions and then in the game itself, as they were going against Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston, who both had to get some meaningful reps. Marcus Mariota played for an abbreviated period but had a screen pass to Taywan Taylor go for a touchdown. Taylor later had a second TD catch from Blaine Gabbert. Drafted in the third round out of Western Kentucky last season, Taylor is one of those guys Vrabel would like to be able to count on a little more, after making just sixteen receptions last season. Linebacker Rashaan Evans, the first-round draft pick out of Alabama, had missed three weeks of practice for something rather mysterious, but referred to by Vrabel as "heat-related." He has been off to the side most of the time, working out separately from the team, and, according to him, he has taken this time to learn the defense a lot better. He is now "chomping at the bit" to get into his first NFL action. Jack Conklin, the All-Pro right tackle who tore his ACL in the playoffs last season, has been working out on the side fields too, and although he probably won't be entered into either of these last two pre-season contests, he could come back into the lineup during the first month of the regular season. Currently, the Titans are +300 to win the AFC South and +3500 to win Super Bowl 53.

ABOUT THE STEELERS: Pittsburgh was without a lot of personnel for last week's game against the Packers. Ben Roethlisberger sat out, as did his backup, Landry Jones, along with Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, who hasn't even been in camp. This left the starting gig to Mason Rudolph, the third-round draft choice out of Oklahoma State, who had his first pass picked off and returned for a touchdown. The rookie's numbers on the day were five of 12 for 47 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and three sacks. Joshua Dobbs, a second-year man who is not necessarily ready to take over the backup job, threw for 192 yards and rushed for 27 more. Big Ben, who has been held out of most of camp, partially due to a concussion scare, may play some on Saturday, although you could tell from Mike Tomlin's demeanor that he didn't think it was absolutely necessary. "He just quite frankly does not require as many reps to be ready to play as a younger, less experienced player," the head coach said. Antonio Brown will likely see some action as well, and the Steelers are starting to strongly believe that they have found someone to complement him and Juju Smith-Schuster in a nice three-receiver set. Rookie second-rounder James Washington, Rudolph's teammate at Oklahoma State, has been catching almost everything thrown his way in camp, and against the Packers, he had 114 yards receiving and a pair of TD's. Ironically, even though he and Rudolph made for a record-setting duo in college, both of his scoring catches came from Dobbs. The Steelers are a solid -265 favorite to win the AFC North and +850 to win the Super Bowl. Tomlin has a record of 29-22 SU and 22-26 ATS in pre-season games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tennessee yielded 226 passing yards to Jameis Winston in just one-quarter of action, the most by any QB against any team in one period in this pre-season.

2. Steelers wideout Eli Rogers has been suspended one game by the NFL for an illegal substance. He is recovering from an ACL injury, so it was unlikely that he would have been ready for Week 1 anyway.

3. Wide receiver Rishard Matthews, who has caught 118 passes the last two seasons, signed a one-year contract extension that will have him committed to the Titans through 2019. At the moment, he is on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

PREDICTION: Steelers 24, Titans 23

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 06:01 AM

Texans vs. Rams Preview and Predictions in NFL in NFL

NFL Previews 23rd August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/23/2018

The Los Angeles Rams were embarrassed enough about their no-show against the Baltimore Ravens in the first week of the pre-season that they put forth an honest effort last week against Oakland and came out on top. This may not be much of a priority for second-year head coach Sean McVay, who turned this offense around so dramatically that it went from last to first in the NFL. And this team pulled out all the stops to bolster the defense, as they launch a full-scale attack against the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings in the NFC.

The Houston Texans had almost as many people on injured reserve last season as they did on the active roster. And that included quarterback DeShaun Watson, who helped this offense come alive. So naturally one priority is to get as many players as possible to the starting gate in one piece.

See all the Preseason Previews

The Texans scored a 16-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers last week, while the Rams beat the Raiders 19-15. Now they'll meet in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a Saturday afternoon contest.

TV: 4PM ET, Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Rams -3 (-125). O/U: 42

ABOUT THE TEXANS: Watson threw for 73 yards on his first drive, culminating in a touchdown pass that capped off an eventful first quarter. Brandon Weeden, the veteran backup, was largely ineffective, and Joe Webb, the jack-of-all-trades who originally came into the league as a quarterback, went 10 of 19 and took the team down for the final touchdown that won it. Houston sat most of its defense for the game, including JJ Watt, Johnathan Joseph, Jadeveon Clowney and Tyrann Mathieu. We presume they will see some activity in this Saturday's game. Cornerback Kevin Johnson was defending a pass and landed with his head first on the ground, which sent him to the hospital with a concussion. So you can expect they'll be extra careful with him. Speaking of injuries, JJ Watt is not fazed much by the back and leg injuries that have limited him to just eight games in the last two seasons. He's dominant when healthy; enough to have been named the Defensive Player of the Year three times. He's okay with the whole experience: "I think I'm going to come out stronger because of it," he says. The Texans are priced at +175 to win the AFC South this season and +1750 to win the Super Bowl.

