SPORTS ADVISORS
Philadelphia (8-2) at Tampa Bay (7-5)
After riding their ace pitcher to a one-run victory in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday, the Phillies hand the ball to Brett Myers (12-13, 4.59 ERA in 32 regular-season and postseason starts) in Game 2 at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay will counter with James Shields (15-10, 3.57 in 36 starts).
Philadelphia got a first-inning, two-run home run from Chase Utley, and left-hander Cole Hamels made it stand up, pitching seven innings for the fourth straight time in the playoffs en route to a 3-2 victory, running his postseason numbers to 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA. The Phillies, who have won three in a row going back to the NLCS, prevailed despite leaving 11 runners on base.
Not only are they riding a three-game winning streak, but the Phillies are on runs of 36-16 overall, 9-3 on the road, 4-0 on Thursdays, 6-1 in Game 2 of a series, 23-8 against winning teams and 25-9 versus right-handed starters. However, they’re still 18-36 in their last 54 games against the American League, including 7-17 in their last 24 interleague road contests and 2-4 in their last six versus the A.L. East.
Tampa Bay has lost three of its last four overall, but still sports positive runs of 57-20 at home, 12-5 versus right-handed starters, 5-2 in interleague games, 8-4 in interleague home games and 7-2 versus the N.L. East.
The Rays are 10-6 all time against the Phillies, including 5-2 in the last seven overall and 4-1 in the last five at Tropicana Field. Also, Tampa Bay is 12-7 against the National League in 2008, while the Phillies are 4-15 in interleague action.
Myers hasn’t pitched since Oct. 10, when he got rocked for five runs on six hits and four walks in five innings in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. However, Philadelphia staked the right-hander to an 8-1 lead and held on for an 8-5 victory, making Myers 2-0 in two playoff starts despite a 5.25 ERA. The Phillies are 10-4 in Myers’ last 14 trips to the hill, but they’re 5-14 in his last 19 road starts and 1-5 in his last six interleague outings.
Myers last pitched on the road at Florida on Sept. 19, and he got destroyed, surrendering 10 runs (all earned) in just four innings of a 14-8 loss. He’s 3-8 with a 6.21 ERA in 16 road outings, compared with 9-4 with a 3.25 ERA in 16 home starts.
Tampa Bay has walked off a winner in 15 of Shields’ last 22 starts overall and 20 of his last 27 at home. However, the right-hander was a tough-luck loser in both of his ALCS starts at home against the Red Sox, giving up a combined six runs (five earned) on 15 hits in 13 innings (4.15 ERA). The Rays got outscored 6-2 in those two defeats. Shields has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 18 of his last 22 outings, including the last five in a row.
Including a 6-4 victory over the White Sox in the divisional series round on Oct. 2, Shields is 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA in his first three playoff starts. He’s also 10-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 20 starts at Tropicana Field.
Myers has never faced Tampa Bay, while Shields’ lone start against the Phillies came on June 16, 2006, when he yielded three runs in six innings en route to a 10-4 upset road victory.
The under is 9-4-1 in Myers’ last 14 starts overall and 4-1-1 in his past six as a visitor. Meanwhile, the over is 5-0 in Shields’ last five interleague outings and 4-0 in his last four efforts on Thursday.
For the Phillies, the under is on streaks of 8-3 in the playoffs, 6-2 on the road, 8-2 in interleague play and 12-3 on Thursdays. For the Rays, the under is on runs of 5-1 at home and 21-8-1 in interleague home games. However, the over is 6-3-1 in Tampa Bay’s last 10 against the N.L. East and 5-0 in its last five on Thursdays.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Auburn (4-3, 1-6 ATS) at West Virginia (4-2, 1-4 ATS)
Auburn takes a one-week hiatus from its bruising Southeastern Conference schedule when it travels to Morgantown for a non-conference, nationally televised battle with West Virginia of the Big East.
The Tigers, who had a bye last weekend, are looking to rebound from a shocking 25-22 home loss to Arkansas on Oct. 11 as an overwhelming 16½-point home chalk. Auburn, which fell 14-13 at Vanderbilt the previous week, has now dumped six straight ATS decisions (3-3 SU) since winning and covering in its season opener against Louisiana-Monroe. Against Arkansas, the Tigers somehow led 20-16 entering the fourth quarter, though they finished the game with three turnovers and a paltry 193 total yards, while the Razorbacks racked up 416 yards (188 on the ground).
