An easy winner with the Campbell Fighting Camels put us off to a 2-0 start with this week’s spotlight games. It is definitely nice to get off on the right foot for a week, especially such an intriguing week at conference tournaments begin on Thursday with the Horizon League and continue into Saturday with the Big South and the America East.

My podcast isn’t at BangTheBook anymore, it is now over at ATS.io, but you can check out Monday’s edition of the show with Kyle Hunter when we <a href="https://ats.io/college-basketball/ats-io-radio-sports-betting-podcast-february-22-2021/47112/"><strong>talked about conference tournament handicapping</strong></a>.

The regular season is still in full swing, though, and we’ve got lots of games to pick from tonight. The game I’ve chosen to highlight is the matchup between DePaul and Creighton on CBS Sports Network with a 9 p.m. ET tip-off. Creighton is favored by 15 at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline"><strong>BetOnline Sportsbook</strong></a> with a total of 141.
<h3><strong><u>DePaul Blue Demons</u></strong></h3>
The DePaul Blue Demons are still fighting. That much was evident on Saturday when the Demons upset St. John’s on the road by an 88-83 score. It was an out-of-body offensive experience for DePaul, who was 30-of-46 from two-point range. It goes without saying that DePaul’s performance from that game will regress. After all, this is a team shooting 46.4% from two-point range for the season.

Give credit where credit is due, though. DePaul got a lot of high-percentage looks at the basket in this one. They were 25-of-35 at the rim and added a couple of dunks for good measure. DePaul was even able to overcome the fact that St. John’s scored 24 more points from beyond the arc and seven more points at the free throw line. DePaul also had 24 turnovers.

There were a lot of weird outliers from that game to say the least. One thing that was not an outlier was that DePaul played well defensively, despite giving up 83 points. The game was played to 80 possessions. St. John’s was just 12-of-38 from two-point range. DePaul has held four straight opponents to under 15 made two-pointers. Opponents are only shooting 47.9% on twos.

DePaul has also held the opposition to 30.7% on three-pointers this season, a really relevant number tonight when you consider the opponent. Creighton was 17-of-34 from two and 6-of-22 from three in the first meeting, a 69-62 win in Chicago. DePaul ranks second in adjusted defensive efficiency in Big East play, third in eFG% defense, and second in 3P% defense.
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<h3><strong><u>Creighton Bluejays</u></strong></h3>
We’ll have to see how the Big East Conference does tournament seeding, but Creighton is right there with Villanova after the big 16-point win on February 13. Creighton is 12-4 in league play and Villanova is 10-2. The two teams are scheduled to play again on March 3 in Pennsylvania. Creighton also has a plucky Xavier team coming up in Cincinnati on Saturday.

The Bluejays rank ninth in eFG% on the season. They are sixth in 2P% at 58% and 49th in 3P% at 36.8%. They’re also a pretty strong defensive team, holding opponents to just 44.6% on two-point attempts. Creighton takes a three-pointer 44% of the time in league play, so they have been able to get some margin on teams despite playing at a pretty average pace as far as Big East squads go.

Creighton also has a knack for playing close games. While they have a strong 12-4 record in league action, eight games have been played to a final score of five or fewer points. This is a pretty competitive conference from top to bottom and the number of close games is a good illustration of that, especially when you consider how potent the Creighton offense actually is.
<h3><strong><u>Pick &amp; Analysis</u></strong></h3>
Fifteen points is a huge number. The first game between DePaul and Creighton was played to 67 possessions. DePaul is a solid defensive team. They might not do a ton on the offensive end, but they are very good without the basketball. Creighton is coming off of a 10-day pause and has bigger fish to fry down the line with games against Xavier and Villanova on the horizon.

They’re worried about winning here. They’re not worried about blowing out DePaul. With this line where it is, they’ll need to blow out DePaul and I’m not so sure that they will.
<h4><strong>Pick: DePaul +15</strong></h4>
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DePaul at Creighton College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 2/24/21

<h3><strong>National Championship Game @ Miami Gardens, FL</strong>
<strong>ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE vs. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, 8 PM ET (Monday, ESPN)</strong></h3>
<h4><strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betanysports">BetAnySports</a> National Championship Odds: Alabama -8.5, Total 75</strong></h4>
Okay, let me give you the reasons I like Alabama, even at this number, in the National Championship game:

* They simply have too much artillery. Mac Jones may not be as big an NFL prospect as Justin Fields, but you can't argue with his numbers - 77% completions is insane, as is 11.3 yards per attempt. And the four interceptions are remarkable, given his ability to throw the deep ball.

Najee Harris gives Alabama the best running back on the field, with apologies to Trey Sermon, who's had two great games this season. Overall, Harris has scored 27 touchdowns with 1387 rushing yards, and he can catch the ball too, although Jones would rather just fire away down the field if he can.

And who can blame him? Devonta Smith (105 catches, 1641 yards, 20 touchdowns) is the Heisman Trophy winner, and do you realize that he wasn't even the most explosive wide receiver on his own team until Jaylen Waddle went down with an injury? Waddle was averaging 22.3 yards per catch when he fractured an ankle in a game with Tennessee. Now, after missing seven games, Waddle, who may also be the best kick returner in the nation when healthy, might actually be able to play in this game.Nick Saban calls him a "game-time decision."

<a href="http://bangthebook.com/s/bas"><strong>BetAnySports</strong> </a>patrons may want to read an article published by Pro Football Focus in which they say they have accorded Jones their highest quarterback grade ever, even higher than Joe Burrow last season. And they have also given Devonta Smith the highest grade they have ever given a wide receiver. And out of Jones' throws of ten yards or farther, only 18.7% have been deemed "uncatchable," which is also by far the best in the country.

In a nutshell, they describe the Alabama passing game as "perhaps the best attack college football has ever seen."

* The offensive line is the best in the nation, even without the nation's best center. That is true. Landon Dickerson injured his knee against Florida in the SEC title game and has had to sit out. But Alex Leatherwood, perhaps the premier offensive lineman in the country, is still there to anchor things. They make it possible for Jones to execute long passes and open holes for Harris and others. And the edge may be magnified for this game. The rumors around here are that Ohio State's COVID-19 problems include their defensive line group (remember that position groups commonly gather in the same meeting room, so if one goes down, they could all go down).

* Both of these teams have outstanding running backs in good form. We mentioned Harris. And Sermon has run for 524 yards in his last two games alone for the Buckeyes. Both teams have allowed just 3.2 yards per rushing attempt. To get the ball in their hands it might take something different than just running from scrimmage. I figure the air games will be most prominent. And you just showed you what Pro Football Focus had to say.

