Friday 11/6/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (3-2) at Pacers (2-3)

Date: November 06, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

The Miami Heat were the first team Paul George faced last season following his lengthy recovery from a gruesome injury.

The Indiana Pacers forward will try to show them how far he's come Friday night in Indianapolis while building on the best scoring performance of his comeback.

It took a little more than eight months for George to appear in a game after he suffered compound fractures in his lower right leg in a Team USA scrimmage Aug. 1. That return came April 5 in a 112-89 home win over the Heat.

George had 13 points in 14-plus minutes and hit two 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to help Indiana pull away. Considering what he overcame, his stats mattered little in 2014-15 as he averaged 8.8 points on 36.7 percent shooting in six games.

George looks like he's back to his former All-Star self this season with 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game despite some shooting struggles. He didn't have too many issues knocking down 3-pointers Wednesday, going 5 of 11 from beyond the arc while scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 boards in a 100-98 win over Boston.

The Pacers (2-3) still needed Monta Ellis' free throws with 13.7 seconds left to post a second straight victory.

"I think we're just starting to complete quarters. I thought we played well against the first three opponents, but we just failed to play a complete game. We were very dull in the fourth quarter when we needed to be our best," George said. "I think our will forced this win."

Indiana went 3-1 against Miami last season despite George missing most of those matchups.

The Heat (3-2) have alternated wins and losses through five games but had their finest defensive performance Thursday, limiting Minnesota to 35.3 percent shooting in a 96-84 victory. They held No. 1 overall draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns to his first single-digit scoring night as a pro, six points on 3-of-13 shooting.

That came a day after veteran guard Gerald Green was hospitalized for unspecified reasons. It's unclear when Green, averaging 10.3 points, will return. He played 60 games for the Pacers in 2012-13.

Dwyane Wade, meanwhile, had 25 points after dealing with a migraine in a 98-92 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday. Wade has scored at least 20 points in each of the first five games and has shot a combined 55.9 percent in the past two after going 11 of 19 on Thursday.

"You love to see it because when we see him at the facility as much as the staff, what you see is the commitment," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Players have to adapt with age, and hopefully he's like a fine wine."

Wade is shooting 55.0 percent in his last six games in Indiana - three during the 2014 Eastern Conference finals - and scored 27 in the loss in April. Miami has dropped eight of nine there including the playoffs.

C.J. Miles totaled 42 points in the Pacers' two home wins over Miami last season, but his status is unclear because of an injured right ankle that kept him out Wednesday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Hawks (5-1) at Pelicans (0-4)

Date: November 06, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

Alvin Gentry's fast-paced offense that helped him win a title with Golden State as an assistant last season only can be considered efficient if his players knock down the open jumpers it's designed to create.

The main reason he's still searching for his first victory is because the New Orleans Pelicans simply aren't doing that.

New Orleans looks to end its worst start in 11 years Friday night when it hosts an Atlanta Hawks team seeking a sixth straight win.

Gentry knew he wasn't inheriting shooters like reigning MVP Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson when he took the job with the Pelicans after the high-scoring Warriors thrived in his system and won the franchise's first championship in 40 years.

But he probably also didn't envision watching his new club shoot just 40.9 percent during an 0-4 start. Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Jrue Holiday all are shooting below that mark.

New Orleans has lost twice to Gentry's former team while getting off to its worst start since dropping the first eight of 2004-05. Davis, who shot 53.5 percent from the field and averaged 24.4 points last season, has been facing a number of double- and triple-teams with opponents focusing on making someone else beat them.

Not only is Davis struggling, but his teammates haven't been able to hit shots when he passes out of it. He made 3 of 12 from the field and finished with 14 points in Tuesday's 103-94 loss to Orlando.

"I've just got to find the (open) guy, try to make the right play, which I'm trying to do," Davis told the team's official website. "Then it's on the guys to knock down the shots. Once they do that, then (the defense) can't double and triple team as much, because we have guys who can shoot the ball.

'I just want to be the best I can be to help the team win. I feel I'm not doing it right now."

Injuries haven't helped. Tyreke Evans (right knee), Quincy Pondexter (left knee) and Norris Cole (left ankle) all have yet to play, and Omer Asik has seen just 10 minutes while battling a right calf strain. Kendrick Perkins is out with a right pectoral issue.

"Some of the guys that can help (Davis) are not healthy yet," Gentry said. "But we still have to get into a rhythm offensively. The missed shots don't bother me as long as they're good shots, but some of the shots we're taking are not very good shots.

"We've got a lot of work to do."

The Pelicans have won four of the last five meetings with the Hawks. Davis is averaging 26.0 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 52.9 percent in the last four.

Atlanta (5-1) has been coming together defensively, though, and outscored Brooklyn by 12 in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's 101-87 home win. It has held opponents to 94 points or fewer over the last four and totaled 15 steals and 10 blocks against the Nets.

Paul Millsap had five steals to go along with 12 points and nine boards, while Al Horford finished with 21 points and two blocks.

"Guys were moving, guys were active on defense," Millsap said. "If we do that every night, those kinds of things will happen."

Dennis Schroder scored 20 points starting in place of Kyle Korver, who got the night off to rest his surgically repaired right ankle. Korver could be back for this matchup.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Pistons (3-1) at Suns (3-2)

Date: November 06, 2015 9:30 PM EDT

Marcus Morris had some choice words for the Suns after being traded from the team that gave him a contract extension, and his fuming twin brother sent a tweet that said 'my future will not be in Phoenix.'

Although Markieff Morris remains with the Suns, Marcus could have some extra motivation to continue his solid start Friday night when he returns to Phoenix for the first time since a July deal to the Detroit Pistons that he said was a "slap in the face."

The former Kansas stars were reunited over the past two-plus seasons before Phoenix (3-2) moved Marcus Morris and two other players in an offseason salary dump after the forwards had signed extensions with the club before the 2014-15 season.

