Service Plays Sunday 8/15/10

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The Rx.com Mod Team has created this Service Play sub-forum in order to supply an area for Rx Service Play Posters to expand upon their posting topics without creating a logjam in the main forum where the three principle threads are maintained..

Posters can track services here if they care to but we will need any trackers to do so in an accurate and civil manner. We did not create this area for posters to ridicule or bash any services..

You can also discuss who is hot and who is not. The general state of the pay for plays industry and any other subject or topic related to service plays.

You can also create individual threads about specific services and discuss them freely but civilly. Again bashing and abusive treatment of any services will not be tolerated.

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Lastly The Rx Moderators are appealing to you our everyday posters to report any promotional threads or posts that are made by services or individual touts. No links or contact information to an individual service will be allowed. Just the name of the service. Please report any threads or posts that are promotional attempts by services and touts to use this forum to promote themselves..

Posters can easily report a promotional post by using the triangular Report-a-Post Icon at the bottom left of all post boxes. The poster name of any poster who reports a post that is out of line will be kept strictly confidential.

I will leave this thread open for a month to take questions and do my best to answer them. I will check in daily but am off on Wednesday and Thursday.

I hope this additional Service Play Forum will satisfy those posters that would like to widen the scope of topics relating to service plays and the industry in general to have their own threads. Mods will be liberal as possible regarding topics but this forum was specifically created to allow you more freedom to express your ideas regarding service plays and related subject matter. No off topic threads will be allowed.

Thank you, wilheim




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Streaking and Slumping Pitchers

Streaking

Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays (2-0, 1.29 ERA)

The Rays righty has made a splash since moving up from Triple-A Durham. Hellickson has been lights out in his first two big-league starts, allowing just two runs and six total hits in his first 14 innings of work. In his most recent start, he blanked the Detroit Tigers for a 8-0 win, giving up only three hits through seven innings.


Slumping

Armando Galarraga, Detroit Tigers (3-5, 4.48 ERA)

Galarraga hasn’t tasted victory since late June, having gone 0-4 in his last seven starts. Over his past three trips to the bump, the right hander is 0-2 with a 4.67 ERA – a far cry from the pitcher who came just one blown call away from a perfect game back on June 2. In his last start, Galarraga allowed four runs on four hits while walking four batters in just five innings pitched.

Jeff Karstens, Pittsburgh Pirates (2-8, 4.39 ERA)

Karstens is another arm that hasn’t celebrated a win in over two months. His last victory came way back on June 19, going 0-6 in the nine starts since. The Bucs righty isn’t pitching poorly during this winless skid. He’s allowed more than three runs only twice and has pitched six innings in all but three of those outings. In his last appearance, Karstens went six innings, giving up just two runs on three hits. However, Pittsburgh’s bats failed to back him up again, losing 4-1 to the San Diego Padres.


Returning

Kyle Lohse, St. Louis Cardinals (1-4, 5.89 ERA)

Lohse returns from forearm surgery Sunday after missing about four months of action. He was solid in his rehab work in Memphis, allowing only one run on three hits through seven innings Tuesday. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 22, when he was lit up for six runs on six hits before getting the hook after 3 1-3 innings of work versus the Los Angeles Angels during interleague play.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Hot Lines: Today's best MLB bets

Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers (-150, 9.5)

There's no question that Ozzie Guillen has the loosest lips among all big-league managers. It also might be the reason he is also one of the best.

In a season in which he has already squared off with management about the firing of his son and called out Major League Baseball for favoring Asian players over Latinos, Guillen's latest verbal blast came against opposing pitchers who are plunking his players at a record rate - 57 times so far this season.

"I told my players, 'If you have any problems about somebody hitting you and you don't like it, go get it and we're behind you,' " Guillen told the Chicago Tribune. "I'll be the first one behind you, and I will protect you."

Professional or not, Guillen's comments are the kind that motivates his players. They feel like their skipper has their backs, literally in this case, and they show it on the field.

After winning 22 of their last 26 at home and going 35-17 in their last 52 with the Tigers in the Windy City, it seems there's no place like home for this Oz. The White Sox also are 14-2 in Freddy Garcia's last 16 starts against Detroit.

Guillen seems to say the right things to get his team rolling at the right times. Like him or not, it's hard to argue with the results.

Pick: White Sox


Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves (-140, 7.5)

It seems every time the Braves get hit by a bit of bad news it is followed up by a pleasant surprise.

The latest example: Down goes third baseman Chipper Jones, in comes little-known Brooks Conrad, who ripped the game winner in Friday's 1-0 win over L.A.

"The key hit was awesome," Conrad told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "(Jones) going down is terrible, I feel really bad for him, but whoever’s in there is going to have to step it up a little bit."

The opposite is the case for the Dodgers. Just as they seem to have finally gotten a handle on their batting woes, now their bullpen is in disarray.

Recently demoted closer Jonathan Broxton blew the game in a set-up role, the 14th time this season the Dodgers have been shutout.

That leaves lefty Hong-Chih Kuo, who has undergone four elbow surgeries, and recently acquired Octavio Dotel to do the dirty work in the ninth inning.

