6-24-10

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NEW GUYS! LURKERS!

Dont be afraid to post services if you come across them. Your posts will be appreciated for sure.

Just put them in the appropriate section (regular go here).

good luck!!( lets make some money)

post'em if you got'em gl!

[spook]

Re: 6-24-10

COMPPICKS

MLB
Cardinals -135
Mets -120
Rangers -1.5 (-120)
Rockies (-110)

Comppick (free pick)
Orioles -105

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Re: 6-24-10

BASEBALL CRUSHER
PLAY OF THE DAY

Philadelphia Phillies (-152 ) over Cleveland Indians

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Re: 6-24-10

LADY LUCK

Thursday's Best WNBA Bet

Los Angeles Sparks at Washington Mystics (-8, 148.5)
The Los Angeles Sparks got their first taste of life without Candace Parker this past week.

The Sparks, who are without their star forward for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury, fell 78-75 to the Connecticut Sun but managed to cover the spread as 4.5-point home underdogs Friday.

The scrappy Sparks are in a jam. The WNBA salary cap prevents them from signing a replacement for Parker, leaving the team to either waive a player or strike a trade in order to get some help in the frontcourt.

"It definitely makes a difference," Sun forward Tina Charles, who scored 26 points and grabbed 19 rebounds Friday, said of Parker's absence. "When you have size, it makes you more confident out there. They had to worry more because we had a lot of post presence out there."

Los Angeles will run into a very strong Washington frontcourt. The Mystics’ top two scorers are forwards Monique Currie and Crystal Langhorne, who combine for 31 points per game – 40 percent of the team’s overall production.

With Parker sidelined, 6-foot-2 forward Tina Thompson is starting at center while 6-foot-1 forward DeLisha Milton-Jones joins her in the paint. The Sparks have 6-foot-5 rookie Chanel Mokango, who has played sparingly, and 6-foot-2 reserve Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, who scored eight points and pulled down three rebounds Friday.

Pick: Washington Mystics -8

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Re: 6-24-10

WNBA TRENDS AND NOTES
WNBA Trends - Season To Date
By Covers Staff


Straight Up Trends (Won Loss)

Category Record Percent
Away Teams 29-44 39.73%
Home Teams 44-29 60.27%
Favorites 48-25 65.75%
Dogs 25-48 34.25%
Away Favorites 7-3 70.00%
Away Dogs 22-41 34.92%
Home Favorites 41-22 65.08%
Home Dogs 3-7 30.00%
Against The Spread Trends (ATS)

Category Record Percent
Away Teams 39-31-3 55.71%
Home Teams 31-39-3 44.29%
Favorites 32-38-3 45.71%
Dogs 38-32-3 54.29%
Away Favorites 5-4-1 55.56%
Away Dogs 34-27-2 55.74%
Home Favorites 27-34-2 44.26%
Home Dogs 4-5-1 44.44%
Over vs. Under Trends

Category Overs Percent Unders Percent
Overtime Games 3 75.00% 1 25.00%
Non-Overtime Games 37 54.41% 31 45.59%
All Games 40 55.56% 32 44.44%

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Re: 6-24-10

PICKS FOR KICKS

Thursday's Best World Cup Bets

Italy (-212) vs. Slovakia (+400, 2.5)

A draw won’t be good enough for the defending World Cup champions.

While a tie with Slovakia might be adequate for the Italians to advance to the round of 16, they won’t be taking any chances when these two teams meet in the final game of Group F play at Ellis Park Stadium Thursday.

"We're worried," midfielder Daniele De Rossi told reporters. "I said it before and I'll say it again: If we don't make it past the first round it would be a failure."

Italy is currently on the fence in Group F after drawing 1-1 with Paraguay and New Zealand in its first two games. The team’s lackluster offense gets a shot in the arm with the return of standout midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who controls the pace and played a big hand in the country’s 2006 title.

"If we can't win we don't deserve to advance," De Rossi said. "We're Italy and we ought to be able to win one of these three games — otherwise it would only be fair to go home."

The Azzurri will be pressing with the pressure mounting. Slovakia is no pushover but did allow two goals to Paraguay in their second match of the tournament.

