SPORTS WAGERS / RANDALL THE HANDLE
San Francisco +1.35 over ATLANTA Pinnacle
Once again, the Braves could do little against a Giants' starter, as Jonathan Sanchez held them down for 7.1 innings in Game 3. The Braves managed only two hits and a walk against Sanchez. The one earned run the Braves scored off him occurred after he was replaced in the 8th inning by Sergio Romo, who gave up a two-run homer to Eric Hinske. The Braves continue to have trouble making contact, with 12 strikeouts in Game 3. The Braves now have 37 strikeouts and only three walks in 29 innings in the series. Only Brian McCann (.872 OPS) has hit consistently in the series, while Brooks Conrad (.200 OPS), Jason Heyward (.000 OPS in 12 PA), and Matt Diaz (.000 OPS in 7 PA) have all struggled. Heyward has looked like a rookie in the series so far, with seven strikeouts in 12 plate appearances. None of the Braves have ever faced Madison Bumgarner and that can’t be good for a squad seeing BB’s. Baumgarner held his own as a rookie and he had stretches in which he was terrific. He was brilliant in is last five starts with an xERA of 3.22 while walking just four batters and striking out 32. And who could forget that masterpiece he threw at Wrigley on Sept 23 when the wind was ripping out to center and all he did was go seven complete and not allow a run while Cubs pitching allowed 19 hits and 13 runs. The Giants, meanwhile, have been facing Derek Lowe forever. They saw him in game one and now Lowe is being asked to pitch on three days rest. He may or may not succeed but in no way would we recommend laying juice with the Braves, especially when their hearts were ripped out yesterday. Thanks for coming out Atlanta. Play: San Francisco +1.35 (Risking 2 units).
Pittsburgh +1.24 over NEW JERSEY Pinnacle
Note the 4:00 PM EST start. Oddly enough, one of these teams is going to be 0-3 and it’s likely not going to be the Penguins. Not that the Devils are a bad team but they started to fade badly at the end of last season, they also made an early exit from the playoffs, they have a lot of aging vets, they’ve allowed 11 goals against in two games and at some point, just like the Red Wings did with Chris Osgood, they’re going to have to make Marty Brodeur a backup. Brodeur has too many miles on his 39-year-old body. He’s slower than he’s ever been and so are his reflexes. It’s not going to get any better either. There is no fountain of youth and until the Devils admit it, they’re going to have problems in net with Brodeur as the #1. Incidentally, he was yanked from the Devils 7-2 loss at Washington on Saturday when he allowed four goals on 20 shots. The Pens have had a couple of tough losses but they’re too good to keep losing. They also have a slew of snipers that should be able to beat Brodeur at least four times. Paul Martin returns to New Jersey in his new digs and he and the whole team will be jacked up to get in the “W” column. So will the Devils but those cheap goals deflate the hell out of teams and you can count on that happening here. Brodeur is finished. Play: Pittsburgh +1.24 (Risking 2 units).
Anaheim +1.45 over ST. LOUIS Pinnacle
Note the 2:00 PM EST start. The Ducks are 0-2 but that’s not really indicative of how they’re playing. They opened the year with a 4-0 loss in Detroit, always a tough place to play and they followed that up with a 4-1 loss in Nashville in a game in which they were not outplayed. The Ducks have not had much luck around the net but they’ve had lots of chances and they have lots of scorers so don’t put too much emphasis on its lack of production just yet. They also possess one of the finest goaltenders in the game in Jonas Hiller. The Ducks will conclude its three-game trip here and you know they’ll be ready to go in an attempt to avoid coming home winless. The Blues are coming off a 2-1 OT win over the tough Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Its one goal in regulation came with a two-man advantage and overall they went 1-10 on the power-play. Fact is, the Flyers spent more time in the box than on the ice and while the Blue Notes are likely improved from a season ago, they’re definitely overpriced here against this very talented guest. Overlay. Play: Anaheim +1.45 (Risking 2 units).
San Francisco +1.35 over ATLANTA Pinnacle
Once again, the Braves could do little against a Giants' starter, as Jonathan Sanchez held them down for 7.1 innings in Game 3. The Braves managed only two hits and a walk against Sanchez. The one earned run the Braves scored off him occurred after he was replaced in the 8th inning by Sergio Romo, who gave up a two-run homer to Eric Hinske. The Braves continue to have trouble making contact, with 12 strikeouts in Game 3. The Braves now have 37 strikeouts and only three walks in 29 innings in the series. Only Brian McCann (.872 OPS) has hit consistently in the series, while Brooks Conrad (.200 OPS), Jason Heyward (.000 OPS in 12 PA), and Matt Diaz (.000 OPS in 7 PA) have all struggled. Heyward has looked like a rookie in the series so far, with seven strikeouts in 12 plate appearances. None of the Braves have ever faced Madison Bumgarner and that can’t be good for a squad seeing BB’s. Baumgarner held his own as a rookie and he had stretches in which he was terrific. He was brilliant in is last five starts with an xERA of 3.22 while walking just four batters and striking out 32. And who could forget that masterpiece he threw at Wrigley on Sept 23 when the wind was ripping out to center and all he did was go seven complete and not allow a run while Cubs pitching allowed 19 hits and 13 runs. The Giants, meanwhile, have been facing Derek Lowe forever. They saw him in game one and now Lowe is being asked to pitch on three days rest. He may or may not succeed but in no way would we recommend laying juice with the Braves, especially when their hearts were ripped out yesterday. Thanks for coming out Atlanta. Play: San Francisco +1.35 (Risking 2 units).