With the way the Dodgers have been hitting and their closers have been closing, all the pressure is on the starting pitching to keep them in games.

Meanwhile, the Braves are happy to spread the responsibility to the darkest corners of their dugout.

Pick: Braves

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sunday Night Baseball: Phillies at Mets

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets

National League East Division rivals New York and Philadelphia conclude their three-game series at Citi Field on ESPN Sunday night.

Welcome to our Citi

The last time the Phillies came to Citi Field in May they left without scoring a run in all three games.

Philadelphia was blanked again, 1-0, on a one-hitter by R.A. Dickey in the series opener Friday night, extending the Phillies’ scoreless skid to 36 innings in this park.

Philadelphia pitcher Cole Hamels managed the only hit off Dickey, a single in the sixth inning.

Dickey wound up tossing the 35th one-hitter in the Mets’ franchise history that began play in 1962.

"I never want to see a no-hitter by the other pitcher,” Hamels said after breaking of the no-hitter.

The Mets and San Diego are the only teams in the majors that have never pitched a no-hitter.

The last time a team was shut out four straight times at an opponent's ballpark was 2004 when Minnesota whitewashed Kansas City at the Metrodome.

Here we go again

The Mets were 41-30 in late June and are just 58-57 since.

Since beating Detroit on June 22-23, the Mets had played 43 games without winning two in a row until Friday night’s series opening victory.

Now, two-and-a-half months later, these two teams meet at Citi Field headed in opposite directions.

Despite a bevy of injuries, the Phillies have found their groove, putting them back into the pennant race. The Mets, meanwhile, have dug another deep hole and are trying climb out of it.

Another F bomb

Not winning consecutive games since mid-June is suddenly the least of New York's worries.

Closer Francisco Rodriguez's recent arrest on a charge of third-degree assault against the father of his girlfriend is the latest in a long list of on- and off-the-field embarrassments for the franchise.

Rodriguez was taken from the park Thursday evening in an unmarked car in handcuffs, where he had spent the night in a holding cell at the stadium, to an arraignment in a Queens courthouse. He was released without bail with orders of protection ordered for his girlfriend and her father.

"Ownership and the organization are very disappointed in Francisco's inappropriate behavior and we take this matter very seriously," Mets owner Fred Wilpon said in the written statement.

“He’s a part of the family here. You got to realize that no one wants it to happen, but it happened and now it's a matter of making it right. And if there's anything that we can do for Frankie, I'm sure everyone in here is going to do it”, chipped in third baseman David Wright after the arrest.

Manager Jerry Manuel supported Rodriguez in saying that he would not hesitate to use him, wanting to hear all of the facts before passing judgment.

Putting a different spin on it, OF Jeff Francoeur said, "Maybe it's a distraction we need. Not to say it's a good thing. But maybe at the end of the day we can turn it into a positive. I know for him, it's between him and his family."

Hail to the Victor

Philadelphia CF Shane Victorino was activated off the 15-day disabled list prior to Thursday's game against the Dodgers.

Victorino had been sidelined since July 28, when he suffered an abdominal strain to his right side.

To make room for Victorino, LHP Antonio Bastardo was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Help me Howard

First baseman Ryan Howard, who suffered a sprained left ankle on August 1, has begun taking live batting practice and fielding groundballs for the first time since the injury.

"It felt pretty good," Howard told reporters. "My ankle felt all right. There's still stiffness and swelling and whatnot. Hopefully in the next couple of days that will subside."

Howard is eligible to return from the disabled list Tuesday. Although he is still in the process of returning to baseball activities, Howard isn't ruling out returning when his 15-day stint expires.

"If the pain is bearable and it goes down enough and we get a little more of the swelling out ... I think I'll be able to go out there and make some things happen Obviously I'm not going to rush it. I'm not going to try and come back if it's not ready. I'm not going to force it.”

Under the radar

A battle of up-and-down right handers will meet on the mound Sunday when Kyle Kendrick (7-5, 4.60) matches serves with Mike Pelfrey (11-6, 3.95).

Kendrick is 2-4 with a 3.34 ERA in his six career team starts for Philadelphia against the Mets.

The Phillies are 12-5 in Kendrick’s last 17 starts this season, but just 5-10 in his last 15 road outings.

After a blistering start in which the Mets went 13-3 in Pelfrey’s first 16 starts this season, the 6-foot-7 right hander dropped six straight starts before out-dueling Colorado All-Star Ubaldo Jimenez over seven innings in a 1-0 win over the Rockies Monday.

"I thought the tempo was better, I was quick on the mound," Pelfrey told the media. "Coming to the game I knew I had to be at the top of my game, and I knew that guy's been good over there."

Pelfrey is 4-2 with a 2.61 ERA in his six home career team starts against Philadelphia. He is also 6-2 at home during the month of August.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NFL NEWS AND NOTES
What Bettors Need To Know: Sunday's NFL Preseason Action

San Francisco 49ers at Indianapolis Colts (+3, 33.5)

Who’s In, Who’s Out

Most people tune in to Colts games to watch the magic of Peyton Manning. If that’s you, then you probably don’t need to bother with this one. Manning has thrown a total of seven passes combined in the last three years in the first preseason game and it’s highly unlikely he will see more than two series here.