ABOUT THE RAMS: Sean McVay has given almost no playing time to his starters in the first two pre-season games, but in the third game they are going to get the opportunity to play some snaps. That includes cornerback Marcus Peters, who was one of the big-name acquisitions the team made in the off-season. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips obviously believes Peters is ideal for his scheme, and that his style will have him making a lot of big plays. “I’m not sure it’s gambling," said Phillips. "He’s kind of like the casino, he’s not the gambler. He makes the right decisions and has the percentages on his side." Another defensive starter was caught up in some mild controversy just recently. Ndamukong Suh, who joined the Rams after being a member of the Miami Dolphins, made a remark on a post on the NFL's Instagram account that was interpreted as a slight toward Miami's run defense. "Right up the gut lol" was the comment, in response to the Dolphins giving up a 71-yard TD run to Carolina's Christian McCaffrey. Suh says he was just having some fun and that there are "no hard feelings" against the Dolphins, who had released him. Right tackle Rob Havenstein has been signed to a four-year contract extension worth $32.5 million, which contains $16 million in guaranteed funds. It will make him the third highest-paid player at his position in the NFL. The Rams are the -190 favorites in the NFC West, and they are also one of the favorites for Super Bowl honors, priced at +850.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Altovise Gary, who had been with the Texans' organization for seventeen years and was director of the team's cheerleaders, resigned. She had been named in a lawsuit by cheerleaders who claimed a hostile work environment.

2. Aaron Donald, the All-Pro defensive lineman, is still holding out, and McVay acted as though that was not a big concern. Does he plan to have any further conversations with Donald soon? "“I’ll reach out to him, but these guys are doing such a good job that are here right now," said McVay. As he knows, none of them are Donald.

3. Wade Phillips is about as good a candidate as any to go into the Hall of Fame someday as an assistant. He came to McVay's staff from Denver, where he was defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Broncos. He was also the Texans' D-coordinator from 2011-13, and served as interim head coach in 2013 as well.

PREDICTION: Rams 24, Texans 17

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 06:01 AM

49ers vs. Colts Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 24th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/24/2018

Well, the San Francisco 49ers appear to be very pleased with the way their quarterback situation is panning out. And they will need some solid play from that position if they want to contend for the NFC West title. The defense needs an upgrade as well, and we'll get a look this weekend at how their top newcomer is coming along after an injury.

The Indianapolis Colts are monitoring the progress of their starting quarterback, Andrew Luck, and who has the ability to make them a fringe contender, at the very least, when he's around. He has stayed healthy thus far, but they are looking for something more than that. The new coaching staff seems aggressive and wants to look good in the pre-season.

Preseason NFL Predictions

Last week, San Francisco lost 16-13 to the Houston Texans, while Indianapolis dropped a 20-19 decision to the Baltimore Ravens. On Saturday afternoon these teams will get together at Lucas Oil Stadium.

TV: 4:30 PM ET, Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Pick'em. O/U: 43.5

ABOUT THE 49ERS: Jimmy Garoppolo was impressive once again last week, as he completed 10 out of 12 passes with a touchdown, and looked like he might've been able to take his team on another scoring drive, but Dante Pettis, the second-round draft choice who has impressed a lot of people so far, let one hit off his hands and get intercepted. And coach Kyle Shanahan wanted to send his team out for another drive but thought better of it. The other quarterbacks were not too bad; Nick Mullens completed six out of seven for 37 yards, and CJ Beathard was 10-17 for 82 yards. This week, Richard Sherman should see some playing time. The former All-Pro cornerback, who was signed as a free agent in the off-season, has sat out the first two games, mostly because even in the midst of recovering from his Achilles injury, he had to deal with hamstring issues. In an interesting press conference, he was questioned about getting beat in practice drills by some of the 49er wide receivers. He mentioned that in that kind of setting, it meant nothing, and then turned the tables on some of the writers when he suggested it was kind of like a "rough draft" they might write that would conceivably be seen by the public. And by the way, Sherman considers the NFL's new helmet rule "idiotic." An encouraging sign on the defensive side is that Reuben Foster, last year's top pick who has experienced some off-the-field troubles, made four solo tackles. San Francisco is priced at +250 to win the NFC West and +2000 to go all the way and win the Super Bowl.

