10-17-11

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Kramer

3* New York Jets -6.5

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ROBERT FERRRINGO

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SELECTIONS

5-Unit Play. Take #225 Miami (+7) over N.Y. Jets (8:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17)
I was going to make this a Game of the Year play but the number has just dropped too much.

1-Unit Play. Take 'Under' 43.0 Miami at N.Y. Jets (8:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17)

the Dolphins in this game though and I think that this could be their first win of the season. Just like with the Eagles, people just aren't willing to accept that the Jets aren't that good. They have completely gotten away from their identity as a run-the-ball-and-play-great-defense team. Their defense has actually fallen apart and since they can't run the ball they are putting the offense in the hands of Mark Sanchez, who is pathetic. Miami lost its starting quarterback, Chad Henne, but I don't think that is a bad thing. Henne was missing way too many open throws and I think that Matt Moore will be alright for this team. He is a guy with some experience and prior to last year he was 6-2 in his first eight career starts with the Panthers. The Dolphins have had two weeks to prepare for this game and they are desperate to go out and get that first win of the year. This has been their best role under Tony Sparano - they are 12-4 ATS on the road and they are 10-3 as a road dog - and they have really had the upper hand in this series lately, winning four of five meetings both SU and ATS. The Jets are in a bit of a letdown spot after losing to the Patriots and there are growing issues in this locker room. This team is not as good as they think they are and I expect Miami to be in this one to the end.

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LuckyDaySports

Monday's Comp Play

NFL
Miami +7

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Ice picks: Monday's best NHL bets

Pittsburgh Penguins at Winnipeg Jets (+120, N/A)

The Winnipeg Jets were one of the NHL’s feel-good stories to start the season but things could get ugly unless they pull it together quickly.

Winnipeg dropped a 4-1 decision to Phoenix on Saturday, the club’s third consecutive loss to start the season. Now patience is already wearing thin.

“You’ve got a franchise that is not used to winning and it shows,” Jets coach Claude Noel told reporters Saturday. “This group has gone into a market that is frenzied, and frenzied for winning, and they’ve decided that this is what they are going to show them, so I don’t know.”

He has reason to be upset. The Jets have been outscored 13-5 so far this year and haven’t scored a power play goal in 13 opportunities.

It’s not going to get any easier with Pittsburgh coming to town either. The Pens lost in overtime to Washington before falling 3-2 to Buffalo on Saturday, but this club has been fantastic without Sidney Crosby so far.

Pick: Penguins

Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs (-135, 5.5)

Not many would have predicted the Leafs and Avalanche would have just one loss between them at this point.

The Avs tied a franchise record with their fourth consecutive road win to start the season by downing Montreal 6-5 in a shootout on Saturday while Toronto improved to 3-0 with a win over Calgary.

A lot of the credit for Colorado’s good start should be handed to goaltender Semyon Varlamov. The Avs traded a first round pick to pry the young goaltender away from Washington and the deal looks good now.

He made38 stops Saturday and is holding his club in games as he faces a ton of rubber every night.

"He gave us a chance to win. He made some big saves," Avs coach Joe Sacco said of Varlamov. "I think in the first period, we looked a little bit tired playing four (games) in six nights.”

We like the way Varlamov is playing but the Avs can’t keep giving up so many quality scoring chances.

Pick: Maple Leafs

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Monday’s betting tips: MNF spread hovers around key number

Who’s hot

NFL: Miami is 11-4-1 against the spread in its last 15 road games.

NHL: Florida has won five of its last seven meetings with Tampa Bay.

NHL: Nashville has won 16 of its last 21 meetings with Edmonton.

Who’s not

NFL: The New York Jets are 1-5 against the spread in their last six overall.

NHL: Tampa Bay has lost four straight.

NHL: Winnipeg is 0-3 to start the season.

Key stat

3 – The Miami Dolphins have just three runs of 15 or more yards this season and two of those runs came from quarterback Chad Henne, who is on injured reserve.

Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked

Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins – Malkin is expected to miss Monday’s game at Winnipeg with soreness in his surgically-repaired right knee. He has missed three of the last four games. The Penguins are set as -140 favorites.