The only thing he’ll be interested in working on here is his relationship with new centers because stalwart Jeff Saturday is out for up to six weeks with knee surgery. Manning has never cared about the preseason in the past and he’s not going to start now.

The 49ers have indicated that their starting offense will see more time than you might expect, especially rookie linemen Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati. One guy we might not see a lot of is Michael Crabtree. The receiver sprained his neck slightly in practice this week. He’s not seriously hurt, but there is no reason not to be careful with him.

Line Movement

The line has been stable at +3 - a strong number for a road team in preseason. The total opened at 34.5 and has adjusted downwards gradually.

Trends

The Colts were a notoriously bad preseason team under Tony Dungy and the tradition continues under Jim Caldwell. They were 1-3 ATS last year and showed little concern for the scoreboard.

Mike Singletary has only one gear and it’s a high one, so he doesn’t let up in any game. He was 3-1 ATS in his first camp last year. The Niners went under in three of four games.

Weather

With thunderstorms forecast the roof could be closed.

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5, 32.5)

Who’s In, Who’s Out

All of the fan boys are giddy because Tim Tebow will see a fair bit of playing time Sunday. The highly-publicized rookie is not at the top of the depth chart and Kyle Orton is having a very strong camp, but starters won’t likely see a lot of action, so Tebow will get his chances. If he performs well, then expect the media coverage to escalate to truly ridiculous levels. Brady Quinn will have ample chances to disappoint as well.



The Broncos will likely work on their passing a fair bit in this one because they can’t afford to lose yet another running back after their top three rushers have gone down with injuries. Sack master Elvis Dumervil will also miss this game and the season.

Cincinnati has already played a preseason game, but it was so bad that the Bengals would probably rather forget about it. Like Denver, they are struggling with injuries. Antonio Bryant and Andre Smith are out and Rey Maualuga and Carlos Dunlap are back but banged up.

Tight end Jermaine Gresham will be making his home debut for the Bengals amidst a whole lot of hype. He won’t see a lot of his starting quarterback. Carson Palmer threw just five passes in the last game and won’t be much busier here. His little brother Jordan and J.T. O’Sullivan will pick up the slack.

Line movement

The line is sitting where it opened and doesn’t seem particularly vulnerable. The total has dropped from an opening 33.5.

Trends

Marvin Lewis has been a solid preseason performer with the Bengals. He is 15-12-1 ATS over his career. The totals are perfectly balanced 14-14 over/under in those games. Josh McDaniels was 2-2 ATS in his first preseason in Denver and covered his first game.

Weather

Temperatures should be in the mid to upper 80s and there is a good chance of thunderstorms.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NFL BETTING TIPS AND NOTES
Preseason Profit Report

Preseason Report

Many handicappers have the opinion that the preseason games should be left alone and not bet on. I feel just the opposite. I feel the NFL preseason is a great opportunity to start and build a nice bankroll for the upcoming regular season, especially this year with only three new head coaches throwing their hat into the ring. If you do your homework, the preseason games offer the betting public a tremendous chance to make a ton of money.

This year as an example we have some teams on a 10-0, 11-1, and 15-2 preseason runs. It doesn’t get much better than that guys!!!

In the preseason, many head coaches have a track record of wanting to win and some just don’t care and are just preparing for the regular season. You can find many games this preseason where you can get a definite edge. Below I have put together a list of all 32 teams with a breakdown of things to look for this preseason that will give you that winning advantage.

With 29 returning head coaches this season look for these solid early trends to really hold up big time for this preseason.

OK so here are this year’s highly rated preseason money making trends for each team starting with the AFC.

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills
Head Coach: Chan Gailey - 1st year

The Bills are a perfect 6-0 against the spread in Week 1 of the preseason over the past six years. This is developing into one of my strongest preseason trends. This year’s play is on Aug. 13 as the Bills will face the Redskins. However, in his two years in Dallas as head coach, Chan Gailey was a horrible 2-8 ATS.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Brohm and Levi Brown (rookie-Troy)

Miami Dolphins
Head Coach: Tony Sparano – 3rd year

With Bill Parcells taking over as executive VP for football operations of the Dolphins, and surrounding himself with all of his Dallas buddies including Tony Sparano you have to look for continued improvement from Miami in August as Parcells always tried to win in the preseason. Even when he took over a bad Cowboys team he immediately started winning in the preseason. Well this has turned an immediate profit as the Dolphins have won 7 of their 8 preseason games over the past two years including a perfect 4-0 last year.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Chad Henne, Chad Pennington, Pat White and Tyler Thigpen

New England Patriots
Head Coach: Bill Belichick – 11th year

Belichick and the Patriots used to be a big money maker in the preseason over the years. However since the Super Bowl rings have added up the preseason has just become a waste of time. Especially in the early preseason games as the Patriots have gone 1-5 ATS in their first two preseason games over the past three seasons.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Tom Brady, Brain Hoyer, Jeff Rowe and Zac Robinson (rookie-Oklahoma State)