The trade rankled the twins, who have spent most of their lives playing together. Markieff Morris was fined $10,000 for making 'a public statement detrimental to the NBA" after expressing his desire to leave the Suns in the wake of the deal.

'Everybody knew how bad I wanted to play with my brother," Marcus said during his Detroit introduction. "Phoenix knew. For them to trade me without consent or telling or anything like that was kind of like a, I would say slap in the face, because of the contract I took from those guys and the money I took from them."

Markieff no longer wants to talk about what happened in the offseason. He has averaged 14.5 points while helping the Suns win three of their last four games, though he's only shooting 34.3 percent this season.

He had 11 points, one of six Suns in double figures, in Wednesday's 118-97 win over Sacramento. Markieff did not practice Thursday due to an illness but is expected to play.

While Markieff is struggling so far without his brother, Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy has played a key role in helping Marcus adjust and move on. He's averaging 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds for the surprising Pistons (3-1).

"I like the toughness," Marcus told the team's official website. "I feel like I fit straight in. I feel like I'm home. I'm ready to go. Happy to be here and ready to contribute."

Markieff drew the ire of the Pistons when he said Kentavious Caldwell-Pope showed a lack of heart with a missed buzzer-beater in the Suns' 88-86 road win Nov. 19. Caldwell-Pope got some revenge by hitting a late 3-pointer in Detroit's 105-103 victory Dec. 13 that snapped a six-game skid at Phoenix.

Andre Drummond sank a free throw with 2.5 seconds left in that contest, finishing with 23 points and 14 rebounds. He had 25 points and a career-high 29 rebounds in Tuesday's 94-82 home loss to Indiana, putting up the franchise's second 25-25 game in the last 30 years.

Drummond also had his sixth game with at least 10 points, 10 offensive rebounds and 10 defensive rebounds, tying Tyson Chandler for the lead among active players.

Chandler, acquired from Dallas in the offseason, ranks among the league leaders with 11.6 rebounds per game while also helping to improve the Suns' interior defense. Phoenix opponents are making an NBA-low 11.5 field goals per game within six feet.

Detroit will have to worry about Phoenix's backcourt after Eric Bledsoe had 19 points and eight assists and former Piston Brandon Knight had 17 and 7 on Wednesday. Bledsoe, averaging a team-high 20.6 points, has scored 19.0 per game in his last three meetings.

'I think Eric came in this year with a different mentality,' coach Jeff Hornacek said. 'He knows that for us to get to another level, he's got to bring it every game we're out there."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Rockets (2-3) at Kings (1-4)

Date: November 06, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

While the Sacramento Kings haven't been competitive without their star big man, the Houston Rockets may be without theirs Friday night when these teams meet.

It appears that DeMarcus Cousins will be out again for the Kings, who open a six-game homestand against a Rockets team that could be missing Dwight Howard.

Cousins has missed the last two games with a strained right Achilles and Sacramento (1-4) may hold him out for its back-to-back set this weekend.

These two games will cap a stretch of four in five days after the Kings fell 103-89 to Memphis on Tuesday and 118-97 at Phoenix the next night without Cousins, who averages 22.0 points and 11.0 rebounds.

"When you've got a hole without Cous, trying to learn your new personality against really good basketball teams very early in the season, right now we're playing as a very average defensive team and offensively we're searching for some confidence, missing some layups, missing some easy shots, missing free throws," coach George Karl said.

Houston (2-3) continues to be careful with Howard due to his back issues. The Rockets have dropped both games he has missed, resting him once in the first game of a back-to-back while the other absence was for a suspension.

The center had 23 points and 14 boards in Wednesday's 119-114 overtime win over Orlando, though he hadn't fully recovered for Thursday's practice. The Rockets start a back-to-back with a matchup at the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

"He went through some stuff today, he's a little bit sore, he played again 30 minutes last night but I think he's feeling good overall," coach Kevin McHale said.

McHale did not specify what his plans are for Howard, though he said the center will play at least one game this weekend. Clint Capela has started both times Howard has been out.

"I know that Dwight, sometimes he's not going to do the back-to-backs so I've got to be ready to start some nights and not the other night but I'm trying to keep the same energy and be focused on what I have to do," said Capela, who is shooting 78.3 percent to rank second in the league.

Reserve guard Patrick Beverley is out with a concussion suffered Wednesday. The Rockets are also without injured forwards Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas.

The Rockets are hoping James Harden can improve upon 29.4 percent shooting that is the NBA's second-worst mark. Harden has 65 points in his last two games, though he made 6 of 22 shots versus the Magic.

He is averaging 37.6 points in a five-game win streak over Sacramento, scoring 87 in two road games. Harden scored a career-high 51 the last time he faced the Kings in a 115-111 victory April 1 while Howard missed all three 2014-15 matchups.

Darren Collison leads the Kings with 31 points in the games Cousins has missed after starting for the first time Wednesday. Rajon Rondo has totaled 14 points on 30.0 percent shooting with 10 assists in the last two.

'We have to watch film and see what we can learn from it," Rondo said. "We have to get it right. We don't have a choice.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nuggets (2-3) at Warriors (5-0)

Date: November 06, 2015 10:30 PM EDT

As good as the Golden State Warriors were last season, they appear to be even better early in 2015-16 and emerged victorious after their first true test.

The Denver Nuggets don't figure to pose much of a challenge Friday night when they visit Oracle Arena.

Golden State outscored teams by an average of 10.1 points last season en route to winning the NBA title, the biggest differential since Boston was plus-10.3 in 2007-08. The Warriors (5-0) won their first four games by a league-record 100 points before rallying at home Wednesday and beating the Los Angeles Clippers 112-108.

They're averaging 114.2 points per 100 possessions offensively while allowing 92.1, leading the league in both categories. They were second offensively last season (109.7) and first defensively (98.2).

Stephen Curry scored 31 points in 33 minutes Wednesday, going 7 of 11 from 3-point range. He's 28 of 54 from beyond the arc and his 179 points are the most through five games since Michael Jordan's 182 in 1991-92.