The Mountaineers, who also had a bye last week, topped Syracuse 17-6 back on Oct. 11 for their third consecutive win, but they failed to cash as a huge 22-point home favorite, their second straight ATS setback. With star QB Pat White on the sidelines with an injury, West Virginia was outgained 346-268, but it finished with 216 rushing yards on 32 attempts (6.8 ypc), paced by RB Curtis Brinkley’s 144 yards on 28 carries. The Mountaineers also had no turnovers.
This is the first-ever meeting between these two programs.
Despite their current 0-6 ATS slide, the Tigers are 18-7 ATS in their last 25 October contests and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog, including 6-1 ATS as a road pup since 2004. They’re also 6-1 SU in their last seven Thursday games. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers have been favored in all five of their lined games this season, cashing just once, and they are on additional pointspread skids of 0-4 after a bye, 0-4 after a SU win and 2-5 at home.
Both teams are paced by their defenses, with Auburn giving up just 13.1 points and 272.7 yards per game (108 rushing ypg), while the Mountaineers yield 14.7 points and 320.8 total yards per outing (118.8 rushing ypg). Offensively, West Virginia has a slight edge (22.2 ppg, 342.2 total ypg) over the Tigers (19.1 ppg, 262.6 ypg).
The under for Auburn is on runs of 7-2 overall, 4-1 against winning teams, 6-2 on the highway and 5-2 in non-conference play. The under also has been the play in all five of West Virginia’s lined games this season and is on further streaks of 4-0 at home and 6-1 in non-conference action.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
New Mexico (4-4, 5-3 ATS) at Air Force (5-2, 4-2 ATS)
New Mexico, coming off a huge offensive outburst, looks to keep that momentum going when it heads to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force’s triple-option attack in a Mountain West Conference matchup.
The Lobos throttled San Diego State 70-7 Saturday to cover nearly four times over as a 16½-point home chalk, their fourth straight spread-cover (3-1 SU). New Mexico, which led 49-0 at the half, rolled up a 565-227 total yardage edge, including an eye-popping 419 rushing yards, with RB Rodney Ferguson (25 carries, 144 yards, 4 TDs) leading the way.
Air Forced edged UNLV 29-28 as a 3½-point favorite Saturday night for its second consecutive SU win – both on the road. Like New Mexico against San Diego State, the Falcons also cracked 500 total yards, finishing with a 508-404 edge against the Rebels, and their vaunted running attack netted 346 yards on a whopping 68 carries (5.1 ypc). Air Force attempted just seven passes, but two of QB Tim Jefferson’s attempts went for TDs.
New Mexico edged Air Force 34-31 last year – snapping a three-game losing skid to the Academy – but the Falcons cashed as a 6½-point road underdog, improving to 4-0 ATS (3-1 SU) in this series. The host is on runs of 8-2 SU and 8-3 ATS in this rivalry, with Air Force going 4-1 ATS in the last five in Colorado Springs. Finally, the winner had cashed in nine consecutive Air Force-New Mexico clashes prior to last year.
The Lobos are on ATS runs of 5-0 on grass, 4-1 in conference play, 19-9-2 on the highway and 18-8 as a visiting ‘dog. The Falcons have failed to cash in seven of their last 10 when coming off a non-cover, but they are on positive ATS streaks of 11-3 overall, 8-1 in the MWC, 6-1 at home and 8-2 after a SU win.
This game features two of the top rushing attacks in college football. The Falcons rank third nationally at 300 rushing ypg and New Mexico (224 rushing ypg) ranks 15th, but the Lobos average more yards per carry (5.8) than Air Force (4.6). On the defensive end, New Mexico allows 341 total ypg (100.4 rushing ypg), while the Falcons yield 304.7 ypg (130 rushing ypg).
New Mexico is on a 5-2 “over” streak, but the under is 7-1 in its last eight conference games and 5-2 in its last seven on the road. The over for Air Force is on runs of 4-1 overall and 7-1 after a SU win, and the over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these two teams.