Game of the day

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (-6.5, 42.5)

Notable quotable

“They want to fine me, hit me with a $50,000 fine. I’m going to play. The quarter and a half I’m out there, I’m going to play like a monster. I might get into a fight with Bart Scott. (Antonio) Cromartie, we pretty much matured our relationship a little bit. We used to fight in Denver and San Diego. If that happens, it happens. We’ll see.” – Miami wideout Brandon Marshall about breaking out Monday night against the Jets.

Notes and tips

As of Sunday evening, the New York Jets were set as 6.5-point favorites at most books, though a few shops still had the Jets at -7. Almost 68 percent of Covers.com Consensus bettors are backing the Jets, who are 18-6-2 against the spread in their last 26 meetings with the Miami Dolphins. The total is holding steady at 42.5.

Texas Rangers star outfielder Josh Hamilton told a radio station Saturday that he is playing at about 50 percent due to a groin injury. "I’m about 50 percent," Hamilton told ESPN 103.3 FM Radio in Dallas. "I’m going to give you 100 percent of my 50 percent." Hamilton receives daily treatment for the injury, which has bothered him since midway through the regular season. It did not appear to bother him Saturday night, when he made a spectacular running catch in left field in which he collided with the outfield wall. The Rangers won, 15-5, to advance to the World Series for the second straight year. They await the winner of the Milwaukee-St. Louis series. The 2010 American League MVP, Hamilton is batting .293 with seven RBI in the postseason.

San Jose Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi may make his first start of the season on Monday against the Anaheim Ducks. "There’s a real good chance that Nemo gets his first game (on Monday) as long as everything goes as planned," Sharks coach Todd McLellan told the San Jose Mercury News. Niemi has not played since having surgery to remove a cyst. The 28-year-old Finn posted a 35-18-6 mark with six shutouts and a 2.38 goals-against average last season.

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Monday Night Debate: Dolphins at Jets

Well, it may not be the best Monday night matchup we've seen this season, but at least there are a lot of compelling storylines. This line was bouncing around a touchdown and it at New York -6.5 at most books as of Sunday evening. Ashton Grewal gives his three reasons why the Dolphins could cover while Ryan Stetson gives his take on the Jets.

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (-6.5, 42.5)

Why the New York Jets will cover

Because Nick Mangold is expected to play

Center Nick Mangold could easily be the most valuable player on this offense.

His high ankle sprain kept him out of some practices this week and he’s still officially questionable in the injury report, but word is he will play against Miami.

That’s obviously great news for Jets supporters. Mangold holds the line together and at least gives quarterback Mark Sanchez a fighting chance when he drops back in the pocket. Chances are he won’t be 100 percent, but he’s twice the center backup Colin Baxter is.

“He’s a guy that’s been around, played a lot of football, he makes all our calls and he’s a heck of a football player,” running back LaDainian Tomlinson told reporters “ I mean he dominates the guys that he faces every week, so he does make a difference.”

Because New York's special teams will have another huge game

New York’s special teams could give the team a real boost.

Joe McKnight is averaging a ridiculous 45.6 yards per kickoff return, which is about 10 yards better than anybody else in the league. You can pretty much pencil him in for at least one big play every time he suits up. Last weekend he took a kick back 88 yards at New England and also had a 107-yard return for a touchdown against Baltimore.

Meanwhile, the Jets allow the second fewest yards per kickoff return thanks to Nick Folk’s leg. With the club’s total offense checking in at 29th on the totem pole, the special teams will need another big effort.

Because they are desperate for a win

Rex Ryan always insists on letting his players speak their minds, but there’s probably been more negative chatter in his locker room than he’d like right now.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is getting roasted right now about the team’s struggling offense and Santonio Holmes probably took it a little far when he called out the club’s offensive line earlier this week.

The Jets need to give Mark Sanchez more time in the pocket to make this offense go – anybody can see that. The positive side of his outburst is that it highlights the pressure this team is feeling right now. They know they have to turn things around in a hurry and this is their big chance to prove their critics wrong.