ABOUT THE COLTS: Andrew Luck was not 100% pleased with his performance against Baltimore, and there was a good reason for it. He completed only six of his 13 passes, sustaining an interception and two sacks. Jacoby Brissett threw for 172 yards in relief. Philip Walker, the third-string quarterback, did not necessarily do a really good job moving the team, but there was a bit of fortune after the Colts blocked a punt in the last two minutes. Walker threw a touchdown pass but then failed on a two-point conversion run. Perhaps this week will mark the pre-season debut of TY Hilton, who is back practicing after a shoulder injury. It would be nice to see Luck have his best wide receiver at his disposal. One of the most impressive players in camp is Quenton Nelson, the first-round draft pick out of Notre Dame, who has graded out highly in almost all situations and more or less has a lock on the left guard position. And the Colts will need him in order to protect Luck, who should play at least through the first half on Saturday, and might just start to go deeper down the field, something he hasn't really done in his first two pre-season stints. Certainly, something has to kick-start the first-team offense, which gained only 44 yards on five drives last week. The Colts are priced at +400 to win the AFC South and +5500 to win Super Bowl 53.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alfred Morris is in camp with the Niners and hopes to add some depth at the running back position. He gained almost 2900 yards in his first two years in the NFL, playing in Kyle Shanahan's offense in Washington. "I still have too much juice to give," says Morris.

2. Bob Lamey, an announcer for the Colts who spent almost 30 years on the mic, retired after he had been discovered using a racial slur off the air. Lamey, a local legend, is 80 years old.

3. 49ers general manager John Lynch was adamant in pointing out that running back Jerick McKinnon was not going to experience anymore pre-season action due to a calf strain. The team is hopeful that he'll make it for the regular-season opener.

PREDICTION: Colts 26, 49ers 20

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 06:02 AM

Ravens vs. Dolphins Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 24th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/24/2018

The Baltimore Ravens are following a familiar pattern in the pre-season, in that they are winning games. Usually, that has translated into success in the regular season, and they certainly hope they can close the gap between themselves and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

The Miami Dolphins obviously have a long way to go before they can be legitimate challengers to the supremacy of the New England Patriots in the AFC. Are they making progress toward that goal? Well, they will have to overcome some unconventional personnel moves in the off-season, which left some Dolphin fans scratching their heads.

All NFL Football Predictions

Last week the Ravens improved their pre-season record to 3-0 with a narrow 20-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins lost 27-20 to the Carolina Panthers. Now, these teams will face each other at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL.

TV: 7 PM ET, Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Pick'em. O/U: 41.5.

ABOUT THE RAVENS: So far Baltimore has had one blowout victory (over the Rams) and a pair of one-point wins in the pre-season. One of the things they have been watching very closely is the progress of first-round draft pick Lamar Jackson at quarterback. And they are concerned that he is running from the pocket too much and taking too many hits. Jackson has 72 yards rushing in his three appearances, but he has demonstrated that he is far from being a polished NFL quarterback when it comes to connecting with his receivers, completing just 41.8% of his passes for 201 yards. Because Robert Griffin III has been pretty impressive, it's becoming more and more likely that John Harbaugh will keep three quarterbacks around. One of the real pleasant surprises in camp is right tackle Orlando Brown, who fell to the third round of the draft after putting up some woeful numbers at the combine, including a 5.85 time in the 40-yard dash. But he has come to Baltimore and done everything they've asked of him, including making himself more solid and agile. And he may wind up as the starter. "He shows up in practice like he shows up on film," says Joe Flacco. Patrick Ricard continues to perform his unusual act of double-duty, playing both defensive tackle and fullback. Last year, the 310-pounder played 143 offensive snaps and 37 on defense. He also had more tackles (five) than pass receptions (four). The Ravens are priced at +200 to win the AFC North, +1750 to capture the AFC championship, and +3500 to win the Super Bowl.

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS: Ryan Tannehill, who is trying to come back from an ACL injury that kept him out all last season, found the mark against Carolina, going 14-17 for 100 yards. Brock Osweiler got some quality time in as well, completing ten out of 13 throws. But the defensive line took little abuse from one former member. Christian McCaffrey of the Panthers broke through for a 71-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and former All-Pro Ndamukong Suh, reacting to that play on the NFL's Instagram account, said: "Right up the gut LOL." Yet he claims he has no hard feelings toward the club, which released him before the Rams picked him up. Veteran Frank Gore, who played his college ball at Miami and was signed by the Dolphins as a free agent, should see his first pre-season playing time on Saturday. He is a little long in the tooth for an NFL running back but is expected to take some of the load off Kenyan Drake, who they see as a potential feature back well into the future. Former first-round draft pick Devante Parker, who has never fully come around as a wide receiver, broke his finger and is at the moment unavailable. Minkah Fitzpatrick, this year's top draft pick, is being moved around to a number of different roles in the secondary, and in drills, he is excelling at all of them. That could be his niche this season. Meanwhile, the second-round draft pick, tight end Mike Gesicki from Penn State, has not caught a pass yet in the pre-season. The Dolphins are priced at +600 to win the AFC East, +4500 to be AFC champions, and +8500 to win Super Bowl 53.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Gabe Wright, a third-year defensive lineman out of Auburn, was cut by Miami after he blindsided Drake, who had his helmet off, during practice. That was a big statement about comportment on the part of coach Adam Gase. Wright was subsequently picked up by the Oakland Raiders.