ATS ADVANTAGE: AIR FORCE
Philadelphia (8-2) at Tampa Bay (7-5)
After riding their ace pitcher to a one-run victory in Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday, the Phillies hand the ball to Brett Myers (12-13, 4.59 ERA in 32 regular-season and postseason starts) in Game 2 at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay will counter with James Shields (15-10, 3.57 in 36 starts).
Philadelphia got a first-inning, two-run home run from Chase Utley, and left-hander Cole Hamels made it stand up, pitching seven innings for the fourth straight time in the playoffs en route to a 3-2 victory, running his postseason numbers to 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA. The Phillies, who have won three in a row going back to the NLCS, prevailed despite leaving 11 runners on base.
Not only are they riding a three-game winning streak, but the Phillies are on runs of 36-16 overall, 9-3 on the road, 4-0 on Thursdays, 6-1 in Game 2 of a series, 23-8 against winning teams and 25-9 versus right-handed starters. However, they’re still 18-36 in their last 54 games against the American League, including 7-17 in their last 24 interleague road contests and 2-4 in their last six versus the A.L. East.
Tampa Bay has lost three of its last four overall, but still sports positive runs of 57-20 at home, 12-5 versus right-handed starters, 5-2 in interleague games, 8-4 in interleague home games and 7-2 versus the N.L. East.
The Rays are 10-6 all time against the Phillies, including 5-2 in the last seven overall and 4-1 in the last five at Tropicana Field. Also, Tampa Bay is 12-7 against the National League in 2008, while the Phillies are 4-15 in interleague action.
Myers hasn’t pitched since Oct. 10, when he got rocked for five runs on six hits and four walks in five innings in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers. However, Philadelphia staked the right-hander to an 8-1 lead and held on for an 8-5 victory, making Myers 2-0 in two playoff starts despite a 5.25 ERA. The Phillies are 10-4 in Myers’ last 14 trips to the hill, but they’re 5-14 in his last 19 road starts and 1-5 in his last six interleague outings.
Myers last pitched on the road at Florida on Sept. 19, and he got destroyed, surrendering 10 runs (all earned) in just four innings of a 14-8 loss. He’s 3-8 with a 6.21 ERA in 16 road outings, compared with 9-4 with a 3.25 ERA in 16 home starts.
Tampa Bay has walked off a winner in 15 of Shields’ last 22 starts overall and 20 of his last 27 at home. However, the right-hander was a tough-luck loser in both of his ALCS starts at home against the Red Sox, giving up a combined six runs (five earned) on 15 hits in 13 innings (4.15 ERA). The Rays got outscored 6-2 in those two defeats. Shields has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 18 of his last 22 outings, including the last five in a row.
Including a 6-4 victory over the White Sox in the divisional series round on Oct. 2, Shields is 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA in his first three playoff starts. He’s also 10-4 with a 2.74 ERA in 20 starts at Tropicana Field.
Myers has never faced Tampa Bay, while Shields’ lone start against the Phillies came on June 16, 2006, when he yielded three runs in six innings en route to a 10-4 upset road victory.
The under is 9-4-1 in Myers’ last 14 starts overall and 4-1-1 in his past six as a visitor. Meanwhile, the over is 5-0 in Shields’ last five interleague outings and 4-0 in his last four efforts on Thursday.
For the Phillies, the under is on streaks of 8-3 in the playoffs, 6-2 on the road, 8-2 in interleague play and 12-3 on Thursdays. For the Rays, the under is on runs of 5-1 at home and 21-8-1 in interleague home games. However, the over is 6-3-1 in Tampa Bay’s last 10 against the N.L. East and 5-0 in its last five on Thursdays.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Auburn (4-3, 1-6 ATS) at West Virginia (4-2, 1-4 ATS)
Auburn takes a one-week hiatus from its bruising Southeastern Conference schedule when it travels to Morgantown for a non-conference, nationally televised battle with West Virginia of the Big East.
The Tigers, who had a bye last weekend, are looking to rebound from a shocking 25-22 home loss to Arkansas on Oct. 11 as an overwhelming 16½-point home chalk. Auburn, which fell 14-13 at Vanderbilt the previous week, has now dumped six straight ATS decisions (3-3 SU) since winning and covering in its season opener against Louisiana-Monroe. Against Arkansas, the Tigers somehow led 20-16 entering the fourth quarter, though they finished the game with three turnovers and a paltry 193 total yards, while the Razorbacks racked up 416 yards (188 on the ground).