* And while both of these teams can be considered somewhat vulnerable to the pass, Alabama comes out ahead of OSU in that exchange. They have a deeper receiving corps; remember that Ohio State has Chris Olave (42 catches, 660 yards and Garrett Wilson (40 receptions, 673 yards), and not much else in terms of wideouts with considerable production. Alabama could perhaps take one of them away with Patrick Surtain Jr., who will almost surely be the first cornerback taken in the draft.

* Ohio State ranks just 116th in the country in passing defense (i.e., passing yards allowed per game). We admit that could be a bit deceiving, since Ohio State's opponents are often behind and have no choice but to throw. But the Buckeyes are just 50th in the category of "pass explosiveness," which means, in short, that they give up quite a few long plays. And Alabama has just the kind of balanced offense to exploit that - according to Football Outsiders, which compiles great metrics, they are first in Rushing Success Rate and second in Passing Success Rate.

* I'm not quite sure Justin Fields is going to make it through this game. If OSU was indeed trying to get a postponement, you can bet part of it was an attempt to give Fields more time to heal from his rib injury. One solid hit and he could be affected greatly. That wouldn't be a solid basis with which to wage a shootout, which is exactly what might be required on Monday night.

It's a lot of points, but we'll lay them with the Crimson Tide. And it doesn't have to be complete domination; in a high-scoring game, a double-digit margin isn't necessarily a blowout.

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College Football National Championship Pick -- Why I'm Rolling With the Tide

<p>The Milwaukee Bucks are heavily favored against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. You can understand why to some degree, given that the Bucks knocked out the Brooklyn Nets, but it was a Nets team that was severely hampered by injuries.</p>



<p>The Hawks deserve a lot of credit for outlasting the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games. Joel Embiid was not 100%, but he played like a man possessed. The problem wasn’t Embiid. The Hawks were just the better team in Game 7 when it mattered most.</p>



<p>Yet, we don’t see the Hawks getting much respect here. Milwaukee is -7.5 with a total of 226 in Game 1 on Wednesday night at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bookmaker/"><strong>Bookmaker Sportsbook</strong></a>.</p>



<h2 id="h-atlanta-hawks"><strong><u>Atlanta Hawks</u></strong></h2>



<p>The Hawks were not the better team against the Sixers. They were just the better team in Game 7. Atlanta shot 44.4% from the floor and just 33.5% from three in the seven-game series. Trae Young was not an efficient scorer with 29 points per game, as he shot under 40% from the floor and just over 32% from three. What he did do, however, was have 76 assists against 25 turnovers in the series.</p>



<p>The Hawks took better care of the basketball and performed better at the free throw line and now they are in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Hawks only had a .506 eFG% in the series, but made the most of their chances at the stripe and got a lot of contributions from Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari to advance.</p>



<p>Young was 5-of-23 in the deciding game. He was only 2-of-11 from three. He did have 10 assists, but Huerter and Gallinari, who were so effective in the series against the Knicks and throughout the series against the Sixers, were the heroes.</p>



<p>We can make the case that the Hawks don’t deserve to be here, but we can make the same case about the Bucks. The reality is that the Hawks are here and they’re here because other guys have stepped up when it was needed.</p>



<p>The stats don’t lie, though. Atlanta is 12th among the playoff teams in FG% at 44.4% and 10th in 3P% at 34.6%. The Knicks were just worse in both areas in the first round and the Sixers didn’t pay enough attention to the details. That’s how you end up with a seven-point spread in Game 1.</p>



<h2 id="h-milwaukee-bucks"><strong><u>Milwaukee Bucks</u></strong></h2>



<p>The Bucks have not played very well offensively in the playoffs either. They rank 14th in 3P% at 31.2% and have shot just barely over 45% as a team. Real estate has been hard for Giannis Antetokounmpo to find. After shooting nearly 57% during the regular season, he’s at 53.3% during the playoffs and he’s only shooting 19% from three. He’s also really struggling badly at the free throw line at 54%.</p>



<p>He had 40 points in Game 7 against the Nets, as Milwaukee took good care of the basketball and the Nets did not. Giannis was 15-of-24 from the floor in that game, but only 2-of-6 from three. He really needs to focus on getting inside against the Hawks if he can help it. The Hawks, obviously, want to push him to the outside and it has been Atlanta’s defense that is the reason that they are still alive.</p>



<p>The Bucks advanced despite an eFG% in the second round below 50%. Milwaukee shot under 68% at the free throw line and advanced. That series result was as much about Brooklyn’s injuries as anything, as Kevin Durant was forced into huge minutes and James Harden was basically a non-factor in the series. Kyrie Irving was also hurt in Game 4.</p>



<p>We can poke holes in both teams and it sure looks right now like the Western Conference Finals winner will take down the NBA title. The Bucks still have the best player on the floor between the two teams and that could be a huge equalizer in the series. Khris Middleton is the one that might be the key, though, as somebody needs to provide some secondary scoring.</p>



<p>After all, the Bucks shot 44% against Brooklyn and 30% from three. The Nets were not a good defense in the regular season either, ranking 23rd in DRtg.</p>



<h2 id="h-hawks-vs-bucks-free-pick"><strong><u>Hawks vs. Bucks Free Pick</u></strong></h2>



<p>Neither team has a sterling resume as we head into the ECF. I’m not entirely sure what the Bucks have done to warrant being such a big favorite in Game 1. The total also seems suspiciously high here with two teams that have largely been inept offensively. At least the Hawks have an excuse. They’ve played two top-five defensive teams by DRtg. The Bucks have not. They’ve played two below average defenses.</p>



<p>It has to be the Hawks plus the points here.</p>



<p><strong>Pick: Atlanta Hawks +7.5</strong></p>

Hawks vs. Bucks Game 1 - Free Pick & Prediction 06/23/21

acf/the-picks-banner

<p>The San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers are locked in quite a tense battle for first place in the NL West Division. With two games already in the books for this four-game series, this appears to be a key swing game, as the Giants will send Logan Webb to the mound and the Dodgers will counter with Julio Urias with the series tied 1-1.</p>



<p>The two teams play a three-game set at Oracle Park next week and then will only have one series left in the month of September, so these are all huge games and ones that could have a playoff-like atmosphere with the intensity level cranked up for both teams. The Dodgers are a big favorite in the -160 range here with Urias on the hill and a total of 8 at <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betus/"><strong>BetUS Sportsbook</strong></a>.</p>



<h2 id="h-san-francisco-giants"><strong><u>San Francisco Giants</u></strong></h2>