NY Jets
Head Coach: Rex Ryan – 2nd year

When Rex Ryan took over as the Jets new head coach last season everyone thought he would bring over the Ravens’ tough defense. He sure did in the regular season; however in the preseason Ryan cared less about showing his defense off as the ‘over’ was a perfect 4-0. So let’s look for more of the same this year with the ‘over’ being the solid play in every Jets preseason game.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Mark Sanchez, Kellen Clemens, Erik Ainge and Kevin O’Connell

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens
Head Coach: John Harbaugh – 3rd year

The Ravens in the past five preseason’s have played some really low-scoring games with the ‘under’ producing an eye-opening 14-5 ledger. This trend has continued with new head coach John Harbaugh, who plays it close to the vest. The Ravens watched the ‘under’ go 6-2 in his first two years as head coach.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Joe Flacco, Troy Smith, John Beck

Cincinnati Bengals
Head Coach: Marvin Lewis – 8th year

Even though the Bengals are just a .500 team in the preseason over the past few years, boy does Cincinnati finish strong in the preseason winning the past four years against the Colts in their final preseason tune up including a blowout win (38-7) against Indianapolis last season. This year’s play is again against the Colts on the road on Sept. 2. These games against the Colts are not even close as the Bengals have outscored them by a combined 99–23 over the past four years.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Carson Palmer, J.T. O’Sullivan and Jordan Palmer

Cleveland Browns
Head Coach: Eric Mangini – 2nd year

In his first year as the Browns head coach, Eric Mangini was just a .500 coach going 2-2. However the Browns and Bears in their final preseason game each year has seen the ‘under’ be the right side in five of the last six encounters. Watch this matchup once again this year on Sept. 2.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Colt McCoy (rookie-Texas), and Brett Ratliff

Pittsburgh Steelers
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin – 4th year

This is one of my strongest preseason trends to watch for as the Steelers have seen the ‘under’ go an amazing 15-2 over the past four years in the preseason. Last year was no different as Pittsburgh saw all four of their preseason games stay way ‘under’ the total which has added to a perfect 6-0 run with the ‘under’ over the past two years.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Charlie Batch, Dennis Dixon, and Byron Leftwich

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans
Head Coach: Gary Kubiak – 5th year

As head coach of the Texans over the past four seasons Gary Kubiak has shown a small profit going 9-7 SU. However where the real money can be made on the Texans in the preseason is on the total as we have seen the ‘over’ go 9-3 over the past four seasons under Kubiak.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Matt Schaub, Dan Orlovsky, John David Booty

Indianapolis Colts
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell – 2nd year

With Jim Caldwell taking over as head coach, and with the Colts having a new offensive coordinator, OL coach, and defensive coordinator, Indianapolis went 1-3 ATS last year in the preseason. One trend we still have to watch with Indianapolis is how poorly they play in their last preseason game of the year going 1-7 ATS the last eight years. This year the Colts finish out the preseason as they host the Bengals once again on Sept. 2nd.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Peyton Manning, Curtis Painter, Tom Brandstater and Tim Hiller (rookie-Western Michigan)

Jacksonville Jaguars
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio – 8th year

The Jaguars are sure known for their defense in the regular season. However head coach Jack Del Rio has pulled in the reins during the last five preseason slates, allowing the Jaguars to open things up offensively as they work on improving their passing game. As a result the ‘over’ has gone 14-6 (70%). Look for this trend to again be a money maker this year as the oddsmakers continue to post low totals on all of the Jacksonville preseason games. Plus, while most teams just want to go thru the motions in their final preseason game, the Jaguars are just the opposite as they have won their last preseason game the last four years winning two of them outright as a ‘dog.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: David Garrard, Luke McCown and Trevor Harris (rookie-Edinboro)

Tennessee Titans
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher – 16th year

A strong preseason trend has developed for head coach Jeff Fischer over the past five years as he has sure opened things up offensively in the Titans last preseason game of the year seeing 222 points scored in these games. This year’s last preseason game is against the Saints on Sept. 2nd.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Chris Simms, and Rusty Smith (rookie-Florida Atlantic)

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos
Head Coach: Josh McDaniels – 2nd year

Bill Belichick disciple Josh McDaniels took over as the Broncos new head coach last season. McDaniels went 2-2 in both sides and totals in the preseason. However what really still stands out is the Broncos willingness to dominate in their final preseason game of the year going 9-1 ATS in their last 10 with their only loss coming back in ‘04.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, Tim Tebow (rookie-Florida)

Kansas City Chiefs
Head Coach: Todd Haley – 2nd year

Even with the Parcells/Belichick disciples Scott Pioli taking over as GM, and Todd Haley taking over as head coach The Chiefs continued their losing ways in the preseason making then now an unbelievable 1-11 ATS over the past three years. Until we see a major turnaround will have to continue to fade the Chiefs in this spot.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Matt Cassel, Brodie Croyle, Matt Gutierrez, Tyler Palko