"It was good for us to feel a little bit of adversity against a good team like that," Curry said. "We're not going to blow everybody out this year. We answered the bell."

Curry started slow, sitting for the remainder of the first quarter after picking up two fouls in the first 2:45. He scored 13 in the fourth quarter, though, hitting all three of his long-distance attempts to help the Warriors overcome a 10-point deficit.

"When we really needed him most, he stepped up for us and he made huge plays shooting deep 3s with people draped all over him," interim coach Luke Walton said. "He's a winner. He showed why he's MVP of the league."

The Nuggets (2-3) could be overwhelmed given their inefficient offense, which is shooting 41.4 percent. They hit 38.9 percent in Thursday's 96-84 loss to Utah, in which they led 24-19 after the first quarter.

"In our losses, we've had too many ups and downs," said Danilo Gallinari, who scored a team-high 18 points. "We cannot allow ourselves to have too many ups and downs and have lapses in the game where we don't have pace, we don't play defense. We cannot do that. We've got to play for 48 minutes."

Turnovers figure to be key in this matchup. Despite playing at the league's fourth-fastest pace, Golden State is averaging only 12.8 turnovers, while Denver's opponents are scoring 20.2 points per game off turnovers - the fourth-most in the NBA. Nuggets rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay is committing 5.6 turnovers per game and has only a 1.04 assist-to-turnover ratio while shooting 30.2 percent from the field.

Meanwhile, Curry has only eight turnovers despite a 33.3 usage percentage that ranks among the league's highest.

Golden State averaged 119.3 points and shot 45.9 percent from 3-point range while winning two of three meetings last season, including a 133-126 victory April 15 despite only 10 points by Curry. Six other Warriors scored 10-plus.

Klay Thompson is off to a slow start, averaging 13.8 points and going 5 of 17 from beyond the arc after scoring 21.7 per game and shooting 43.9 percent from deep in 2014-15. He has hit 14 of 25 3-pointers in his last four against Denver, however.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Friday's Tip Sheet
By Kevin Rogers

Raptors at Magic – 7:05 PM EST

Only one team in the Eastern Conference has yet to lose, it’s a club that plays north of the border. Toronto has jumped out to an impressive 5-0 start, capped off by recent road victories over Dallas and Oklahoma City. The Raptors rallied from a double-digit deficit to shock the Thunder, 103-98 as eight-point underdogs on Wednesday, led by DeMar DeRozan’s season-high of 28 points. Last season, Toronto pulled off a four-game sweep of Orlando, while winning each of the past five matchups at Amway Center.

The Magic have started slowly with a 1-4 record, but Scott Skiles’ club has managed to cover in each of their five games. Orlando fell short at Houston on Wednesday, 119-114 in overtime, but cashed as nine-point underdogs in spite of losing center Nikola Vucevic to a sprained knee. Vucevic is listed as out for Friday as the Magic return home where they have yet to win, losing close contests as ‘dogs to the Wizards and Thunder.

Heat at Pacers – 8:05 PM EST

Miami plays with no rest for the first time this season following Thursday’s victory at Minnesota, taking on Indiana. The Heat and Pacers hooked up for back-to-back matchups in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014 as Miami eliminated Indiana each time before both squads missed the playoffs last season. Miami’s defense has done a very good job so far, limiting four of its first five opponents below 100 points, but Chris Bosh has struggled from the floor by shooting 37%.

Indiana won three of four meetings from Miami last season, while covering all four times, including a pair of double-digit victories at home. The Pacers have rebounded nicely from an 0-3 start, winning back-to-back games against the Pistons and Celtics. Frank Vogel’s club slipped past Boston as a home underdog on Wednesday, 100-98, as Paul George scored a season-best 26 points. Indiana’s defense has stepped up since allowing an average of 109 points per game to Toronto and Memphis, giving up fewer than 98 points in each of the last three contests.

Pistons at Suns – 9:35 PM EST

Detroit heads out west for a seven-game road trip following an ugly 94-82 home loss to Indiana on Tuesday. The Pistons began the season at 3-0, but failed in their first opportunity as a favorite against the Pacers, while receiving a grand total of two points from their bench. Andre Drummond pulled down a career-best 29 rebounds against Indiana, the second consecutive game the Pistons’ center grabbed at least 20 boards. Detroit swept Phoenix last season, including a 105-103 in the Valley as 9 ½-point underdogs this past January, as the Pistons have covered six straight in the series since 2012.

The Suns struggled in their season opener against the Mavericks, dropping a 16-point decision at home. However, Phoenix has bounced back by winning three of its last four, while covering each time in this stretch. Jeff Hornacek’s team is coming off their third victory of at least 11 points, dominating the Kings on Wednesday, 118-97 as 9 ½-point favorites, as Phoenix shot a scorching 54% from the floor and 14-of-23 from three-point range. The Suns are in a stretch playing five of their next six games at home, with the only road contest coming at Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Rockets at Kings – 10:35 PM EST

Houston stumbled out of the gate with an 0-3 start, while losing all three times by 20 points apiece. The Rockets came back to life with consecutive home victories over the Thunder and Magic, as Kevin McHale’s club has covered just once in five tries. Houston’s high-powered offense finally cashed an ‘over’ following four straight ‘unders’ in Wednesday’s overtime win over Orlando, while allowing at least 105 points in all five games. The Rockets swept the three-game series from the Kings last season, as Houston held off Sacramento in the lone visit to Northern California, 113-109 in overtime.

It’s been anything but a regal start for Sacramento, who lost four of its first five games, with the only victory coming over the winless Lakers. DeMarcus Cousins remains sidelined with an Achilles injury, as the Kings’ defense has been shredded so far by allowing 111 points four times. The Kings begin a six-game homestand following Wednesday’s blowout loss at Phoenix, as George Karl’s team faces Golden State and San Antonio after Houston visits. Since last January, the Kings own an 8-8 ATS record as a home underdog, which includes an 0-2 ATS mark this season with losses to the Clippers and Grizzlies.