Pick: Over 2.5


Cameroon (+316) vs. Netherlands (-158, 2.5)

The Dutch will be looking forward to the round of 16 after claiming their spot in the knockout stage with wins over Denmark and Japan in the opening games of Group E play.

However, while the Netherlands will field plenty of reserves against Cameroon, don’t expect it to just roll over. Cameroon is playing for pride after being eliminated, losing 1-0 to Japan and 2-1 to Denmark.

“I want to finish with dignity in the last game,” Cameroon forward Samuel Eto'o told the media. “We need to go out with some pride, above all for the people back home, though it won't be easy.”

Cameroon was the highest-ranked African team heading into the tournament. With the Netherlands keeping an eye on fitness and careless bookings, this match should play to a 1-1 standstill.

Pick: Draw +228

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Re: 6-24-10

SOCCER NEWS AND NOTES
Thursday's World Cup Look-Ahead Capsules
By AP Staff


Capsules for Thursday's matches at the World Cup (FIFA rankings in parentheses):

Italy - Slovakia

Four-time champion Italy comes off two disappointing draws, but a victory will put it into the next round. Slovakia tied New Zealand and lost to Paraguay.

Italy: Playmaking midfielder Andrea Pirlo, a key to the 2006 title, should be back from a calf injury that sidelined him in the first two matches.

Slovakia: Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss lashed out at his nation's media after a 2-0 loss to Paraguay.

Notable Fact: The last defending champion to go out in the first round was France in 2002. Italy would suffer that ignominious fate if it loses to the Slovaks.

New Zealand - Paraguay

A victory boosts the South Americans into the next round. New Zealand also moves into the round of 16 with a win.

Paraguay: Paraguay is on the brink of a fourth appearance in the final 16 of a World Cup, but has yet to go beyond that stage.

New Zealand: The Kiwis have far surpassed predictions. In their only previous appearance, in 1982, the All Whites lost their three group matches and were outscored 12-2.

Notable Fact: Thus far, South American teams have 10 victories and two draws, with Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil into the second round. Paraguay is in position to join them.

Denmark - Japan

The match will determine who joins the Dutch in the next round. Japan needs at least a draw, while Denmark must win.

Denmark: Striker Nicklas Bendtner hasn't fully recovered from a lingering groin injury, but he scored a goal against Cameroon.

Japan: Japan beat Cameroon 1-0, the team's first World Cup victory on foreign soil. Japan also defended well in its 1-0 loss to the Netherlands.

Notable Fact: The Danes won their group in 2002, their last World Cup, then lost to England in the second round.

Cameroon - Netherlands

The Dutch were the first team to advance even though neither of their victories have featured endearing soccer. Cameroon was the first team eliminated.

Cameroon: Star striker Samuel Eto'o won the Champions League and Italian league title and cup with Inter Milan, but this will be his final game in the 2010 World Cup.

Netherlands: Left wing Arjen Robben appears fully recovered from the left hamstring injury he sustained in a warm-up match against Hungary on June 5 and could play.

Notable Fact: The Netherlands won all eight qualifying games, outscoring opponents 17-2, and has two wins here without yielding a goal.

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Re: 6-24-10

HOT LINES

Today's Best MLB Bets

Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles Angels (-150, 9.5)

The Freeway Series has been more like a one-way street lately, with the Halos holding a four-game winning streak over the Dodgers dating back to last season.

Look for more of the same tonight as the Dodgers are forced to go with knuckleballer Charlie Haeger as their emergency starter.

Haeger, who was called up from the minors where he was rehabbing a sprained big toe and bruised ego, is 0-4 with an 8.53 ERA in the bigs this season.

"You need another start and I think a knuckleballer is a little different than other people," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "You don’t have to worry about arm strength so we’ll see. We’re hopeful he can go out there and get us deep in the game."

Something tells us the Angels will be the ones going deep with Haeger serving up knucklers for supper.

Pick: LA Angels


Boston Red Sox at Colorado Rockies (-115, 9)

So much for Coors Field being a hitters' ballpark. The Rockies pitching staff is changing the attitude about the altitude.

With Ubaldo Jiminez getting most of the attention for Colorado, Jason Hammel has been virtually unhittable at home. He's won five straight starts at Coors Field since returning from the disabled list with a groin injury. He has a 25 1/3-inning scoreless streak and hasn't allowed a run since May 27 at the friendly confines.

"With the DL time, I was able to completely get back to what I'm comfortable doing," said Hammel, who was 0-2 when he went down to injury. "For some reason, things happen, and fluke-ish things happen and you get away from what's comfortable or try to do too much. I've just got back to being Jason Hammel."

The Red Sox counter with another recent DL refugee, Daisuke Matsuzaka, who was activated for this start after rehabbing a strained calf. Unless he had the same turnaround on the DL as Hammel, this is a great price to get a hot home team.

Pick: Colorado Rockies

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Re: 6-24-10

MLB NEWS AND NOTES
Thursday's Streaking And Slumping Starting Pitchers
By Covers Staff


Streakers

Wade LeBlanc, San Diego Padres (4-4, 2.88), San Diego Padres

After losing four consecutive starts in May, LeBlanc has gone back to the basics in June - beginning with strike one.

The strategy has worked in his last three starts, going 2-0 and allowing just two earned runs over his last 19 2/3 innings. He has lasted at least six innings in each of those starts, something he failed to do during his losing skid.

"Getting ahead in the count, strike one ... I've been putting the priority on that in the bullpen sessions and really focusing on and trying to get better at," said LeBlanc. "The last two or three starts, it's starting to pay off."

Gavin Floyd (2-7, 5.20) Chicago White Sox

If this was a marriage, Floyd could sue the socks off the White Sox for non-support. Instead he takes the hill today in search of some justice.

After taking a 1-0 loss in a near-double no-hitter against the crosstown Cubs' Ted Lilly, Floyd settled a no-decision in a 2-1 win against the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg on Friday.

"I just try to focus on what I can do," Floyd said. "... You go out there and put up zeroes and give your team a chance to win."

Floyd is 0-1 in his last three starts despite allowing only 13 hits and three earned runs in 22 innings of work. He has 22 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA during that span.

Scott Kazmir (7-5, 5.08) Los Angeles Angels

After scuttling to a 3-5 record through May, Kazmir has caught fire in June with four consecutive victories in as many starts in June.

Kazmir has allowed two or fewer runs during that span of 28 1/3 innings, which he called "another step in the right direction."

With the Dodgers countering with winless knuckleballer Charlie Haeger, look for him to keep going in the same direction tonight.

Slumping

Wandy Rodriguez (3-10, 6.09) Houston Astros

In a season abuzz with surprise 10-game winners, Rodriguez serves as the only 10-game loser in the majors.

He's earned that distinction in his last three starts, serving up 20 hits and 17 earned runs in just 15 innings of work. There was talk of skipping his turn in the rotation but a shortage of arms allows only for a pep talk for the struggling lefty.

"There are some issues we talked about that we're going to address in the coming days," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "Mechanics is one of them, and some different scenarios, too."

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Re: 6-24-10

NY PLAYERS CLUB

1ST ROUND WIMBLEDON
1* Nicolas Mahut (+105) over John Isner

SOCCER
1* Slovakia +1 (+105)
1* Cameroon/Netherlands DRAW (+270)

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 6-24-10

gill alexander | MLB Money Line Thu, 06/24/10 - 3:40 PM

triple-dime bet 912 SEA (-150) Sportbet vs 911 CHC

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 6-24-10

john fina/winningwaysports
John's Thursday Afternoon (Braves / White Sox) MLB Winner! ***High Rollers Only***
Braves

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 6-24-10

PittViper
Indians +144
Giants -1.5 (+100)
Bos /Col Ov 9 -115

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 6-24-10

Seabass
50* Paraguay un
50* White Sox
50* SD/TB un

[Mr. IWS]

Re: 6-24-10

Andre Gomes | MLB Total Thu, 06/24/10 - 3:40 PM

triple-dime bet 911 CHC / 912 SEA Over Bodog
Analysis:
World Cup Soccer - Netherlands vs Cameroon

*TRIPLE Dime Play‚*

NOTE: with this play if the game ends with 2 goals scored, we lost half the wager and the other half is a push.

Pick: 5 units (Triple Dime Play) on Over 2, 2½ (or 2.25) Goals @ -120