This is Ryan’s time and he’ll have the Jets fired up for this one.

Why the Dolphins cover

Because the Dolphins are coming off the bye

Did you read that wicked statistic Jeff Rake mentioned in our article about the bye week? Over the last 10 years, teams coming off the bye were 168-141-8 against the spread entering this season.

The ability to have two weeks to get healthy and game plan for one opponent is a huge advantage. It’s also big for the Phins, who are going through a change a quarterback. The extra week of snaps with the first-string offense will be a bonus for Matt Moore.

Because the Dolphins aren’t playing at home

Okay, I know the Fish are 0-2 on the highway but Tony Sparano’s crew just plays better away from Miami. The Phins are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 away games.

It’s got to help when you don’t have to worry about the boo birds when you’re playing this crappy. Besides, the Jets fans are fed up with Mark Sanchez and could turn on the third-year QB if he comes out with a sloppy first quarter.

Because the Jets want to hit each other in the mouth, not their opponents

The bricking in Gang Green’s locker room goes beyond wideout Santonio Holmes and offensive lineman Brandon Moore. The defense is fed up of running out onto the field with bad field position because of shitty offensive possessions that are becoming the norm, not the exception.

The Jets want to run the ball but the prima dona receivers want the rock more. And Mark Sanchez isn’t elevating his game; it actually seems like he’s regressing. The frustration will boil over if things don’t go well early on for the home side.

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DCI NHL

Season: 19-15 (.559)

TORONTO 4, Colorado 3
TAMPA BAY 3, Florida 2
Pittsburgh vs. WINNIPEG: TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Nashville 3, EDMONTON 2
Anaheim vs. SAN JOSE: TOO CLOSE TO CALL

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Today's NHL Picks
Colorado at Toronto

The Maple Leafs look to take advantage of a Colorado team that is 4-24 in its last 28 games against teams with a winning record. Toronto is the pick (-145) according to Dunkel, which has the Leafs favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-140). Here are all of today's picks.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17
Time Posted 6:00 a.m. EST

Game 51-52: Colorado at Toronto (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado 10.895; Toronto 12.635
Dunkel Line & Total: Toronto by 1 1/2; 4 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Toronto (-140); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-140); Under

Game 53-54: Florida at Tampa Bay (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Florida 11.170; Tampa Bay 10.454
Dunkel Line & Total: Florida by 1/2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay (-165); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Florida (+145); Over

Game 55-56: Pittsburgh at Winnipeg (8:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 11.254; Winnipeg 10.170
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1; 5
Vegas Line & Total: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 57-58: Nashville at Edmonton (9:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 10.848; Edmonton 11.723
Dunkel Line & Total: Edmonton by 1; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Nashville (-125); 5
Dunkel Pick: Edmonton (+105); Over

Game 59-60: Anaheim at San Jose (10:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Anaheim 11.016; San Jose 12.132
Dunkel Line & Total: San Jose by 1; 5
Vegas Line & Total: San Jose (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Jose (-175); Under

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Arthur Ralph Sports

734- 541 57 % Run over 3 YEARS

Free one MON: Tampa NHL

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Mighty Quinn

Mighty hit with the Eagles (-3) Sunday.

Monday it's the Jets. The deficit is 2861 sirignanos.

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Hondo

Hondo's second foray into the wonderful world of parlays ended the same way his first did -- with a first-game KO. The Steelers' loss, along with his NLCS setback with the Brewers, raised the number on the big red deficit toteboard to 3,255 granthams.

Tonight, Mr. Aitch will be Rexstatic if the Jets can back up their bluster for a change and blow out the Fish -- 40 units.

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Gamblers Data

Free Play Monday

Ducks -155

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Sportbook Investing
Play of the Day:

New York Jets -6.5 over Miami Dolphins

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Football Crusher
Play of the Day:

New York Jets -6.5 over Miami Dolphins

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Soccer Crusher
Play of the Day:

Millwall + Brighton & Hove Albion Over 2
This match is happening in England - Championship