Oakland Raiders
Head Coach: Tom Cable – 3rd year

Two solid preseason trends continued as Tom Cable took over as the Oakland head coach last season. The Raiders have gone a perfect 4-0 in their first preseason game over the past four years, and are just as bad in their final game going a money making 0-4 ATS with four outright losses. So let’s look for both of these scenarios to continue this season.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Jason Campbell, Charlie Frye, Bruce Gradkowski, and Kyle Boller

San Diego Chargers
Head Coach: Norv Turner – 3rd year

This will be Norv Turner’s fourth year as head coach of the Chargers. In Turner’s last head coaching job with the Raiders back in 2004 and 2005, a solid trend can be taken away from it that can give us an edge for the Chargers preseason games. First of all in both of his dress rehearsal games in Oakland the Raiders went 0-2 against the spread, this trend has continued as Turner has not covered his dress rehearsal game the first three years in San Diego making him a perfect 0-5 ATS. So let’s watch for when the Chargers play a Saints team on Aug. 27 this year that have won their dress rehearsal game the past three years by a combined 88-14.

Probable preseason quarterback rotations: Phillip Rivers, Billy Volek, and Jonathan Crompton (rookie-Tennessee)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

WNBA NEWS AND NOTES
WNBA Betting Preview

Storm-Mystics Preview

The Seattle Storm were fighting for the top seed in the Western Conference in their last visit to the Verizon Center. Seattle already has that spot locked up as it makes this season’s trip to the nation’s capital.

The Storm suffered their most lopsided defeat of the season their last time out after playing mostly reserves, but Seattle is expected to rest its starters again when it faces the Washington Mystics on Sunday.

Seattle trailed West-leading Phoenix by 2 1/2 games when it came to Washington on Sept. 3. The Storm were on a season-high six-game winning streak, but suffered a 78-67 loss.

The defeat proved costly, as Seattle finished three games behind the Mercury, who went on to win the WNBA championship.

Two-time MVP Lauren Jackson, who missed that game and all of the 2009 postseason with a stress fracture in her back, is questionable for Sunday after missing Friday’s 88-68 loss at Connecticut with back spasms.

With his team having clinching the top seed in the playoffs with an 80-70 victory at Atlanta on Tuesday, Storm coach Brian Agler went with backups for most of Friday’s contest. He will likely do it again as Seattle (25-5) finishes a three-game trip.

“I mean, I don’t think it would be advantageous for us to have Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson, Swin Cash and those people worn down going into the playoffs,” Agler told the Storm’s official website. “That being said, I don’t know what is going to happen in Washington. I’m sure we will probably do something similar.”

Battling New York and Atlanta for the second seed in the East and just three games ahead of Connecticut for fifth place, Washington (18-12) cannot afford to rest its top players. Sparked by Katie Smith’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 43 seconds left, the Mystics matched a franchise high in victories Friday with their second straight win, 61-58 over Minnesota.

“This is the way it’s going to be I think throughout the rest of the season, but also when the playoffs arrive,” Smith said. “Nip and tuck.”

With Jackson and the rest of the Storm’s starting frontcourt likely to see few minutes, forward Monique Currie and Mystics leading scorer and rebounder Crystal Langhorne could find it easier to operate in the post.

Currie had 24 points and five rebounds in an 82-76 loss at Seattle on May 25, while Langhorne added 14 points and four boards.

Langhorne had 12 points and 11 rebounds in last season’s home win over the Storm.

The home team has won the last eight meetings between these clubs.

Fever-Sun Preview

The Indiana Fever were able to win the Eastern Conference regular-season crown last year despite a season-ending slump. They know that a much tighter race this year likely won’t allow for a repeat of that situation.

The first-place Fever try to match a season high with their fifth straight victory Sunday when they face the Connecticut Sun, who are in danger of missing the postseason for the second straight time.

The Fever dropped seven of their final 10 games in 2009, but still won the East by four games. Indiana had clinched the top seed by late August, but the club is in a fight to secure that spot this season.
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Indiana (20-10), which came within a victory of its first WNBA title last year, is trying to hold off New York, Washington and Atlanta for the No. 1 seed.

The Fever are still in control because of their four-game win streak, which followed a season-high three-game slide that left them tied for second place Aug. 3.

“That three-game slump might have helped us as far as re-focusing and getting us ready for the final push to the playoffs,” forward Tamika Catchings told the team’s official website after a 29-point, seven-rebound, six-assist performance in a 110-90 victory over Phoenix on Friday. “I feel like we’re on our way up. We haven’t reached the top of the potential of this team.”

The Fever play three of their final four games on the road, opening a three-game trip Sunday. Indiana has gone 5-1 in its last six on the road.

While the Fever have clinched their sixth straight trip to the playoffs, the Sun (15-15) are in a much more tenuous position, sitting fifth in the East.

Connecticut picked up a key victory Friday, routing league-leading Seattle 88-68 at home for its second win in three games. The Sun took advantage of the Storm resting their starters for most of the game and shot a season-high 55.2 percent from the field.

“I thought we were crisp from the beginning,” coach Mike Thibault said. “We had 18 assists at halftime. That’s a good sign.”

Repeating that offensive performance could be difficult against the Fever, who are second in the league in scoring defense at 73.9 points per game and in field-goal percentage defense at 41.7.

Sun rookie center Tina Charles, averaging 15.5 points and a league-high 11.8 rebounds, needs one double-double to pass Natalie Williams for the single-season record with 20.

Charles has averaged just 9.3 points and 7.3 boards against the Fever this season, but the Sun have won two of three meetings.

Catchings is averaging 17.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.7 steals versus Connecticut in 2010.

Connecticut is looking to take the season series from Indiana for the first time since 2007. The Sun swept the four regular-season matchups that year, then lost in three games to the Fever in the opening round of the playoffs.

Stars-Lynx Preview

The San Antonio Silver Stars failed to clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Minnesota Lynx earlier this week. They’ll try again Sunday night.

Looking to stay in third place in the Western Conference, San Antonio tries to win its second straight at the Target Center as the Lynx go for a much-needed victory to close out their home schedule.

After taking the season series from Los Angeles last Sunday, San Antonio (12-18) sought to do the same versus Minnesota on Tuesday. The Silver Stars, though, fell one-half game behind the Lynx (11-19) for third in the tightly bunched West with a 73-66 loss.
AdChoices

The home team has dropped the last two matchups between these clubs after winning the first two this season.

San Antonio, which snapped a season-high five-game road skid July 22 with a 74-72 victory over Minnesota, is coming off a 94-74 win over Tulsa on Friday. Sparked by 18 points from Chamique Holdsclaw and 15 and eight assists from Becky Hammon, the Silver Stars snapped a four-game home losing streak.

San Antonio plays its final three games at home after Sunday’s matchup.

“We go into Minnesota and we know it is 2-2 and it is our opportunity to take this tiebreaker, which is important,” coach Sandy Brondello said. “Four games to go and Minnesota lost again tonight (61-58 at Washington on Friday) but we know that they are going to be hungry. They just lost two in a row. We have to go in there even hungrier.”

The Lynx are looking to bounce back from consecutive close losses as they try to make the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. After suffering a 78-77 home loss at the buzzer to the Sparks on Thursday, Minnesota shot 20.5 percent and scored 18 points in the second half of Friday’s defeat at Washington.

“We had a hard time scoring and didn’t get the job done,” said point guard Lindsay Whalen, averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 assists against San Antonio this season. “We weren’t able to hit outside shots … (the zone defense) worked for them and ended up being a big difference in the game.”

Forward Rebekkah Brunson has been a major factor against San Antonio, averaging 14.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. She had 12 points and 12 boards Tuesday, while Seimone Augustus added 20 points and eight rebounds.

Augustus, leading the team with 17.4 points per game, has averaged 18.5 and 50 percent shooting in the two home games versus the Silver Stars.

Sophia Young, who hit the winning free throws with 3.8 seconds left July 22, is averaging 14.5 points and 5.8 rebounds versus the Lynx in 2010.

Minnesota will try to take the season series from San Antonio for the fifth time in six seasons.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

LADY LUCK

Sunday's Best WNBA Bets

Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun (-2.5, 154.5)

The Sun can thank the Seattle Storm for lying down in their most recent game. Connecticut rolled over the WNBA’s top team, which was resting many of its starters with the postseason just around the corner.

The Fever won’t do the Sun the same favor when these Eastern Conference rivals meet Sunday. Indiana is trying to hold on to the top spot in the East, with New York and Washington hot on its heels. The Fever have won four straight games heading into Sunday, covering the spread in three of those contests.

Connecticut, on the other hand, is in fifth place in the East, trailing the Mystics and Atlanta Dream by three and 2.5 games respectively. There are just four games remaining on the Sun’s schedule, making Sunday’s game even more important.

"We can only control what we can control," Connecticut's DeMya Walker told reporters.

The Sun have won two of the three meetings with the Fever this season, most recently taking a 77-66 win as 7.5-point road underdogs on July 14.

Pick: Connecticut Sun


Seattle Storm at Washington Mystics (-7.5, 146)

Sunday’s East versus West matchup features two teams with very different agendas.

Seattle, which has locked up home-court advantage in the WNBA playoffs, will be sitting its star players in order to rest and avoid injury in the home stretch of the schedule.

"We set a lot of goals for the regular season and a lot had to do with home court for the playoffs," Storm guard Sue Bird, who played just under seven minutes in Friday’s loss to Connecticut, told reporters.

"We've reached those goals. As players, though, we want to stay in rhythm. I think I speak for everyone in here when I say we don't want to get out of rhythm. You don't want to get lazy-minded."

Washington, which is third in the Eastern Conference, is just two back of the No. 1 spot and only 1.5 games behind second-place New York. The Mystics took a slight win over the Minnesota Lynx Friday and have back-to-back wins heading into Sunday. They are 4-2 with a 3-3 mark against the spread this month.