<p>The Giants have been the target of a lot of disrespect in the <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/us/">sports betting markets</a> this season. They aren’t loaded with superstars like the other first-place teams and World Series contenders, so a lot of bettors seem to be looking for the other shoe to drop. To this point, it has not happened yet. Maybe it won’t. If you consider the statistical profile of the Giants, you can make a strong case that it shouldn’t.</p>



<p>San Francisco has a top-five offense and that is no fluke. A lot of veterans are putting together strong seasons and the depth guys have been able to contribute as well, but the Giants make a ton of hard contact and really try to focus on hitting for power. They aren’t letting their park be a handicap or an excuse. They are thriving in spite of it and you have to give them a ton of credit for that.</p>



<p>The Giants entered Tuesday’s matchup against the Dodgers fifth in wOBA, in a virtual tie with the Boston Red Sox. Their 108 wRC+ also ranked fifth in baseball. The Dodgers were just two points ahead of them at .331 and then a little bit better in the wRC+ department.</p>



<p>The Giants hit for more power, but the Dodgers have walked a little bit more. That is the only discernible difference between the two offenses, yet the Dodgers are the odds-on favorite to win the division, while the Giants get disrespected with big lines such as this one for Wednesday night.</p>



<p>Logan Webb has dealt with some injuries this season and has been limited to 56 innings, but he has pitched extremely well while he’s been out there. Webb has a 3.54 ERA with a 3.14 FIP in his 11 starts and one relief appearance. He’s struck out well over a batter per inning and has some very nice peripherals, including a 59.2% GB%. He was out from May 29 to July 9, but has only allowed one run on six hits in his last seven innings.</p>



<h2 id="h-los-angeles-dodgers"><strong><u>Los Angeles Dodgers</u></strong></h2>



<p>The Dodgers do boast a top-five offense and do have one of the highest walk rates in baseball. Entering play on Tuesday, the Dodgers were one-tenth of a percentage point behind the Yankees for the highest BB% in the league. They entered Tuesday’s game six home runs behind the Giants for second place in the HR department, but were 10 points behind in SLG.</p>



<p>It is kind of amazing to see Los Angeles as such a big favorite in these head-to-head meetings when the two teams have so many similarities. Even the bullpens are pretty similar now, as the Giants pen has improved as the season has gone along. The Dodgers have a 3.55 ERA with a 3.84 FIP and the Giants have a 3.27 ERA with a 3.92 FIP. The Giants have the lowest BB% in baseball as bullpen, whereas the Dodgers are in the bottom half of the league.</p>



<p>Maybe Julio Urias is what seems to be swinging the balance for this line. Urias has a 3.78 ERA with a 3.63 FIP in his 112 innings of work. It looked like the southpaw was getting a little bit fatigued before the All-Star Break, as he had a 4.50 ERA with a 4.40 FIP over his last eight starts.</p>



<p>Urias picked up right where he left off and allowed four runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings in Denver on July 16. It was a tough first assignment to have to go and play at Coors Field right away, but them’s the breaks and Urias struggled a bit in that outing. We’ll see if he fares better at home here, where he has a higher ERA and wOBA than on the road.</p>



<h2 id="h-giants-vs-dodgers-free-pick"><strong><u>Giants vs. Dodgers Free Pick</u></strong></h2>



<p>The Giants keep getting disrespected in this head-to-head series. We saw a huge line move against them on Monday in a winning effort and then the Dodgers were a big favorite with Josiah Gray making his MLB debut on Tuesday. Logan Webb’s numbers, albeit in a smaller sample, are on par with those of Julio Urias. Urias struggled late in the first half. The Giants bullpen is right there with the Dodgers bullpen. It has to be San Francisco at this price point.</p>



<p><strong>Pick: San Francisco Giants</strong></p>

Giants vs. Dodgers Free Pick 07/21/21

<p>There are a few interleague matchups on the MLB schedule for Tuesday, including Diamondbacks-Royals. This one gets started at 8:10 PM ET from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. The forecast calls for temperatures in the mid to upper 80s with partly cloudy skies.</p>

<p>Arizona is on a two-game losing streak and is 51-50 overall, putting them 3rd in the NL West. Kansas City is 2nd in the AL Central with an overall record of 56-45 and they come into the game as the slight money line underdog (+101). The money line odds have the Diamondbacks at -121, and the over/under line is currently 9.5 runs. Alec Marsh is starting for the Royals, and the Diamondbacks are going with Jordan Montgomery.</p><h3>KANSAS CITY ROYALS VS ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Kansas City Royals Moneyline +101</p><p>This game will be played at Kauffman Stadium at 8:10 ET on Tuesday, July 23rd.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE DIAMONDBACKS VS ROYALS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Royals winning by a score of 7 to 6</li><li>If you're looking for a run line pick, we also like the Royals to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 13 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>Thanks to a four-run 4th inning for the Royals' offense, they cruised to a 10-4 win over the Diamondbacks in the most recent game of this series. Heading into the game, the Royals were favored at -157 on the money line.</p>

<p>Kansas City got to Diamondbacks starter Yilber Diaz, who gave up seven earned runs in just three innings of work and took the loss. As for the Royals, they got a good outing from Cole Ragans, who gave up just three earned runs across six innings of work and got the win.</p>

<p>At the plate, the Royals were led by Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Hunter Renfroe, as they were the only three Royals hitters to have more than one hit. Witt Jr. also hit the game's only home run.</p><h3>Diamondbacks Records & Stats</h3><p>Arizona is 51-50 overall and trails the Dodgers by nine games in the NL West. The Diamondbacks have lost two straight games, and they are losing the series vs. the Royals heading into today's game. So far, they have gone 19-14 in divisional games.</p>

<p>As the road team today, the Diamondbacks are 25-26 this season. They have been just above .500 at home, putting together a record of 26-24. Arizona has won two straight series and has an overall series record of 15-13-4 this year.</p><p>When the Diamondbacks are on the road, they have a run line record of 29-22, and their average run margin is +0.4. They have been the underdog in 56 games, going 33-23 on the run line. Arizona's average run margin in winning games is +4.3, while it is -4.0 in losses.</p><p>Arizona is on the road against Kansas City today, and the over/under line is set at 9.5 runs. The Diamondbacks have played 98 games this season, and their average combined run total is 9.6. Their over/under record for the season is 53-45, and the average line for their games is 9 runs. When the line has been set at 9.5 runs, the over/under record is 3-7. Only 5.9% of their games have had a line set at 9.5 runs or higher. </p><p>Jordan Montgomery gets the start for the Diamondbacks today and comes into the game with a record of 6-5 and an ERA of 6.44. Looking at his overall numbers, Montgomery has made 13 appearances, 13 starts, and has a WHIP of 1.68. Opposing batters are hitting .311 off Montgomery this season. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had won three straight starts. So far, he has a record of 3-2 on the road and an ERA of 5.79.</p>
<p>Arizona has been one of the league's best offensive teams this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 5th in the MLB. They have been even better of late, as they have scored at least five runs in seven of their past 10 games. Over that stretch, they are batting .276 as a team. Ketel Marte has been red hot of late, batting .394 with three homers in his past nine games. For the season, he is batting .291 with 20 homers and 59 RBIs.</p>