The Mountaineers, who also had a bye last week, topped Syracuse 17-6 back on Oct. 11 for their third consecutive win, but they failed to cash as a huge 22-point home favorite, their second straight ATS setback. With star QB Pat White on the sidelines with an injury, West Virginia was outgained 346-268, but it finished with 216 rushing yards on 32 attempts (6.8 ypc), paced by RB Curtis Brinkley’s 144 yards on 28 carries. The Mountaineers also had no turnovers.
This is the first-ever meeting between these two programs.
Despite their current 0-6 ATS slide, the Tigers are 18-7 ATS in their last 25 October contests and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog, including 6-1 ATS as a road pup since 2004. They’re also 6-1 SU in their last seven Thursday games. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers have been favored in all five of their lined games this season, cashing just once, and they are on additional pointspread skids of 0-4 after a bye, 0-4 after a SU win and 2-5 at home.
Both teams are paced by their defenses, with Auburn giving up just 13.1 points and 272.7 yards per game (108 rushing ypg), while the Mountaineers yield 14.7 points and 320.8 total yards per outing (118.8 rushing ypg). Offensively, West Virginia has a slight edge (22.2 ppg, 342.2 total ypg) over the Tigers (19.1 ppg, 262.6 ypg).
The under for Auburn is on runs of 7-2 overall, 4-1 against winning teams, 6-2 on the highway and 5-2 in non-conference play. The under also has been the play in all five of West Virginia’s lined games this season and is on further streaks of 4-0 at home and 6-1 in non-conference action.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
New Mexico (4-4, 5-3 ATS) at Air Force (5-2, 4-2 ATS)
New Mexico, coming off a huge offensive outburst, looks to keep that momentum going when it heads to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force’s triple-option attack in a Mountain West Conference matchup.
The Lobos throttled San Diego State 70-7 Saturday to cover nearly four times over as a 16½-point home chalk, their fourth straight spread-cover (3-1 SU). New Mexico, which led 49-0 at the half, rolled up a 565-227 total yardage edge, including an eye-popping 419 rushing yards, with RB Rodney Ferguson (25 carries, 144 yards, 4 TDs) leading the way.
Air Forced edged UNLV 29-28 as a 3½-point favorite Saturday night for its second consecutive SU win – both on the road. Like New Mexico against San Diego State, the Falcons also cracked 500 total yards, finishing with a 508-404 edge against the Rebels, and their vaunted running attack netted 346 yards on a whopping 68 carries (5.1 ypc). Air Force attempted just seven passes, but two of QB Tim Jefferson’s attempts went for TDs.
New Mexico edged Air Force 34-31 last year – snapping a three-game losing skid to the Academy – but the Falcons cashed as a 6½-point road underdog, improving to 4-0 ATS (3-1 SU) in this series. The host is on runs of 8-2 SU and 8-3 ATS in this rivalry, with Air Force going 4-1 ATS in the last five in Colorado Springs. Finally, the winner had cashed in nine consecutive Air Force-New Mexico clashes prior to last year.
The Lobos are on ATS runs of 5-0 on grass, 4-1 in conference play, 19-9-2 on the highway and 18-8 as a visiting ‘dog. The Falcons have failed to cash in seven of their last 10 when coming off a non-cover, but they are on positive ATS streaks of 11-3 overall, 8-1 in the MWC, 6-1 at home and 8-2 after a SU win.
This game features two of the top rushing attacks in college football. The Falcons rank third nationally at 300 rushing ypg and New Mexico (224 rushing ypg) ranks 15th, but the Lobos average more yards per carry (5.8) than Air Force (4.6). On the defensive end, New Mexico allows 341 total ypg (100.4 rushing ypg), while the Falcons yield 304.7 ypg (130 rushing ypg).
New Mexico is on a 5-2 “over” streak, but the under is 7-1 in its last eight conference games and 5-2 in its last seven on the road. The over for Air Force is on runs of 4-1 overall and 7-1 after a SU win, and the over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these two teams.
ATS ADVANTAGE: AIR FORCE
ope:
