BOB BALFE
NFLx
8:00 PM
Rotation #253-254
Chiefs -6 over Titans
Marcus Mariota looked pretty good last week against a Vanilla Rams Defense. When teams don’t bring blitz packages and just play a predictable defense I would wager that any QB in this league could dice them up. Mariota is not going to have the same luxury of being at home. Arrowhead might be the most intimidating stadium in the AFC and this building will be loud even if it is just a preseason game. I am not too thrilled with the running backs Tennessee brings to the table this year. I just don’t think this offense can move the ball up and down the field. I think we will see Mariota look like a young guy tonight. Andy Reid usually doesn’t take the preseason seriously, but this year seems different as the Chiefs are 2-0 looking to gain momentum. I believe Vegas has the line set very high because of the rookie QB. The Chiefs will give him looks he has never seen before. Mariota will be a decent QB one day, but every last QB is this league goes through growing pains. If Mariota can go into Arrowhead and dice up this defense then so be it. Take the Chiefs.
MLB
10:15 PM
Rotation #911-912
Cardinals -110 over Giants
Wacha/Leake
Many times this year I have said if Wacha is at even money then it’s foolish not to take him. This Giants team is really banged up and the bottom of the order has not been producing too much offense. Both pitchers are having great seasons and both bullpens are rock solid, but just like last night I like the Cardinals starter and their bullpen a lot better. Wacha is one of the best pitchers in the game and at this price there is no risk in taking him at even money. Take St. Louis.
NFLx
8:00 PM
Rotation #253-254
Chiefs -6 over Titans
Marcus Mariota looked pretty good last week against a Vanilla Rams Defense. When teams don’t bring blitz packages and just play a predictable defense I would wager that any QB in this league could dice them up. Mariota is not going to have the same luxury of being at home. Arrowhead might be the most intimidating stadium in the AFC and this building will be loud even if it is just a preseason game. I am not too thrilled with the running backs Tennessee brings to the table this year. I just don’t think this offense can move the ball up and down the field. I think we will see Mariota look like a young guy tonight. Andy Reid usually doesn’t take the preseason seriously, but this year seems different as the Chiefs are 2-0 looking to gain momentum. I believe Vegas has the line set very high because of the rookie QB. The Chiefs will give him looks he has never seen before. Mariota will be a decent QB one day, but every last QB is this league goes through growing pains. If Mariota can go into Arrowhead and dice up this defense then so be it. Take the Chiefs.
MLB
10:15 PM
Rotation #911-912
Cardinals -110 over Giants
Wacha/Leake
Many times this year I have said if Wacha is at even money then it’s foolish not to take him. This Giants team is really banged up and the bottom of the order has not been producing too much offense. Both pitchers are having great seasons and both bullpens are rock solid, but just like last night I like the Cardinals starter and their bullpen a lot better. Wacha is one of the best pitchers in the game and at this price there is no risk in taking him at even money. Take St. Louis.