<p>Christian Walker has also been a big power threat for the Diamondbacks this season, as his 22 homers are 7th in the league. He is also batting a solid .261. Eugenio Suarez has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 10/32 in his past nine games, including four homers.</p><h3>Royals Records & Stats</h3><p>Kansas City is 56-45 overall this season, and they are 19-10 against other teams in the AL Central. The Royals trail the Guardians by four games in the AL Central and are currently on a four-game winning streak, which includes taking the first game of this series vs. the Diamondbacks. So far, they are 35-18 at home and 21-27 on the road.</p>

<p>At home, the Royals have won four straight, and they are 14-11 as the home underdog this year. Kansas City has been good as the favorite, putting up a mark of 30-15. As the underdog overall, the Royals are 26-30 this year, and their overall series record is 15-16-1.</p><p>When the Royals win, they win big, averaging a run differential of 3.9 runs per game. That's a big reason why they are 59-42 against the run line this season. They have been especially good at home, going 33-20 against the run line. Overall, they are 25-20 against the run line as the favorite and 34-22 as the underdog. Their current run line win streak at home is four games.</p><p>When the Royals play at home, the over/under line is set at 9.5 runs, which is higher than their season average of 8.5 runs per game. Overall, Kansas City's games have gone over the total 41 times and under 57 times this season. The average over/under line for their games is 8 runs, and when the line has been set at 9.5 runs, the over has hit in 5 of those 10 games.</p><p>Kansas City is starting Alec Marsh today vs. the Diamondbacks, and he has made 17 starts this year. Marsh's record for the season is 7-6, and his ERA is 4.52. In his 17 starts, he has turned in five quality starts and is averaging 8.25 strikeouts per nine innings. The right-hander most recently pitched on July 19th out of the bullpen, where he went one inning, giving up two hits and a walk. Marsh didn't allow a run in that outing and finished with a no-decision. Before that, he had won two straight starts.</p><p>So far this season, the Royals are averaging 4.6 runs per game, which is 12th in the league. At home, they have been even better, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .250, which is 8th in the league. Their team batting average is .250, and they are also among the league leaders in home runs.</p>

<p>Over his last five games, Bobby Witt Jr. has been on fire, going 13/19 with two homers and six RBIs. For the season, he is batting .341 with a team-high 18 home runs. Salvador Perez is also at 18 homers, and he comes into the game with a season-long batting average of .279.</p>

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Kansas City Royals Betting Pick & Prediction 7/23/24

<p>Already leading the series 2-0, the Yankees (76-73, 37-37 away) are sending Carlos Rodón to the mound to take on the Pirates (69-80, 37-40 home) and Colin Selby in game three of this series. See who I like to come out on top in this interleague matchup between the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh.</p><h3>NEW YORK YANKEES VS PITTSBURGH PIRATES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 Runs</p><p>This game will be played at PNC Park at 1:35 ET on Sunday, September 17th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES:</h3><ul><li>Against the runline, the Pirates have gone 6-4 in their ten games at home.</li><li>In their ten most recent games as the favorite, the Yankees have gone just 4-6 against the runline.</li><li>The Pirates are 2-0 in Colin Selby's last two starts.</li></ul><h3>CAN THE NEW YORK YANKEES PULL OUT A WIN AS ROAD FAVORITES?</h3><p>The Yankees will be looking for their 4th straight win in today's game and have an overall record of 76-73. At home, New York has put together a record of 39-36 while going 37-37 on the road. Currently, they are in 4th place in the AL East.</p><p><p>Carlos Rodón has a 3-5 record and 6.14 ERA as he takes the mound tonight. On the road, he's 2-2 with an ERA of 5.78, while at home his mark is 1-3 with an ERA of 8.25. His WHIP is 1.42, and opponents are batting .235 against him with a slugging percentage of .475.</p></p><p>Carlos Rodón earned a victory in his most recent outing, as the Yankees bested the Red Sox 4-1. The left-hander yielded one run on four hits over six innings of work.</p><p>Across their last five games, the Yankees' offense is 6th in batting average, leading to an average of 5 runs per contest in that span. Overall, they are the 21st ranked scoring offense and posted a season-long OPS of .702 on 207 (7th). On average, they have struckout 8 times per game compard to 3.5 walks.</p><p>Gleyber Torres enters the game boasting a .272 batting average and .463 slugging percentage for the season. In the Yankees' last ten games, he has been their most prolific hitter, tallying a .262 average.</p><h3>WILL THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?</h3><p>This season, the Pirates have an overall series record of 17-25-5 and are currently 4th in the NL Central. Pittsburgh's overall record is 69-80, which includes their current two game losing streak. On the road, the Pirates are 32-40 and 37-40 at home.</p><p><p>Pittsburgh's Colin Selby has had a rocky start to the 2023 season, with an overall record of 2-1 and an ERA of 8.20. On the road, Selby's ERA is 22.78, while at home it drops to 8.44. His WHIP stands at 1.66 and he has allowed opposing teams to hit .260 against him with a slugging percentage of .429.</p></p><p>Colin Selby had a rough outing in his most recent appearance, going just one inning and surrendering no runs as the Pirates fell 7-5 to the Yankees.</p><p>Over their last ten games, the Pirates are ranked 13th in the league in scoring at 4.1 runs per game. Their season-long scoring average of 4.2 per contest puts them 22nd in baseball. In terms of on-base percentage, Pittsburgh is 16th, with an OBP currently sitting at .313. The team's collective batting average is .237 (22nd).</p><p>Bryan Reynolds has been a consistent force in the Pirates' lineup this season, boasting a .272 batting average and .474 slugging percentage. In the team's last ten games, Reynolds has been particularly impressive, leading Pittsburgh in hits with a .354 average.</p>

New York Yankees vs Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Pick & Prediction 9/17/23