"We hope we can get a few more (wins) before it's all said and done," Washington’s Katie Smith told the media. "It was a battle there at the end. We couldn't quite get any flow, both of us. But we really hit that mentality of 'If we aren't scoring, they aren't scoring,' and that defensive stalemate carried us until we finally got a little lead."

The Mystics are 2-2 versus the Storm over the past two season, going 3-1 ATS in those games.

Pick: Washington Mystics

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL NEWS AND NOTES
CFL Betting Preview

Eskimos-Stampeders Preview

Joffrey Reynolds is Calgary’s leading rusher with 448 yards on 75 carries.

The Edmonton Eskimos, currently tied for last in the Western Conference standings, are looking for a win Sunday night against the division leading Calgary Stampeders in hopes of turning their season around.

Edmonton comes into this game with a 1-5 record, a complete reversal of Calgary's 5-1 mark. The Eskimos' only win came in Week 5 when they beat the B.C. Lions at home 28-25. The Stampeders only loss was a 24-27 l road setback against Toronto in Week 3. This will be the first of three meetings between these two teams this season.

The Eskimos were dealt a blow worse than a loss in last week's game against the Argonauts when leading receiver Fred Stamps went down with a dislocated shoulder injury. Prior to the injury, Stamps was the league's second leading receiver with 39 catches for 609 yards.

With Stamps out, slotback Kelly Campbell will mostly likely become QB Ricky Ray's primary target. Campbell is currently ranked fifth in the CFL with 37 receptions for 503 yards. Ray also has slotback's Jason Barnes and Andre Talbot to help pick up the slack.

Fortunately, Edmonton also has a solid running game led by Arkee Whitlock, who is second in the league with 577 yards on 90 carries.

Defense has really hurt Edmonton this season. The Eskimos are ranked seventh in points allowed, yielding an average of 30 ½ points pre game.

The Stampeders' offense has not been flashy, but effective at grinding opposing teams down. Behind QB Henry Burris, they lead the league in time of possession, are second in total first downs and are third in rushing yards per game.

Joffrey Reynolds is the club's leading rusher with 448 yards on 75 carries, while Nik Lewis is the leading receiver with 36 catches for 465 yards.

Defensively, the Stampeders lead the league in total yards allowed per game. They are ranked second against both the pass and the run. Calgary is allowing an average of just 21.1 points per game, which is also tops in the league.

The most points this defense has allowed in a game is 27, which happened to be in its only loss of the season.

Calgary opened as an 8 ½-point favorite, with the ‘over/under' is set at 52 ½. The money-line has the Stampeders at minus 380 and the Eskimos at plus 300.

Calgary has won four of its last five games against Edmonton, including the last three. The last meeting between these two teams was in October of last season, with the Stampeders coming away with a 30-7 home win.

The Eskimos have been able to keep most of their games close, but playing without their No. 1 receiver on the road against a team that is undefeated at home is just too tall of a task.

Lay the 8 ½ points and take the Stampeders.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CANADIAN BACON

Sunday's Best CFL Bets

Edmonton Eskimos at Calgary Stampeders (-8.5, 52.5)

The poor Eskimos seem to find new ways to shoot themselves in the foot every week.

“Sometime it works, sometime it doesn’t,” said offensive coordinator Kevin Strasser.

Right now, nothing seems to works for the Eskimos, who only scored 130 points in six games so far this season. Only the B.C. Lions’ offense, with 122, has been more pitiful.

The Eskimos are probably a better team than their 1-5 record shows but all will agree that the Stampeders fully deserve their 5-1 record.

The traditional Alberta Battle will likely be one-sided this time. Henry Burris threw only one interception in his last two games and Ken-Yon Rambo is back to catch his bullets.

The Eskimos will keep sliding.

Pick: Calgary Stampeders

 

[goldencontender]

Sunday MLB play- GC

On Sunday the Free MLB play is on the Colorado Rockies- Run line. Game 964 at 3:10 eastern. The Rockies fit a solid system here that plays on home favorites of -200 or more that are off a home favored loss, if they scored 4 or less runs with 4 or less men left on base. If their opponent is off a road dog win and scored 5 or more runs with 10 more hits, than these home favorites win over 85% of the time. However with such a high line we will use the run line at -1.5 and -120. Most of the wins in this system have been blowouts. Colorado has U. Jimenez on the mound and he has superior numbers compared to Milwaukee starter M. Parra. Look for Colorado to coast here today. On Sunday the lead play is a 5* Diamond Cutter totals play that averages over 12 runs per game. I also have a Double system NFL Play. For the Bonus Play take the Colorado Rockies on the run line. GC​

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CFL DUNKEL

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15

Game 447-448: Edmonton at Calgary (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 105.713; Calgary 116.131
Dunkel Line: Calgary by 10 1/2; 50
Vegas Line: Calgary by 8 1/2; 53
Dunkel Pick: Calgary (-8 1/2); Under

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Week 7 CFL games

Edmonton (1-5) @ Calgary (5-1)-- Eskimos outscored 52-20 in first half of last three games; they're 0-2 on road (1-1 as road dog) losing 24-20 in Regina, 47-21 at Winnipeg. Four of last five Calgary games were decided by 5 or less points, with Stampeders winning last three, scoring 30 ppg. Three of last four Edmonton games were decided by 4 or less points. Stamps are 3-2 as favorites, 2-1 at home. Over is 3-1-1 in Edmonton's last five games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

BETTORS' TIPS AND NOTES
Bettors' Best Friend (BBF): Sunday's Wagering Tips

Lines To Keep An Eye On

49ers at Colts: The Colts opened as -1.5 favorites but the line has flip-flopped to the 49ers -3.

Broncos at Bengals: Total opened at 33.5 but has dropped to 32.5.

Weather To Watch

Mariners at Indians: 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Yankees at Royals: 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Diamondbacks at Nationals: 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Dodgers at Braves: 30 percent chance of showers.

Who's Hot

White Sox are 22-4 in their last 26 at home.

Padres are 8-1 vs. the Giants this season.

Orioles are 9-2 since the hiring of manager Buck Showalter.

Braves are 7-2 in their last nine.

Who's Not

Tigers are 16-36 in their last 52 on road.

Nationals are 1-6 in their last seven.

Pirates have lost five in a row.

Key Stat

.688 - Florida Marlins left fielder Mike Stanton's batting averge for the past four games entering Saturday night's tilt. He is 11-for-16 with four home runs and eight RBIs in that span.

Injury That Shouldn't Be Overlooked

Peyton Manning may be without his go-to guy to start the season. Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark injured his left leg during Friday's practice and is out for Sunday's preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. There was no immediate report on the severity of the injury to the Pro Bowl tight end or how long he will be out, but any time at all could be difficult for Indy. Clark caught a career 100 receptions for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Game Of The Day

Phillies at Mets (-110, 8.5)

Notable Quotable

"I will protect my hitters myself. If I see somebody throw at somebody and I think it was on purpose, they will get hit. I guarantee it. Then I'll take my responsibility with fines and whatever they want to do."

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said after his players have been hit by a league-leading 57 pitches so far this season.

Tips And Notes

Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who has missed more than a month with the effects of a concussion, no longer has a timetable for his return. Morneau has been out since July 7 when he took a knee to the head while trying to break up a double play. He has continued to work out on a daily basis but has not gotten through a day without showing symptoms of the concussion. Tthe Twins have canceled tentative plans of a rehab assignment for Morneau, a former MVP who was hitting .345 with 18 homers and 56 RBI before the injury.

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan hates to lose even in the preseason, but especially against the crosstown rival Giants on Monday night. Ryan has said that his starters, including first-team quarterback Mark Sanchez and new acquisitions LaDainian Tomlinson and Santonio Holmes, will play beyond the first quarter in Monday's game against the Giants. Exactly how ar beyond remains to be seen, but it's a safe bet that he will keep them in until he's happy with the results. The Jets are a -2 favorite over the Giants.

FIFA is considering eliminating draws in World Cup games beginning in 2014. President Sepp Blatter said Saturday that the proposed change could involve going to a shootout after 90 minutes of regulation or adding sudden-death overtime, which was used in the knockout rounds in 1998 and 2002 World Cups. FIFA then reverted to its previous rule of having teams play a full 30 minutes of overtime if tied at the end of regulation in the knockout rounds.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Craig Masters

PREMIUM PLAY
Washington Nationals -1 1/2 RL

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

BASEBALL CRUSHER
PLAY OF THE DAY

Chicago White Sox (-145) over Detroit Tigers

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

RW Sports 100-102.5-19.5 (4-8-2)

liverpool - arsenal, draw, 3.31 @ pinnacle

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

"Bulgarian Paid service"

Gaz Metan Medias - Sportul Studentesc,over 2,5@ 2.15
Dinamo Bucuresti v Rapid Bucuresti: 1 @2.25

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Chad Greene

PREMIUM PLAY
Minnesota Twins -145

Bonus Play
SD Padres/SF Giants Under 7

 

[motor87]

axiumsports.com

August 15th 2010

*-Weekly System Picks. Please follow the system and do not increase your starting bet until you at least triple your account. -*

Current Bankroll=$2,547.71

Pick #18-Germany Cup Soccer-
18)Bet 32.87 to win 32.87 on Fortuna Dusseldorf -0.5 over TuS Koblenz +100

Pick #19-MLB-
19a)Bet 33.29 to win 31.11 on NY Mets ML Philadelphia -107

19b)Bet 69.03 to win 64.51 on NY Mets ML Philadelphia -107

Pick #20-MLB-
20aa)Bet 33.69 to win 31.20 on Milwaukee/Colorado UNDER 7 -108
20ab)Bet 69.91 to win 64.73 on Milwaukee/Colorado UNDER 7 -108

20ba)Bet 33.27 to win 30.81 on Milwaukee/Colorado UNDER 7 -108
20bb)Bet 146.81 to win 135.94 on Milwaukee/Colorado UNDER 7 -108