Pittsburgh +1.24 over NEW JERSEY Pinnacle
Note the 4:00 PM EST start. Oddly enough, one of these teams is going to be 0-3 and it’s likely not going to be the Penguins. Not that the Devils are a bad team but they started to fade badly at the end of last season, they also made an early exit from the playoffs, they have a lot of aging vets, they’ve allowed 11 goals against in two games and at some point, just like the Red Wings did with Chris Osgood, they’re going to have to make Marty Brodeur a backup. Brodeur has too many miles on his 39-year-old body. He’s slower than he’s ever been and so are his reflexes. It’s not going to get any better either. There is no fountain of youth and until the Devils admit it, they’re going to have problems in net with Brodeur as the #1. Incidentally, he was yanked from the Devils 7-2 loss at Washington on Saturday when he allowed four goals on 20 shots. The Pens have had a couple of tough losses but they’re too good to keep losing. They also have a slew of snipers that should be able to beat Brodeur at least four times. Paul Martin returns to New Jersey in his new digs and he and the whole team will be jacked up to get in the “W” column. So will the Devils but those cheap goals deflate the hell out of teams and you can count on that happening here. Brodeur is finished. Play: Pittsburgh +1.24 (Risking 2 units).
Anaheim +1.45 over ST. LOUIS Pinnacle
Note the 2:00 PM EST start. The Ducks are 0-2 but that’s not really indicative of how they’re playing. They opened the year with a 4-0 loss in Detroit, always a tough place to play and they followed that up with a 4-1 loss in Nashville in a game in which they were not outplayed. The Ducks have not had much luck around the net but they’ve had lots of chances and they have lots of scorers so don’t put too much emphasis on its lack of production just yet. They also possess one of the finest goaltenders in the game in Jonas Hiller. The Ducks will conclude its three-game trip here and you know they’ll be ready to go in an attempt to avoid coming home winless. The Blues are coming off a 2-1 OT win over the tough Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Its one goal in regulation came with a two-man advantage and overall they went 1-10 on the power-play. Fact is, the Flyers spent more time in the box than on the ice and while the Blue Notes are likely improved from a season ago, they’re definitely overpriced here against this very talented guest. Overlay. Play: Anaheim +1.45 (Risking 2 units).
COMPS:
1. NSA(The Legend) NBA - Pistons -6
2. Ray "The Playmaker" Bowden NBA - Pistons -6
3. VegasSI.com NBA - Jazz +7
4. SportsAction365. NBA - Mavericks over 193
5. Gameday Network NBA - Jazz under 195.5
6. William E. Stockton NBA - Pistons -6
7. Gerry "Big Cat" Andino NBA - Mavericks over 193
8. Lou Panelli NBA - Pistons under 193.5
9. Steve "Scoop" Kendall NBA - Jazz +7
10. Vincent Pioli NBA - Mavericks over 193
11. John Morrison NBA - Jazz +7
12. Tony Campone NBA - Pistons -6
13. Chicago Sports Group NBA - Mavericks -7
14. Hollywood Sportsline NBA - Pistons -6
15. VIP Action NBA - Mavericks over 193
16. South Beach Sports NBA - Pistons over 193.5
17. Michigan Sports NBA - Mavericks -7
18. NY Players Club NBA - Jazz under 195.5
19. Charlies Sports NBA - Pistons -6
20. Fred Callahan NBA - Mavericks over 193
1. NSA(The Legend) NBA - Pistons -6
2. Ray "The Playmaker" Bowden NBA - Pistons -6
3. VegasSI.com NBA - Jazz +7
4. SportsAction365. NBA - Mavericks over 193
5. Gameday Network NBA - Jazz under 195.5
6. William E. Stockton NBA - Pistons -6
7. Gerry "Big Cat" Andino NBA - Mavericks over 193
8. Lou Panelli NBA - Pistons under 193.5
9. Steve "Scoop" Kendall NBA - Jazz +7
10. Vincent Pioli NBA - Mavericks over 193
11. John Morrison NBA - Jazz +7
12. Tony Campone NBA - Pistons -6
13. Chicago Sports Group NBA - Mavericks -7
14. Hollywood Sportsline NBA - Pistons -6
15. VIP Action NBA - Mavericks over 193
16. South Beach Sports NBA - Pistons over 193.5
17. Michigan Sports NBA - Mavericks -7
18. NY Players Club NBA - Jazz under 195.5
19. Charlies Sports NBA - Pistons -6
20. Fred Callahan NBA - Mavericks over 193
Wunderdog Sports
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres (NHL) - Oct 11, 2010 7:05 PM EDT
Play: Money Line: -116 Buffalo Sabres Pick Title: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres
The Chicago Blackhawks are the reigning NHL Stanley Cup winners, but they are out of the gate slow and still looking for their first win on the young season. This team does not resemble the one that won it all a year ago as salary cap issues have led to a roster overhaul. This team, while not being as good, is also going to need to build some team chemistry. The value against their perception off of last year and the reality early on, provides line value against them. It is early, but the Sabres own a huge 38-13 mark playing at home vs. a road team winning less than 40% of their games. I'll back the reality of the Blackhawks over the perception, and go with Buffalo in this one.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres (NHL) - Oct 11, 2010 7:05 PM EDT
Play: Money Line: -116 Buffalo Sabres Pick Title: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Buffalo Sabres
The Chicago Blackhawks are the reigning NHL Stanley Cup winners, but they are out of the gate slow and still looking for their first win on the young season. This team does not resemble the one that won it all a year ago as salary cap issues have led to a roster overhaul. This team, while not being as good, is also going to need to build some team chemistry. The value against their perception off of last year and the reality early on, provides line value against them. It is early, but the Sabres own a huge 38-13 mark playing at home vs. a road team winning less than 40% of their games. I'll back the reality of the Blackhawks over the perception, and go with Buffalo in this one.