THE REAL ANIMAL SPORTS
NFLx – 2*’s on Detroit Lions +2 and ‘OVER’ 39:
I’m surprised to see Detroit at an underdog price tonight at Jacksonville. Sure the Lions got beat at Washington last week but Stafford and Dan Orlovsky looked sharp combining for 19 completions in 25 attempts. Orlovsky threw a pair of TD passes and Stafford has completed 80 percent in limited work over two games so far. Remember the Lions two weeks ago had a 428-123 edge in total yards against the Jets and dominated them. Plus it’s no embarrassment getting beat by Kirk Cousins, one of the best August quarterbacks historically. After being limited to 46 rushing yards on 13 carries last week, Detroit will work on getting the running game established. It looked great in week #1 versus the Jets averaging 5.9 yards a carry with 193 yards on the ground on 40 carries. I suspect Stafford and Orlovsky will have their way with the Jacksonville defense. The Jaguars allowed 200 passing yards to Landry Jones after Big Ben went 3-for-3 for 59-yards two weeks ago. Then last week Ryan Nassib might have had his best day as a pro yet throwing for 217 yards and a TD versus Jacksonville. The Giants out-gained the Jags 344-244 with Jacksonville only averaging 2.4 yards per rush. Plus they appear to be having some offensive line issues allowing five sacks in two games. Blake Bortles can move the team between the 20’s, but too often drives stall and ends in field goals. Plus Jacksonville is still without tight end Julius Thomas with a broken right hand. Last week Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz didn’t play (zero catches) but that didn’t prevent the G-Men from completing 23 passes for 263 yards. Good luck trying to cover Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate tonight. I took Detroit plus the points along with the ‘OVER’. I know the final last year in the third week was only 13-12 but that box score indicates there should have been more points. Both teams had 21 first downs and there was almost 700 total yards. Several defensive linemen are missing from both teams too and this is a low total. 2*’s on Detroit +2 and ‘OVER’ 39.
NFLx – 2*’s on Detroit Lions +2 and ‘OVER’ 39:
I’m surprised to see Detroit at an underdog price tonight at Jacksonville. Sure the Lions got beat at Washington last week but Stafford and Dan Orlovsky looked sharp combining for 19 completions in 25 attempts. Orlovsky threw a pair of TD passes and Stafford has completed 80 percent in limited work over two games so far. Remember the Lions two weeks ago had a 428-123 edge in total yards against the Jets and dominated them. Plus it’s no embarrassment getting beat by Kirk Cousins, one of the best August quarterbacks historically. After being limited to 46 rushing yards on 13 carries last week, Detroit will work on getting the running game established. It looked great in week #1 versus the Jets averaging 5.9 yards a carry with 193 yards on the ground on 40 carries. I suspect Stafford and Orlovsky will have their way with the Jacksonville defense. The Jaguars allowed 200 passing yards to Landry Jones after Big Ben went 3-for-3 for 59-yards two weeks ago. Then last week Ryan Nassib might have had his best day as a pro yet throwing for 217 yards and a TD versus Jacksonville. The Giants out-gained the Jags 344-244 with Jacksonville only averaging 2.4 yards per rush. Plus they appear to be having some offensive line issues allowing five sacks in two games. Blake Bortles can move the team between the 20’s, but too often drives stall and ends in field goals. Plus Jacksonville is still without tight end Julius Thomas with a broken right hand. Last week Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz didn’t play (zero catches) but that didn’t prevent the G-Men from completing 23 passes for 263 yards. Good luck trying to cover Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate tonight. I took Detroit plus the points along with the ‘OVER’. I know the final last year in the third week was only 13-12 but that box score indicates there should have been more points. Both teams had 21 first downs and there was almost 700 total yards. Several defensive linemen are missing from both teams too and this is a low total. 2*’s on Detroit +2 and ‘OVER’ 39.
SMART SPORTS INVESTMENTS
Risk 4.00 to win 3.60 [917] Kansas City Royals -111 vs Tampa Bay Rays
Risk 3.00 to win 2.86 [251] New England Patriots -105 vs Carolina Panthers
Risk 3.00 to win 2.80 [254] Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 -107 vs Tennessee Titans
Risk 4.00 to win 3.25 [920] Texas Rangers -123 vs Baltimore Orioles
Risk 4.00 to win 3.08 [923] Houston Astros -130 vs Minnesota Twins
Risk 4.00 to win 3.60 [917] Kansas City Royals -111 vs Tampa Bay Rays
Risk 3.00 to win 2.86 [251] New England Patriots -105 vs Carolina Panthers
Risk 3.00 to win 2.80 [254] Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 -107 vs Tennessee Titans
Risk 4.00 to win 3.25 [920] Texas Rangers -123 vs Baltimore Orioles
Risk 4.00 to win 3.08 [923] Houston Astros -130 vs Minnesota Twins