2. Baltimore cornerback Jimmy Smith, who was suspended for the last four games of 2017 regular-season on a substance abuse violation, will miss the first four games this year due to a domestic violence rap. The suspension was originally six games, but then he appealed and had it cut back.

3. With last week's win, Ravens coach John Harbaugh is now 31-12 straight-up and 28-15 ATS in the pre-season.

PREDICTION: Ravens 24, Dolphins 20

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 08-25-2018, 06:02 AM

Falcons vs. Jaguars Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 24th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/24/2018

The Atlanta Falcons know that their best chance to get back to the Super Bowl would be to duplicate the offensive explosiveness that they showed two seasons ago. Maybe they can do that; maybe they can't. But we will see what they're fully capable of in the pre-season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a team whose best hopes lie in being able to play dominant defense. There's simply no two ways about it. Offensively, they gained a lot of yards last season, ranking sixth in the league, but still have to figure out how to be more dynamic on that side of the football.

National Football League Game Previews

The Falcons and Jaguars will get together on Saturday night at EverBank Field in Jacksonville. The Jags are coming off a 14-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, while Atlanta suffered its second straight pre-season loss, falling 28-14 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

TV: 7 PM ET, Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Jaguars -3 (-105). O/U: 40

ABOUT THE FALCONS: Matt Ryan had what had to be considered very satisfactory performance at quarterback last week, completing five out of seven passes for 90 yards. First-round draft pick Calvin Ridley caught three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown, but the score did not come from Ryan, but rather backup quarterback Matt Schaub. During the first TD drive., Tevin Coleman had two nice runs of fifteen yards apiece. So there were some very encouraging signs. Everybody knows that Julio Jones is going to be Ryan's main target this season, but Ridley is perhaps seen as the most viable guy to come along as a potential complement for him. It's quite possible that he is going to be the team's top kickoff returner as well. "I want to get the ball," says Ridley. "That's another way for me to get it." Ryan didn't seem all that fazed by the comments made by Jacksonville defensive back Jalen Ramsey in a recent interview with GQ, in which he called the former MVP "overrated." Neither Julio Jones nor Devonta Freeman saw any action last week, and that is by design. Head coach Dan Quinn's plan is that both of them will sit out the entire pre-season, as they really don't need the same kind of reps as younger players to get their timing down.

ABOUT THE JAGUARS: The Jacksonville offense was not exactly operating at top-level efficiency last week against Minnesota, which may be understandable since the Vikings were the only team in the NFL with a higher-rated defense than they had, and the two teams that already had a couple of joint practices. Blake Bortles was 12-20 for 159 yards, while Cody Kessler had the ball in his hands at the end, completing eleven of 16. TJ Yeldon had over 100 yards from scrimmage (39 rushing, 73 receiving), and Rashad Greene, who was out all of last season with a back injury, had a 56-yard punt return to set up the winning touchdown. The Jaguars' offensive line allowed six quarterback sacks, and the team was penalized 13 times for 140 yards. So they definitely have to work on some fundamentals. First-round draft pick Taven Bryan, a defensive tackle out of the University of Florida, missed the first two games with an abdomen injury but is expected to play against Atlanta. One very pleasant surprise in camp has been seventh-round-draft-pick, Leon Jacobs, a linebacker from Wisconsin who has played more games at the FBS level in college football (59) than anyone else. Myles Jack says he has been "awesome," and Jacobs has already risen to #1 on the depth chart.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Atlanta has been outscored 45-14 in the first two games. Dan Quinn is now 4-10 ATS as a head coach in the pre-season.

2. Jacksonville head coach Doug Marrone has shrugged off comments that came in Philadelphia coach Doug Peterson's book, in which he sharply criticized Marrone for having his Jags take a knee with 55 seconds left in the first half of last year's AFC Championship Game. "You've got to be kidding me right now," was Peterson's recollection of his reaction when he saw that coaching move.

3. Last year offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was calling plays from upstairs in the coaching box, as per Quinn's edict. But this season it looks like it will be in a more comfortable place for him, which is on the sidelines. Quinn seems to be fine with that – at least for the time being.

PREDICTION: Jaguars 24, Falcons 16

Saturday 8-25-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Saturday 8-25-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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