Thursday 10/8/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Thursday's six-pack

Odds on some college basketball teams to win national title next April......

7-1-- North Carolina, Maryland-- Former rivals are co-favorites.

8-1-- Kentucky-- Open season with the gritty Albany Great Danes.

12-1-- Duke-- Get lot of talented players, but few stay very long.

50-1-- California-- Have very talented freshman class.

100-1-- Arizona St-- Bobby Hurley's move (Buffalo-ASU) huge weather upgrade.

1,000-1-- Northwestern-- Wildcats have never been in NCAA tournament.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Dave Cokin

Bonus Play Thursday

WINNIPEG JETS @ BOSTON BRUINS 7:05 PM

Take: WINNIPEG JETS +110

The Jets-Bruins matchup features what might be best described as two escalators heading in opposite directions. Winnipeg is off its best season in ages, and the Jets have a great chance to rise a little more in the overall standings this season. The Bruins are looking as though they’re heading into a rebuilding phase and the general consensus is that Boston will be absent from the playoffs once again next spring.

The Bruins had some significant chemistry issues last season and they have cut ties with a number of veteran players. The core of this team is still on the old side, and while there might be some solid young talent on the way, I think it’s fair to assess that cohesiveness could be a big problem early in the season and perhaps beyond that.

The Jets, on the other hand, are an arrow up franchise. I don’t see any discernible weaknesses here. The defense was excellent last season, the offense appears improved and the suspect goaltending, which had been an ongoing problem, is not really a worry at this point. There is some concern that like many teams who spring forward one year, there could be some regression the next. But I really feel as though the Jets now have their deepest and most talented roster in years. I expect this team to knock on the door of the NHL’s overall top ten this season.

The Bruins have one of the league’s better goalies in Tuukka Rask. He figures to see lots of vulcanized rubber this year. It looks to me like the Boston blue line corps could be a major liability. The two best guys are long in the tooth, and the rest of the group is average. This was a weakness last season and I don’t see improvement on the way. Up front, the Bruins have more hope with some emerging talent arriving and they’re bigger than they’ve been. But overall, this just isn’t a particularly good roster and the opinion in many circles is that the the best thing the Bruins can do is focus on the future while tolerating the present.

I suspect there could be some early season value to be had fading the Bruins. Tonight looks like a possible example as Winnipeg sure looks like the better hockey team, but they’re the dogs tonight at Boston. I’ll opt to grab any available plus money with the Jets to win this game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jim Feist

Jim Feist's Bonus Play for Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 7:35 PM EST

(903) HOUSTON ASTROS VS (904) KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Take: UNDER THE TOTAL

Reason: Your Bonus Play for Thursday, October 8, 2015 is in the MLB contest between the Astros and the Royals. A pair of strong arms on the mound in Kansas City. Houston is a strong defensive team in the field with a dynmaite bullpen, as we saw Tuesday shutting out the Yankees on the road allowing 3 hits. The Under is 5-1-2 in Astros last 8 games following an off day. Houston is 35-13-3 under the total against the American League Central, plus 11-5-1 under when Collin McHugh starts. Kansas City won the AL last season and is back, with speed on the base paths and a strong pen. The Royals are 20-6-3 under the total in the Royals last 29 home games vs. a team with a winning record. Kansas City has Yordano Ventura on the hill, rested and the team is 35-17 in Ventura's last 52 starts, 9-3-3 under the total when he is at home against a team with a winning record. The under is 4-1-1 when these teams clash, including 4-1 under in this park. Play Houston/Kansas City under the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Arthur Ralph Sports

Bonus Play THURS USC -16

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Larry Ness

Winnipeg Jets at Boston Bruins 7:05PM

Bonus Play Boston Bruins

The Bruins failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time in EIGHT years last season (1st time since 2007), despite a 41-27-14 record. That led to some sweeping changes. Boston fired general manager Peter Chiarelli and promoted assistant GM Don Sweeney, who wasn?t shy in making moves. He shipped forward Milan Lucic to Los Angeles and defenseman Dougie Hamilton to Calgary. Sweeney signed Matt Beleskey, who scored 22 goals with Anaheim last season, and brought in 19-goal scorer Jimmy Hayes from Florida in exchange for fellow forward Reilly Smith.

As for Winnipeg, the Jets reached the postseason for the second time in franchise history and first time since relocating from Atlanta in 2011, after going 43-26-13. However, the team got swept in four games by Anaheim, meaning the club is still looking for that first playoff game win. It was a HUGELY disappointing way to go out, as prior to the first round, the Jets were playing some of their best hockey, going 10-3-1 over their final 14 games, continuing to benefit from the February deal that sent Evander Kane to Buffalo in exchange for Drew Stafford and Tyler Myers, among other assets. Goaltending depth should be a strength for the Jets after Ondrej Pavelec posted a career-best 2.28 goals-against average to go with a career-high five shutouts. Michael Hutchinson was sturdy behind him, going 21-10-5 with a 2.39 GAA.

While GM Chiarelli was fired, Claude Julien remains behind the bench. Drawing Winnipeg in its season opener is good news. The Bruins haven't lost at home in the series since a 3-2 defeat to the then-Atlanta Thrashers on March 31, 2007. That?s 13 straight wins and Boston goalie Tuukka Rask owns a 1.48 GAA over his last six starts against Winnipeg and has a 1.30 mark in six career starts against them in Boston. We?ll see who the Jets start in goal but note that Pavelec has struggled at Boston, going 0-6-1 with a 4.00 GAA in eight starts during Winnipeg's 13-game losing streak there.

Regardless, play the Bruins here in their home opener!

Good luck...Larry