Nuggets at Warriors – 10:35 PM EST

Golden State isn’t suffering from a championship hangover, bolting out to a 5-0 record, capped off by a 112-108 victory over the rival Clippers on Wednesday. The Warriors failed to cover as 7 ½-point favorites, the first ATS loss for the defending champs this season. The offense continues to click, topping the 111-point mark in all five wins, while reigning MVP Stephen Curry has scored at least 30 points four times. Golden State hasn’t been reliable as a double-digit home favorite since last March, posting a 4-8 ATS record, including a non-cover in last season’s finale against Denver.

The Nuggets’ schedule has been road-heavy early on with three of their first four games played away from the Pepsi Center. Denver split those four contests, including wins over the Rockets and Lakers as underdogs. Mike Malone’s team shot better than 50% in each of those victories, while being held to below 39% shooting in losses to Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and Utah. The Nuggets have actually covered in three of their last four opportunities against the Warriors as an eight-point underdog or higher, including a pair of outright wins at Oracle Arena in 2014.

Total Notes

VegasInsider.com NBA Total Expert Chris David provided some notes on a pair of Eastern Conference games to watch this evening and he’s siding with the ‘under’ in both matchups.

Toronto at Orlando: The first game on the board usually receives the most attention and I expect that to be the case with this matchup. The Magic are playing super-fast this season, leading the league with 95.4 shots per game and that’s not surprising since head coach Scott Skiles is playing to his athleticism but he’s also hiding the fact that his team isn’t that talented, especially in tight games and that’s why they are 1-4.

Toronto is 5-0 and what you may not know is that it’s been great defensively, ranked third in field goal defense (40.4%) and sixth in points allowed (95.6 PPG). The Magic are perfect ATS but they’ve been helped by playing against five opponents ranked in the bottom third of the league in scoring defense. These teams haven’t combined for more than 204 points the last two seasons and I don’t see Orlando surpassing 100 in this game, especially with Nikola Vucevic (knee) out for Orlando.

Philadelphia at Cleveland: Philadelphia put up 100 points on the Cavaliers this past Monday and the game went ‘over’ (195) but that result was skewed. Philadelphia shot lights out the first half then simmered down when the game got serious and eventually put up garbage points in the fourth. I expect the Cavs to take Philadelphia seriously and the 76ers will be lucky to crack 85 points, especially with their offense that is ranked 29th in shooting (39.9%) and dead last in scoring (88.2 PPG).

Cleveland has the second-best scoring defense (90.2 PPG) in the league and they’ll make up for the poor effort, which makes me lean to the ‘under’ and the 76ers team total ‘under’ as well on Friday. Ten of the last 12 encounters in this series has gone ‘under’ the number. This total opened at 196 ½ and has already dropped to 193 ½, which tells me the pros agree with the above.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Dinos go for six straight'

Toronto is coming into this game as one of two undefeated teams in the Association. They have won 5 straight and will look to make it 6 consecutive at Orlando. The stats show this will be a challenge for host Orlando as Toronto has an advantage on both the offensive, defensive ends. Raptors have an efective offensive rating of 103.3 (Pts per 100 POSSESSIONS) and effective defensive rating of 95.0 (Pts per 100 opponent POSSESSIONS). Magic hit the harwood with an EOff-Rating of 97.0 and EDef-Rating of 99.0.

However, when you add the great equalizer (spread) the advantage swings Orlando's way. The Magic Men have cashed all five games this season, have cashed 11-of-14 as an underdog vs a team like Toronto with a EDef-Rating of 100 or less. Orlando is also 6-4 against the betting line last ten as home dogs vs a team with a winning record, 8-2 ATS L10 overall as underdogs including a perfect 5-0 ATS on their own hardwood.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Owls (7-1) at Mustangs (1-7)

Date: November 06, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

A loss in its biggest game of the year didn't bring Temple's spot on the national stage into question. A second straight defeat, though, would likely end the Owls' turn in the spotlight.

The 23rd-ranked Owls will try to guard against a letdown game Friday night as they head on the road to face reeling American Athletic Conference foe SMU.

Temple (7-1, 4-0) came one or two plays short of winning the biggest game in program history Saturday, instead falling 24-20 to then-No. 9 Notre Dame. A record 69,280 fans packed Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field to watch the Owls play as a ranked team against a ranked team for the first time.

"As I told them before the game, this better not be the high point of our season," coach Matt Rhule said. "I think it just shows how good they've gotten, and they have to go finish it now."

Temple goes from a nationally televised stage against the most storied football program in the country to a road game against a team that has two wins in the last two seasons.

Rhule, though, is wary of a trap game.

"SMU hasn't played many bad teams," he said. "They've played some of the best teams in the country, they can score a ton of points and I have a lot of respect for coach (Chad) Morris. I think our team will be ready to play and be really excited to play."

Temple closes play at SMU and South Florida before a big home game against No. 15 Memphis and a visit from Connecticut.

The Owls' defense had been their calling card, but it is the unit that couldn't come up with a key stop down the stretch against the Fighting Irish. After Temple jumped ahead 20-17 with 4 minutes, 45 seconds to play, Notre Dame used just 2:42 of the clock on a game-winning 75-yard drive.

Notre Dame's 467 total yards and 168 rushing yards were the second-most Temple's defense has allowed this season.

More concerning for the Owls is the lumps they took physically. Rhule said his team may be without "a number of starters" against SMU.

Rhule didn't go into specifics about the injuries, but one starter banged up over the weekend was running back Jahad Thomas. Thomas, who leads the AAC with 113.0 rushing yards per game, said he hurt his ribs against Notre Dame.

"That game really took a toll," Rhule said. "It is a really beat up, beat up football team that we have right now. ... But I think we have a lot of good backups that are waiting their turns."

On a short week, Temple's offense will go against an SMU defense that has allowed an average of 46.7 points while trudging through a six-game losing streak.

The Mustangs (1-7, 0-4) will also play without linebacker Kyran Mitchell (knee) and defensive back Horace Richardson (shoulder) due to season-ending injuries.

SMU won't find much comfort from its recent history against ranked opponents. SMU has dropped 23 of its last 25 such games, including the last nine.

"We've got our work cut out for us this week," Morris said. "We've got an opportunity to play a very, very good football team on a national television stage at home this week. We'll be prepared."

The Mustangs have allowed 112 points to a pair of highly ranked teams this season, falling 56-21 at home to then-No. 4 Baylor on Sept. 4 and 56-37 at then-No. 3 TCU on Sept. 19.

Temple and SMU meet for the fourth time. The first two matchups in the 1940s ended in ties, while the Mustangs won 59-49 on Oct. 26, 2013.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Friday's Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards

**Temple at Southern Methodist**

-- Temple (7-1 straight up, 6-2 against the spread) tasted its first loss of the season last weekend in the form of a 24-20 loss to Notre Dame. Nevertheless, the Owls hooked up their betting supporters as 11-point home underdogs.

-- Matt Rhule’s team seemingly took control against the Irish by tying the game at 17-17 with a one-yard touchdown plunge from Jahad Thomas with 10:51 remaining. Then at the 4:45 mark, Temple went ahead 20-17 on a 36-yard field goal from Austin Jones. However, a 17-yard scoring strike from DeShone Kizer to Williams Fuller lifted Notre Dame to victory with 2:09 left.

-- As of Thursday afternoon, most books had Temple installed as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 51 or 51.5. The Mustangs were +450 on the money line (risk $100 to win $450).

-- Temple is unbeaten in four road games this year, producing a 3-1 spread record. The Owls are 1-1 ATS as road favorites this year, 3-2 ATS as road ‘chalk’ during Rhule’s three-year tenure.

-- SMU (1-7 SU, 4-4 ATS) has lost six in a row since beating North Texas 31-13 as a six-point home favorite in Week 2. The Mustangs, who are an abysmal 1-4 ATS in their last five games, are off a 40-31 loss to Tulsa as one-point home underdogs. The Golden Hurricane converted all three of its fourth-down attempts, while SMU failed twice on fourth down. The Mustangs also committed a pair of turnovers, while Tulsa didn’t have any give-aways.

-- SMU junior QB Matt Davis completed 19-of-39 passes for 236 yards and three TDs against Tulsa. Davis was intercepted once. Courtland Sutton had eight receptions for 165 yards and two TDs.

-- For the season, Davis has connected on 56.0 percent of his throws for 1,775 yards with a 14/4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also has rushed for a team-high 450 yards and seven TDs. Sutton, a redshirt freshman, has a team-best 38 catches for 719 yards and nine TDs.

-- SMU’s flaw has been its atrocious defense, one that’s been even worse than last year’s unit that gave up 41.3 points per game in a 1-11 campaign. The Mustangs’ defense in 2015 is allowing 43.6 PPG, which ranks 124th in the FBS. They are No. 121 in total ‘D,’ surrendering 524.4 yards per game.

-- SMU has lost four of its five home games this season, going 2-3 versus the number. The Mustangs are 1-2 ATS as home underdogs after going 1-5 ATS in six such spots in 2014.

-- Temple is ninth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 15.8 points per game. This unit is led by senior linebacker Tyler Matakevich, who might be on his way to earning All-American honors. Matakevich has 433 career tackles, the most of any active FBS player. He has 78 tackles, four sacks and five interceptions this season, yet somehow he was left off the list of 10 finalists for the Butkus Award. He is one of 20 LBs who made the semifinal cut for the Bednarik Award, the only one from a non-Power-5 school. Matakevich is the only player in the country to lead his team in tackles every game this year.

-- Temple’s offense is led by Thomas and junior QB P.J. Walker, who has completed 57.3 percent of his passes for 1,501 yards with a 10/4 TD-INT ratio. Thomas has rushed for 904 yards and 13 TDs while averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Walker’s favorite target is Robby Anderson, who has a team-high 33 receptions for 441 yards and five TDs.

-- The ‘under’ is 5-3 overall for the Owls, 3-1 in their four road assignments. The ‘under’ is 4-1 in their last five regardless of the venue.

-- The ‘over’ is 5-3 overall for the Mustangs, 3-2 in their home games. They have seen their games average a combined score of 72.4 points per game.

-- Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

**BYU at San Jose St.**

-- As of Thursday afternoon, most spots had BYU (6-2 SU, 6-2 ATS) listed as a 13-point ‘chalk’ with a total of 56.5 points. The Spartans were +425 on the money line.

-- San Jose State (4-4 SU, 5-3 ATS) is off a 31-21 win over New Mexico as an eight-point home favorite two weeks ago. Senior RB Tyler Ervin enjoyed another sensational performance, rushing 36 times for 263 yards and one TD. Kenny Potter completed 16-of-20 passes for 181 yards and two TDs without an interception.

-- San Jose State owns a 3-1 record both SU and ATS in four home games this year. During Ron Caragher’s three-year tenure, the Spartans have limped to a 1-3 spread record in four games as home underdogs. This is their first such spot this season.

-- Ervin is third in the nation in rushing yards (1,159). He has 12 rushing TDs and is averaging 6.0 YPC. Ervin also has 30 receptions for 232 yards and two TDs. He is second in the country in all-purpose yards (1,756).

-- Potter has replaced senior QB Joe Gray as the starter the last three games. He played well in a 33-27 overtime win at UNLV, throwing for 329 yards and two TDs while also rushing three times for 33 yards and one TD. For the season, Potter has completed 67.7 percent of his attempts for 914 yards with a 5/4 TD-INT ratio. He has 110 rushing yards and three TDs.

-- BYU faced the nation’s toughest schedule in the month of September. Despite losing star QB Taysom Hill to a season-ending knee injury in the opener, Bronco Mendenhall’s squad won 33-28 at Nebraska on a Hail Mary pass on the game’s final play.

-- In Week 2, BYU captured a 35-24 win over Boise St. as a 2.5-point home underdog. Trailing 24-21 with seconds remaining on a fourth-and-seven play, QB Tanner Mangum found Mitchell Juergens for a 35-yard scoring strike. Moments later, the Cougars put the game on ice thanks to a 50-year interception return for a TD by Kai Nacua. Mangum threw for 309 yards against the Broncos and also had a one-yard TD plunge early in the fourth quarter, as his team outscored BSU 21-0 in the decisive final stanza. Juergens finished with four receptions for 172 yards and a pair of TDs.

-- BYU nearly pulled another upset in Week 3 at UCLA. Mendenhall’s bunch led 10-3 at halftime and went up 20-10 early in the fourth quarter. However, the Bruins won a 24-23 decision thanks to a late TD with 3:21 remaining. Nevertheless, the Cougars easily took the cash as 16.5-point road underdogs.

-- A third road game in four weeks was too much to ask of BYU, which had to travel to Ann Arbor to face Michigan at noon Eastern in Week 4. The Wolverines dominated in a 31-0 triumph as seven-point home ‘chalk.’

-- BYU hasn’t played a road game since going to The Big House on Sept. 26. This is its first road favorite spot of the year. The Cougars have compiled an 18-16 spread record in 34 games as road ‘chalk’ during Mendenhall’s 11-year tenure.

-- Mangum was a highly-touted recruit who went on a two-year Mormon mission before becoming the new starter as a true freshman. He has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 1,905 yards with a 14/6 TD-INT ratio. His favorite target has been Mitch Mathews, who has a team-best 36 receptions for 437 yards and eight TDs.

-- BYU will be without three starting offensive linemen Friday night. Both tackles, Ului Lapuaho and Ryker Mathews, are ‘out’ along with OG Kyle Johnson. RB Adam Hine is ‘doubtful’ due to an ankle injury. Hine has been out since the loss to Michigan. He ran for 312 yards and two TDs in the team’s first four outings.

-- With Jamaal Williams’ suspension and Hines’s injury, the leading rusher has become junior Algernon Brown, who has run for 449 yards and seven TDs while averaging 5.9 YPC.

-- Totals have been an overall wash for BYU (4-4), but it has seen the ‘under’ go 2-1 in its three road assignments.

-- The ‘under’ has cashed in back-to-back games and three of the last four for San Jose St. Totals have been a wash overall (4-4) and at home (2-2) for the Spartans.

-- The CBS College Network will have the broadcast at 11:30 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

-- Penn St. junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg hasn’t been intercepted since a Sept. 19 win over Rutgers. Dating back to Week 4, Hackenberg has 12 touchdown passes without an interception. The Nittany Lions have won seven of their last eight games and will hit the road to face Northwestern this Saturday at noon Eastern. Their losses this year have come at Temple and at Ohio St. The Buckeyes and Owls have just one loss between them.

-- FSU hasn’t been a double-digit underdog since getting smoked at Florida in Tim Tebow’s final home game at The Swamp in 2009. The Seminoles, who are 12-point ‘dogs Saturday at Clemson, haven’t been road ‘dogs since 2011. During Jimbo Fisher’s six-year tenure, FSU is 1-2 both SU and ATS in three games as a road puppy.

-- Yahoo’s Pat Forde reported Wednesday night that Purdue will retain Darrell Hazell for a fourth season. The Boilermakers are 6-26 on Hazell’s watch.

-- As of Thursday, Oregon was favored by 4.5 or five for Saturday’s home game vs. California. Since 2010, the Ducks have been single-digit home ‘chalk’ only twice, easily covering the number in both spots via blowout wins over Stanford in 2010 and last season.

-- Louisiana Tech QB Jeff Driskel continues to thrive under Skip Holtz. The Florida transfer has connected on 61.6 percent of his throws for 2,729 yards with a 19/4 TD-INT ratio. Driskel also has 243 rushing yards and five TDs. The Bulldogs are 29.5-point home favorites Saturday vs. North Texas.

-- During Mike Gundy’s 11-year tenure, Oklahoma St. has posted a 6-9-2 spread record in 17 games as a home underdog. The Cowboys are catching five points vs. TCU on Saturday in Stillwater.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tech Trends - Week 10
By Bruce Marshall

Friday, Nov. 6

TEMPLE at SMU
Owls on 10-3 spread run, 5-1 last six vs. line away. SMU 3-8 vs. spread last 11 as host.

Temple, based on team trends.


RICE at UTEP
Rice 30-17-2 vs. line since late 2012. Owls have won and covered last four meetings vs. Miners.

Rice, based on team trends.


BYU at SAN JOSE STATE
Caragher 5-3 vs. line TY after dropping last six vs. spread in 2014, also 1-2 as dog after 0-8 dog mark LY. Cougs 6-3 vs. line last 9 as visitor, 3-0 as road chalk since LY.

BYU, based on team trends.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAF

Friday's games

7-1 Temple hits road after tough home loss to Notre Dame; has to be at least a little letdown here. Owls are 4-0 on road, winning by average of 30-17; they're 10-6 in last 16 tries as home favorite, 1-1 this year, 3-2 in Rhule era. Mustangs (-14) won only meeting 59-49 two years ago here, throwing for 538 yards, outgaining Owls 728-593. SMU lost its last six games overall, allowing 38+ points in all six (2-4 against the spread).

Favorites covered five of last seven Rice-UTEP games; Owls won last four series games (31-13/45-7 last two), won three of last four visits to El Paso. Rice is 1-0-1 as favorite this year, 5-1 in last six tries as a road favorite. Miners lost three of last four games, with all three by 19+ pts; UTEP is 2-4 as home dog under Kugler. C-USA home underdogs are 5-8 vs spread. Four of last five UTEP games stayed under total.

BYU won its last three I-A games, scoring 37.7 ppg; Cougars are 5-2 vs spread this year, 2-1 as favorite- they covered last three tries as a road favorite. BYU lost 20-14 here in last meeting, three years ago. San Jose State allowed 200+ rushing yards in five of seven I-A games; they're 2-1 at home, losing 30-7 to San Diego State. MW non-conference underdogs are 12-11 vs spread, 2-3 at home. Four of last five BYU games stayed under the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL Betting Notes - Week 20
By David Schwab

The 2015 CFL regular season comes to a close this weekend to put the finishing touches on the final lineup for this year’s Grey Cup Playoffs. Kicking-off last weekend’s action on Friday night, British Columbia locked-up the final postseason spot with a 27-25 victory over Toronto as a 3 ½-point road underdog.

In the lone game on Saturday’s schedule, Calgary rolled over Saskatchewan 42-19 as a 15 ½-point home favorite. Sunday’s double-header started with Ottawa grinding-out a huge 12-6 victory against Hamilton as a 4 ½-point road underdog. Edmonton went on to clinch the West Division title later in the day with a 40-22 win over Montreal as an eight-point favorite at home.

Friday, Nov. 6

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-12 SU, 8-8-1 ATS) vs. Toronto Argonauts (9-8 SU, 8-9 ATS)
Point-spread: Toronto -7 ½
Total: 50

Game Overview

The Blue Bombers will close-out play this season with just two straight-up wins in their last 11 games. Despite the extended slide, they are coming off last week’s bye with a 5-2 record against the spread over their last seven outings. Winnipeg is averaging just 20.1 points a game and its defense has given-up the third-most points in the CFL this season by allowing an average of 28.3 points a game.

Toronto would love to enter the postseason on a strong note after dropping its last three games both SU and ATS. The total has now stayed UNDER in its last four games following last week’s loss to BC. The big plus for the Argonauts has been the return of quarterback Ricky Ray. While the rust was still evident in the loss to the Lions, he did complete 26-of-38 attempts for 227 yards and a score.

Betting Trends

Toronto has won four of its last five home games against Winnipeg SU and the total has gone OVER in five of the last six meetings here. The Argonauts won the first meeting this season 27-20 as 4 ½-point road favorites on Aug. 14.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL

Week 20 games

Winnipeg (5-12) @ Toronto (9-8)-- Blue Bombers lost nine of last 11 games, covered one of last six on road; they lost 27-20 (+5.5) at Toronto in Week 8- they're 2-9 in last 11 series games, 4-4 vs spread as a road underdog. Argonauts won six of last eight visits here; they lost last three games overall, scoring 14 ppg- they're 4-3 vs spread a as favorite this year. Over is 4-1-1 in last six Winnipeg games; last four Toronto games stayed under the total- five of last seven series games went over.

Hamilton (10-7) @ Ottawa (10-7)-- RedBlacks won a defensive battle 12-6 LW, a game without a TD; TiCats had 310-283 edge in yards, but were -2 in turnovers. Ottawa was 0-3 vs Hamilton LY, losing by 10-10-9 points; they're 6-3 SU at home, have won six of last nine games overall, are 2-2 as a home favorite. Hamilton won 34-25 in only visit here LY; they lost four of last six games overall, are 2-1 as road underdog this year- they're 5-3 SU on road. Over is 5-2 in last seven Ottawa games, 1-5 in last six Hamilton games.

Calgary (13-4) @ British Columbia (7-10)-- Calgary is 10-2 in last 12 games, winning five of last six on road; they won first meeting 35-23 (-11.5) in Week 9, their third straight series win (by 7-17-12 pts). Stamps lost four of last six visits here. Lions won last two games after a 1-5 skid; they've covered five of last six games, are 4-4 SU at home, 2-0 as home underdog. Under is 6-2-1 in last nine Calgary games, 1-6 in Lions' last seven- seven of last ten series games went over the total.

Saskatchewan (2-15) @ Montreal (6-11)-- Roughriders lost last four games, all by 11+ points; last win was 33-21 (+2) at home vs Montreal six weeks ago; home side won last five series games. Riders lost last three series games, by 11-5-31 points; they're 1-6-1 vs spread on the road this season, with six of eight losses by 15+ points. Montreal lost five of last six games, is 2-4 as a favorite. Under is 7-4 in last 11 series games, 3-1 in last four Montreal games, 1-5 in Saskatchewan's last six.


Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Toronto Argonauts 7, 50

Hamilton TigerCats
Ottawa RedBlacks 3, 50

Calgary Stampeders
British Columbia Lions

Saskatchewan Roughriders
Montreal Alouettes 9, 48.5

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Dayton Raceway

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 3 - Post: 7:15 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 80 - Purse:$5500 - FILLIES & MARES CLAIMING HCP. $6,500 OR $8,000 W/ALLOWANCES POST POSITIONS DRAWN TO PRICE DAYTON RACEWAY K.KAUFFMAN LISTED 1-4


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 4 WESTERN DAME 5/2


# 1 FLIRTIN 12/1


# 5 ST LADS MAGGIE MAE 7/2


Hey, listen up! WESTERN DAME is the intelligent bet if you like to win. Feel the need for speed, this standardbred has been turning in some outstanding TrackMaster Speed Ratings averaging around 80. Should be in the hunt again here, looking to improve that already high lifetime winning percentage. FLIRTIN - Chances are greatly enhanced for standardbreds starting from the 1 position at Dayton Raceway. Comp pace figs show this nice horse has what it takes to take the whole enchilada in this contest. ST LADS MAGGIE MAE - A really strong win percent has been achieved by interesting entrants beginning from the 5 post. Has to be given a look based on the really strong speed fig recorded in the most recent race.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Monticello Raceway

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 3 - Post: 1:09 - 1 mile. TROT - Class Rating: 73 - Purse:$2600 - ALL AGES N/W $200 P/S L/5 OR P/S IN 2015 $4100 P/C L/S AE: N/W 2 PM LT J RYAN 3 OVER 6


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 1 BALTIMOR AS 5/2


# 2 SARABOO 7/2


# 3 LINDA B 9/2


The consensus this time is that BALTIMOR AS is the one to beat. This fine animal looks tough. Look at the 71 avg TrackMaster Speed Rating. He has nice class figures, averaging 78. Should be considered for a bet for this one. With a respectable 65 TrackMaster speed fig last time out, will very likely be a factor in this race. SARABOO - This contender may have some hidden form, a ultimate prize would be a pleasant surprise. LINDA B - Don't ignore a horse with these connections. Driver-conditioner stats are looking really good.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Golden Gate Fields

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 4 - Maiden Claiming - 6.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $7000 Class Rating: 68

FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. THREE YEAR OLDS, 120 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES

The Walker Group Picks

# 3 ATACAMA DESERT 2/1


# 2 GOOD PLAYER 9/5


# 6 MISTER EXCHANGE 3/1


ATACAMA DESERT looks to be a quite good contender. Formidable average Equibase Speed Figures in dirt sprint races make this equine a definite contender. Miranda has him trained soundly to break swiftly out of the starting gate. Could beat this group given the 68 speed rating posted in his last outing. GOOD PLAYER - Will almost certainly compete admirably in the early speed battle which bodes well with this group of horses in this race. Ought to be given a shot in this competition if only for the very strong Equibase speed fig posted in the last race. MISTER EXCHANGE - The Equibase class rating of today's race is much lower than his last affair. With a nice class rating average of 80, has one of the best class advantages in this field.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Remington Park

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 9 - Claiming - 8.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $14025 Class Rating: 65

FOR ACCREDITED OKLAHOMA-BRED FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 120 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $7,500.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES

The Walker Group Picks

# 6 LUCKY LADY LISA 8/1


# 9 COMPANION PASS 7/2


# 2 JESSIE'S TRICK 20/1


I think LUCKY LADY LISA is a strong selection and could score at a price in here. This filly is a definite contender based on her earnings per start in dirt route races. Reason to like this filly as she has in the saddle one of the best jocks using winning percentages over the last month. COMPANION PASS - With a solid rider who has won at a solid 16 percent clip over the last month. This has to be one of the top picks. Put up a strong speed fig last time out. JESSIE'S TRICK - A solid 71 avg Equibase class figure may give this mare a distinct class edge versus this group. Her 51 average has this mare with among the best Equibase Speed Figures for this event.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Charles Town - Race #3 - Post: 7:57pm - Maiden Claiming - 4.5 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $10,500 Class Rating: 46

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#6 UNBRIDLED NICK (ML=3/1)


UNBRIDLED NICK - He'll be laying in stalking position, right behind the early pace. You'll be generating profits left and right by turning your gambling cash onto this jockey/handler combination. Have to give this gelding a good shot. Ran a good outing last time around the track within the last 30 days. I usually like playing sprinters who are 3-4 races into a come back. 17-22-43 are last 3 Equibase speed figures. Improving each time out is something he should do again in today's race. The 43 most recent race speed fig looks good on paper.

Vulnerable Contenders: #8 SAFE ON WINGS (ML=2/1), #3 CANDY FOR SHARON (ML=7/2), #5 GRAND AMOR DIAMOND (ML=6/1),

SAFE ON WINGS - This morning-line choice hasn't visited the track in awhile. No morning drills since last race. This animal doesn't win here at Charles Town. He needs a different racing surface to show his best. Hasn't been winning recently when made the favorite. Take a look at his record. This gelding registered a speed fig in his last event which likely isn't good enough in today's race. CANDY FOR SHARON - Don't believe this entrant will do much running in today's race. That last speed fig was quite unimpressive when compared with today's class rating. GRAND AMOR DIAMOND - If you keep choosing these sort of 'bridesmaid' types, you're going to be let down most of the time.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#6 UNBRIDLED NICK is the play if we get odds of 1/1 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:
Skip

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Del Mar - Race #8 - Post: 3:59pm - Maiden Special - 6.5 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $52,000 Class Rating: 85

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#3 MAKENA (ML=6/1)
#7 DYNA STAR (ML=6/1)


MAKENA - This filly was overlooked in the betting when she made her debut January 3rd. Look for another big effort today. Hansen moves this filly to the dirt today. Look for a pretty big improvement from the most recent grass race. DYNA STAR - Has unearthed a good spot in today's event.

Vulnerable Contenders: #6 MISS BLISS (ML=7/2), #1 SILVER SCORE (ML=9/2), #5 MY ROSE (ML=6/1),

MISS BLISS - Mediocre speed figure last out at Santa Anita at 6 furlongs. Don't think this vulnerable equine will improve too much in today's event. SILVER SCORE - Tough to wager on this mount in today's event. Make her show you something in a short distance event before you bet on her in a race of 6 1/2 furlongs. MY ROSE - No picnic to bet on any racer in a sprint affair at 6/1 when she hasn't shown any successful endeavors in sprints in the last 60 days.


STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Go with #3 MAKENA on top if we're getting at least 8/5 odds

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [3,7]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
None

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
Pass

SUPER HIGH 5 WAGERS:
None

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Rick Needham at Aqueduct

RACE #1 - AQUEDUCT - 12:20 PM EASTERN POST

6.0 FURLONGS DIRT FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD $16,000.00 CLAIMING $31,00.00 PURSE

#3 GREEK LIFE
#6 COLONEL JUANITA
#2 DA WILDCAT GIRL
#5 PRINCESS JENNY

#3 GREEK LIFE takes a class drop (-2) and is the overall speed and pace profile leader in this claiming field sprinting at 6.0 furlongs on the dirt, and has hit the board in "POWER RUN FASHION" in four of her last five outings, including a trio of "POWER RUN WINS" being embedded in this recent streak of racing consistency. Jockey Joel Rosario has been in her irons on one previous occasion, posting a win en route to a +230% return on investment in the process, and is back this afternoon here at "The Big-A" gunning for back-to-back "Circle Trips." #6 COLONEL JUANITA has scored with a quartet of place finishes in her last five outings, with two of those efforts also qualifying as "POWER RUNS."