<p>Pablo López will get the start for the Twins (87-75, 47-34 home) as they host the Blue Jays (89-73, 46-35 away) at Target Field. The Blue Jays will give the starting nod to Kevin Gausman. Check out my prediction for game one of this American League matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins.</p><h3>TORONTO BLUE JAYS VS MINNESOTA TWINS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Toronto Blue Jays -1.5 Runs</p><p>This game will be played at Target Field at 4:38 ET on Tuesday, October 3rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS:</h3><ul><li>Against the runline, the Twins have gone just 1-2 in their last three home games.</li><li>Over their last five games on the road, Toronto is 3-2 against the runline.</li><li>Opponents are hitting just .189 against Kevin Gausman in his last five starts.</li></ul><h3>TORONTO BLUE JAYS STRUGGLING VS RUNLINE OF LATE</h3><p>Entering with a record of 89-73, the Blue Jays are in 3rd place in the AL East and are losers of two straight games. So far, they have a road win percentage of 56.8% compared to 53.1% at home. Toronto's overall series record stands at 29-19-2.</p><p><p>Entering the season with a 12-9 record, Kevin Gausman is making his 32nd appearance of the year. His ERA stands at 3.16 and he has held opposing batters to a .224 average. On the road, Gausman is 7-5 with an ERA of 4.10, while he is 5-4 at home with a 3.54 ERA. Teams have mustered up a .364 slugging percentage against him this season.</p></p><p>Kevin Gausman recently received a no-decision in his outing against the Yankees, despite tossing seven innings and earning a quality start. The Blue Jays ultimately fell 2-0, with Gausman surrendering three hits and no earned runs.</p><p>The Blue Jays have been one of the top power lineups in the league of late, having hit 13 home runs over their last ten games. Compared to other clubs, this is 6th best in that span. For the season, they are ranked 15th in home runs and 12th in slugging percentage. Overall, Toronto is averaging 4.6 runs per game (14th).</p><p>The Blue Jays' offense has been spearheaded by Daulton Varsho in their last ten games, as he leads the team with three home runs. His season-long total of 20 long balls is a testament to his power at the plate. Despite this impressive display of power, Varsho's overall batting average is still just .220.</p><h3>WILL THE MINNESOTA TWINS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?</h3><p>The Twins enter today's game with an overall record of 87-75, including putting together an above .500 mark at home (47-34). This year, Minnesota has played in 50 series and have gone 27-18-5. Currently, they are 1st in the AL Central.</p><p><p>Pablo López has been a consistent presence in the Marlins' rotation this season, appearing in 32 games and registering an 11-8 record with a 3.67 ERA. His WHIP stands at 1.16, while his slugging percentage allowed is .379. The right-hander has racked up 234 strikeouts over the course of the season, averaging 10.86 K's per nine innings. On the road, López has gone 6-5 with an ERA of 3.34, while he holds a 5-3 record and 4.75 ERA at home.</p></p><p>In his latest start, Pablo López squared off against the Athletics and surrendered three runs on five hits over 4 1/3 frames. Despite not earning the victory or defeat, the Twins emerged victorious with a 6-4 final score.</p><p>Across their last five games, the Twins' offense is 5th in batting average, leading to an average of 6 runs per contest in that span. Overall, they are the 10th ranked scoring offense and posted a season-long OPS of .753 on 233 (3rd). On average, they have struckout 10 times per game compard to 3.7 walks.</p><p>Max Kepler has been a key contributor to the Minnesota Twins' offense this season, boasting a .260 batting average and .484 slugging percentage. Over the team's last ten games, he has been particularly impressive, leading the Twins in hits while batting .379.</p>

Toronto Blue Jays vs Minnesota Twins Betting Pick & Prediction 10/3/23

<p>The Eagles are favored on the road as they take on the Ravens at 7:30 ET. This non-conference pre-season matchup is being played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. The Eagles' money line sits at -131, while the Ravens are at +108. The Eagles are -2 point favorites and the over/under line is 34.5 points. This game is not being televised.</p><h3>PHILADELPHIA EAGLES VS BALTIMORE RAVENS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Baltimore Ravens +2</p><p>This game will be played at M&T Bank Stadium at 7:30 ET on Friday, August 9th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE BALTIMORE RAVENS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Ravens winning this one by a score of 17 to 16</li><li>Not only do we have the Ravens winning straight-up, we have them covering the spread at +2</li><li>We see this game finishing below the line of 34.5 points</li></ul><h3>Will The Eagles Pick Up A Win On The Road?</h3><p>Philadelphia didn't win a game last pre-season, finishing with an 0-2-1 record. They opened with a 20-19 loss to the Ravens, followed by an 18-18 tie with the Browns and ended the pre-season with a 27-13 loss to the Colts. The Eagles were 0-0-1 as the favorite and 0-2 as the underdog.</p><p>Philadelphia's rushing game was 18th in both attempts and yards last pre-season. They were one of the more pass-heavy offenses, ranking 3rd in passing attempts per game with 40.3, but they were only 15th in passing yards (207.3). The Eagles averaged 16.7 points per game, which was 17th in the league, and 308.7 yards per game, which was 19th. Their performance in the pre-season was below average, as they were 20th in yards per play.</p><p>Philadelphia's defense gave up 123.3 rushing yards per game last pre-season, placing them 19th in the league. They allowed 354.7 yards per game, which was 19th, and 21.7 points per game, ranking 15th. Against the pass, they allowed 231.3 yards per game, which was 26th in the league.</p><h3>Will The Ravens Win At Home Over The Eagles?</h3><p>The Ravens went 1-0 at home and 0-2 on the road last pre-season, finishing with a 1-2 record. They were favored once and went 1-1. Baltimore's only pre-season win came in week one, as they beat the Eagles 20-19. However, they followed that up with back-to-back losses, falling 29-28 to Washington in week two and 26-20 to the Buccaneers.</p><p>Ranking 7th in the league, the Ravens averaged 22.7 points per game last pre-season. They were 3rd in yards per play but finished 16th in yards per game. Baltimore had a strong running game, averaging 139.7 rushing yards per game, which was 7th in the NFL. They finished with 189.7 passing yards per game, ranking 17th, and 329.3 total yards per game.</p><p>Last pre-season, the Ravens' defense gave up 24.7 points per game, ranking 21st in the NFL. They allowed 147 rushing yards per game (25th) and 235 passing yards per game (27th), with opposing offenses averaging 382 total yards per game against them, which was 16th in the league.</p>

Philadelphia Eagles vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Pick & Prediction 8/9/24

<p>Betting on today's Flyers and Rams game? Catch the action at Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond, VA, as the Rams hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN2. Dayton is favored by -1.5 in this Atlantic 10 conference contest against VCU. The game's over/under currently sits at 135 points.</p><h3>DAYTON FLYERS VS VCU RAMS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: VCU Rams +1.5</p><p>This game will be played at Stuart C. Siegel Center at 7:00 ET on Friday, February 9th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE VCU RAMS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-68 in favor of the Rams.</li><li>Not only will VCU pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +1.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 135 points, and we like the over with a projected 142 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Flyers Defense Show Up in Richmond?</h3><p>Dayton comes into this game as the favorite, as they have been in 18 of their 22 games this season. Overall, they have gone 17-1 in those games. They have won three straight games and have gone 19-3 overall this season. In Atlantic 10 play, they are 9-1, compared to 10-2 in non-conference games.</p>

<p>On the road this season, Dayton has gone 6-3, and their average scoring margin is +3.4 points per game. In their last game, they beat Saint Joseph's by a score of 94-79. Over their last 10 road games, they have gone 6-4, and over their last five, they are 4-1.</p><p>When looking at Dayton's overall ATS record this season, they are currently 12-9-1. On the road, their ATS mark is 6-2-1. As the favorite, the Flyers are 10-8 vs. the spread this year.</p><p>Today's over/under line of 135 is lower than the average over/under line in Dayton's games this season (137.2). Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and the average scoring total in those games is 154 points.</p><p>In their latest game, Dayton offense put up 94 points against Saint Joseph's. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 56.9% and made 12 threes. The team's top scorer is DaRon Holmes II, who comes into today's matchup with an average of 19.7, while Nate Santos also maintains a PPG average of 11.7 leading up to the game.</p><p>In the current season, the Dayton defense has excelled, sitting 31st in the nation by allowing 65.0 points per game. Against Saint Joseph's in their most recent game, the Dayton defense gave up a total of 79 points while allowing Saint Joseph's to hit 48% of their shots.</p><h3>Will the Rams Win at Stuart C. Siegel Center?</h3><p>VCU enters this game as a 1.5-point underdog. The Rams have a record of 15-8, including a 7-3 mark in Atlantic 10 play. They have won two games in a row and are 11-6 at home this season.</p>

<p>For the year, VCU has been the underdog in six games, going 2-4 in those contests. In their last game, the Rams defeated Fordham by a score of 75-60. Over their last 10 games at home, VCU has gone 7-3.</p><p>VCU has an ATS record of 14-9 this season, including a mark of 10-7 at home. Over their last three games at home, the Rams have gone 3-0 vs. the spread, and they are 6-4 in their last 10 games as the underdog.</p><p>On the season, the over/under record in VCU games is 10-13, and the average scoring total in their games is 138.3. Today's over/under line of 135 is lower than the average OU line in their games this year (140.2). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is just 125 points, and their over/under record during this stretch is 0-3.</p><p>Coming off their recent game, the VCU offense tallied 75 points in a matchup against Fordham. Their field goal percentage for the game was 51%, and they made 9 threes. Leading the team in scoring is Max Shulga, who is averaging 15.1 heading into today's matchup. Additionally, Zeb Jackson also maintains a PPG average of 11.8 heading into game.</p><p>At this time, the Rams' defense is positioned 40th in the country, permitting 65.9 points per game. VCU's three-point defense is currently 49th in the country at 5.8 made threes per game. In terms of overall field goal percentage, opponets have hit 39.7% of their shots vs. VCU.</p>

Dayton Flyers vs VCU Rams Betting Pick & Prediction 2/9/24

<p>It’s going to be an exciting night for the NHL fans as we have 15 games scheduled for Saturday, November 19, and here you can read the best Devils vs. Senators betting pick and odds.</p>



<p>New Jersey is searching for the 12th consecutive victory when they take on Ottawa at Canadian Tire Centre. The Devils are -125 moneyline favorites on <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/mybookie/">MyBookie Sportsbook</a>, while the total is set at 6 goals. These Eastern Conference rivals have faced a week ago, and the Devils won 4-3 in overtime at home.</p>



<p><strong>Devils are unstoppable</strong></p>



<p>The New Jersey Devils (14-3-0-0, 11-6 ATS) are the hottest team in the NHL as they are on an 11-game winning streak! After losing the opening two games of the season, the Devils won 14 of the next 15 and only the Boston Bruins collected more points so far. New Jersey is on a three-game road trip in Canada, where they already beat the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. Following this tilt with the Senators, the Devils will return home to play a pair of games against Edmonton and Toronto.</p>



<p>Yegor Sharangovich was a hero of the most recent victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs as he scored a game-winning goal in overtime. Vitek Vanecek recorded 25 saves as the Devils secured a 3-2 win. Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier also scored for New Jersey. Bratt is the team’s top producer on offense with 22 points (G 7, A 15). Jack Hughes has 19 (G 7, A 12), while Hischier chipped in 18 points so far (G 9, A 9).</p>



<p>Akira Schmid (2-0-0) is expected to start at the goal against Ottawa on Saturday. The 22-year-old is allowing 1.63 goals per game with a .920SV% and no shutouts this season.</p>



<p>G MacKenzie Blackwood (MCL), G Jonathan Bernier (hip), and LW Ondrej Palat (groin) are out indefinitely.</p>



<p><strong>Senators beat the Sabres at home</strong></p>



<p>The Ottawa Senators (6-9-1-0, 10-6 ATS) won the second game in the last three and managed to bounce back from a 4-2 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers with a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres at home. With this W, Ottawa stayed just above the rock-bottom of the Eastern Conference, but a potential loss against New Jersey and Columbus’ win elsewhere would put them in the last place.</p>



<p>The Senators deserved to beat the Sabres as they registered 40 shots, ten more than the visitors. A couple of goals in the final period gave a 4-1 victory to the Sens. Anton Forsberg had 29 saves, while Jake Sanderson and Tim Stutzle contributed with two points apiece. For the season, Brady Tkachuk leads Ottawa with 21 points (G 7, A 14). Claude Giroux (G 8, A 9) and Stutzle (G6, A 11) each have 17 points.</p>



<p>Anton Forsberg (4-6-1) is likely going to start in the cage against the Devils on Saturday. The 29-year-old is allowing 3.35 goals per contest this year with a .904 SV% and no shutouts.</p>



<p>C Josh Norris (wrist), D Artyom Zub (upper body), and D Thomas Chabot (concussion) are not available to face the Devils on Saturday.</p>



<p><strong>Trends:</strong></p>



<p><strong>New Jersey:</strong></p>



<ul><li>14-2 in the last 16 overall</li><li>7-0 in the last seven road games</li><li>4-0 in the last four vs. Atlantic Division opponents</li></ul>



<p><strong>Ottawa:</strong></p>



<ul><li>2-8 in the last ten overall</li><li>1-5 in the last six home games</li><li>2-5 in the last seven vs. Eastern Conference rivals</li></ul>



<p><strong>New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators Pick&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>This fantastic run has to end sometime for the Devils, and it could happen on Saturday against Ottawa, but I think the Devils will extend it for a bit longer. They scored at least three goals in each of their last seven games, and I am backing New Jersey to score 4+ against the Senators, something they already did this season. Forsberg allowed 4+ goals in four of his last five starts and now he’s facing the third-best offense in the NHL. Bratt, Hughes, and Hischier are red-hot at the moment, and I think the three of them are going to hand another victory for the Devils.</p>



<p><strong>Pick:</strong> Take the Devils to win (-125)</p>



<p><strong>The Total</strong></p>



<p>Not only do the Devils have a top 5 offense but they also have a top 5 defense. They allowed more than two goals just once in the previous five games, but Ottawa’s offense is among the top 10 right now, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sens score three goals here. I am still relying on the Devils’ offense to produce enough goals in order to win this bet, but the Senators should also contribute. Over is 9-4 in the last 13 H2H meetings, while Over is 6-1 in the previous seven H2H duels in Ottawa.</p>



<p><strong>Pick:</strong> Go Over 6 goals (-110)</p>

New Jersey Devils vs. Ottawa Senators Odds, Pick, Prediction 11/19/22

<p>The Rays will host the Yankees today at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, and they will be looking to move above .500 for the season. However, the money line odds have the Yankees as the slight favorite (-108), and they are 2nd in the AL East with a record of 55-38. Marcus Stroman will be starting for the Yankees, while the Rays are going with Zach Eflin.</p>

<p>Wednesday's over/under line is at 8 runs, and the game will be televised on BSSUN. First pitch is currently scheduled for 6:50 PM ET. </p><h3>TAMPA BAY RAYS VS NEW YORK YANKEES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline -110</p><p>This game will be played at Tropicana Field at 6:50 ET on Wednesday, July 10th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE YANKEES VS RAYS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Rays winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>If you're looking for a run line pick, we also like the Rays to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 11 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>Tampa Bay picked up a 5-3 win over the Yankees in the most recent game of this series. The Rays had a huge 1st inning, scoring four of their five runs. As for the Yankees, they scored their first run in the 7th and added two more in the 8th.</p>

<p>Ryan Pepiot got the win for the Rays, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up just one run. He finished the game with seven strikeouts but issued three walks. As for the Yankees, Carlos Rodon got the start and took the loss, giving up four earned runs in four innings of work.</p>

<p>At the plate, Isaac Paredes and Amed Rosario each had two RBIs for the Rays. Ben Rice hit the game's only home run for the Yankees, going 1/5 with two RBIs.</p><h3>Yankees Records & Stats</h3><p>The Yankees are 55-38 overall this season, putting them three games behind the Orioles for the AL East lead. So far, they have gone just 13-17 in AL East matchups. New York will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak today, and they are 3-7 over their last 10 games.</p>

<p>At home, the Yankees are 25-19 this season, and they have gone 30-19 on the road. The Yankees have been the favorite in most of their games, coming in with a mark of 43-32 as the favorite. As the underdog, the Yankees are 12-6 this year. So far, their overall series record is 16-9-3, but they have dropped two straight series.</p><p>When the Yankees are favored, they are just 35-40 against the run line, and they have lost two straight run line bets as the favorite. However, when they are the underdog, they are 14-4 against the run line. Overall, their run line record is 49-44, and they have an average run differential of +1.1 runs per game.</p><p>The Yankees are on the road against the Rays today, with the over/under line set at 8 runs. Their combined run average is 9.0, and their over/under record for the season is 48-41. When the line is set at 8 runs, their record is 7-8-2. The over/under line has been set at 8 runs for 60 of their games this season, which accounts for 64.5% of their games.</p><p>New York is sending right-hander Marcus Stroman to the mound today vs. the Rays. Stroman is coming off a rough outing vs. the Reds, where he took the loss and gave up five earned runs in five innings of work. In his 18 starts, Stroman has a record of 7-4 and an ERA of 3.58. Looking at his numbers on the road, Stroman is 5-1 with a 3.0 ERA. At home, his record is 2-3, and his ERA is 4.91. Stroman has made seven quality starts this year and is averaging 6.79 strikeouts per nine innings.</p><p>Not only do the Yankees lead the league in home runs, but they are also the top-scoring team in the league, averaging 5 runs per game. This has been even better on the road, where they are averaging 5.3 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .248, which is 7th in the league, and have the best walk rate in the league.</p>

<p>Aaron Judge has been the league's top run producer this season, with 83 RBIs and is also tied for the most homers in the league at 32. Judge is batting .308 for the season. Juan Soto is also having a strong season, with a batting average of .291 and 21 homers. DJ LeMahieu is currently on a three-game hitting streak, while Giancarlo Stanton has a streak of 10 games.</p><h3>Rays Records & Stats</h3><p>Tampa Bay is 45-46 overall and trail the Orioles by 12 games in the AL East. Currently, they are in 4th place in the division and are 11-17 in AL East matchups. The Rays took the first game of this series vs. the Yankees and have an overall series record of 15-11-2 this year.</p>

<p>At home, the Rays are 24-25 this year and an even 21-21 on the road. So far, they have been the favorite in 50 games, going 26-24 in those matchups. As for their games as the underdog, the Rays are 19-22 this year. Tampa Bay has won two straight at home, and their overall record as the home underdog is 7-9.</p><p>The Rays have been a solid run line bet on the road this season, going 25-17. They have a negative run differential on the season but have been able to cover the run line in 17 of 41 home games. They have covered the run line in two straight games and have been a better bet as the underdog, going 24-17.</p><p>When the Tampa Bay Rays are at home, the over/under line is set at 8 runs for their games. The Rays have a combined run average of 8.7 runs per game this season, and their over/under record is 44-42. When the over/under line is set at 8 runs, their record is 10-12-1. So far this season, 40.7% of their games have had over/under lines set at over 8 runs, while 34.1% have had lines set at under 8 runs.</p><p>Zach Eflin will be looking to build off his last outing, where he came away with the win. In that start vs. the Royals, he went 5 innings, giving up 5 earned runs, and 1 homer. Looking back further, Eflin had given up at least one homer in three straight starts before that outing. Eflin's ERA for the season is 4.19, along with a record of 5-5. Opponents are batting .260 off the right-hander this season. So far, he has made 16 appearances and 5 of them have been quality starts.</p><p>Isaac Paredes has been one of the Rays' top run producers this season, as his 50 RBIs are the best mark on the team. He also leads the team with 15 homers, which is 12th in the league. However, Paredes has struggled of late, hitting just 4/25 in his last seven games. Yandy Diaz comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak and is batting .270 for the season with eight homers.</p>

<p>As a team, the Rays are batting just .235, which is 13th in the league, and are averaging only 4 runs per game. This is also the 18th ranked home run hitting team in the league. Overall, their team slugging percentage of .369 is 23rd in the league.</p>

New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays Betting Pick & Prediction 7/10/24

<p>Yusei Kikuchi will get the start for the Blue Jays (66-54, 31-26 home) as they host the Phillies (65-54, 31-30 away) at Rogers Centre. The Phillies will give the starting nod to Zack Wheeler. Check out my prediction for game one of this interleague matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays.</p><h3>PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS TORONTO BLUE JAYS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Toronto Blue Jays -104</p><p>This game will be played at Rogers Centre at 7:07 ET on Tuesday, August 15th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS:</h3><ul><li>The Blue Jays have gone 7-3 in their ten games at home.</li><li>Toronto is taking on the Phillies at the right time, as the Phillies have dropped two straight games.</li><li>Yusei Kikuchi has done a good job at avoiding the long-ball of late, having not given up a home-run in each of his past five starts.</li></ul><h3>PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES TRYING TO CLOSE GAP IN NL EAST</h3><p>This season, the Phillies have an overall series record of 21-15-2 and are currently 2nd in the NL East. Philadelphia's overall record is 65-54, which includes their current two game losing streak. On the road, the Phillies are 31-30 and 34-24 at home.</p><p><p>As he prepares to face the Blue Jays, Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler has been in fine form, recording a quality start in each of his last six outings. In 23 trips to the mound this season, Wheeler has posted a record of 9-5 and an ERA of 3.75. Opponents have had difficulty getting hits off him, with a batting average of .238 and an OPS of .658. The right-hander has also been effective at keeping runners off base, as evidenced by his 155 strikeouts and 25 walks for the year.</p></p><p>Zack Wheeler earned a victory in his most recent outing, as the Phillies defeated the Nationals 8-4. The right-hander tossed six frames of three-run, seven-hit ball to notch a quality start.</p><p>Over their last five games, the Phillies are ranked 12th in the league in scoring at 4 runs per game. Their season-long scoring average of 4.6 per contest puts them 12th in baseball. In terms of on-base percentage, Philadelphia is 9th, with an OBP currently sitting at .324. The team's collective batting average is .256 (8th).</p><p>J.T. Realmuto has been the Phillies' offensive leader in their last five games, hitting two home runs to bring his season total to 15. The catcher also boasts a .249 batting average.</p><h3>WILL THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?</h3><p>On a record of 66-54, the Blue Jays come into today's game 3rd in the AL East. When playing at home, they are 31-26 and 35-28 on the road. Toronto has played in 37 series thus far, and have gone 22-14-1. </p><p><p>The Blue Jays will turn to Yusei Kikuchi for the start, who has been impressive in his 23 appearances this season. His record stands at 9-4 with an ERA of 3.53 and a K/9 of 9.2. He has also put together a FIP of 4.52 and an OBP of .298.</p></p><p>Yusei Kikuchi will look to build on his previous outing, in which he pitched seven innings and gave up one earned run on three hits. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays were unable to capitalize on his performance, losing 1-0 to the Guardians.</p><p>Across their last ten games, the Blue Jays' offense is 2nd in batting average, leading to an average of 4.9 runs per contest in that span. Overall, they are the 14th ranked scoring offense and posted a season-long OPS of .748 on 138 (15th).</p><p>Over the past ten games, Brandon Belt has been a major contributor to the Blue Jays' offense, leading the team with two home runs. His season-long total now stands at 11 long balls, while his batting average is currently .254.</p>

Philadelphia Phillies vs Toronto Blue Jays Betting Pick & Prediction 8/15/23

<p>Heading into game three of this National League matchup, the Phillies (69-57, 36-24 home) will send Michael Lorenzen to the mound against the Giants (65-61, 30-33 away) and Alex Cobb. Check out my pick for today's San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies game in Philadelphia.</p><h3>SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS VS PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: San Francisco Giants +1.5 Runs</p><p>This game will be played at Citizens Bank Park at 4:05 ET on Wednesday, August 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS:</h3><ul><li>Against the runline, the Phillies have gone just 2-3 in their last five home games.</li><li>Over their last three games as the favorite, the Phillies are just 1-2 against the runline.</li><li>Michael Lorenzen has struggled of late, coming in with an ERA of 6.15 over his last five starts.</li></ul><h3>SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS TRYING TO CLOSE GAP IN NL WEST</h3><p>Entering game 127 of their season, the Giants are 12 games out in the NL West and are in 3rd place. So far, their overall series record stands at 18-21-2. San Francisco's road winning percent is currently 47.6% (30-33) compared to 55.6% at home (35-28).</p><p><p>Alex Cobb has been a reliable starter for the Giants this season, boasting a 6-5 record in 23 appearances. His ERA stands at 3.75, while his K/9 is 7.99 and FIP is 3.84. Opponents have had difficulty getting on base against him, as evidenced by his .322 OBP.</p></p><p>Alex Cobb suffered a defeat in his last start against the Braves, surrendering four runs on eight hits as the Giants were shut out 4-0.</p><p>Over their last five games, the Giants are ranked 18th in the league in scoring at 3.2 runs per game. Their season-long scoring average of 4.3 per contest puts them 21st in baseball. In terms of on-base percentage, San Francisco is 18th, with an OBP currently sitting at .314. The team's collective batting average is .238 (16th).</p><p>Michael Conforto has been one of the Giants' most reliable offensive contributors in 2023. He is currently batting .248 with 55 runs batted in and 15 home runs.</p><h3>WILL THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?</h3><p>Philadelphia head into today's game seeking their 3rd straight win and are in 2nd place in the NL East. On the road, Philadelphia is 33-33 and 36-24 at home. With an overall record of 69-57, the Phillies have a series win percentage of 57% (21-16-3).</p><p><p>Michael Lorenzen has made 21 appearances this season, with a .357 slugging percentage allowed and a WHIP of 1.08. His overall record is 7-8 with an ERA of 3.57, and he has 94 strikeouts, averaging 6.71 per nine innings. On the road, his record is 3-4 with an ERA of 4.70; at home it's 4-4 and 3.85 respectively.</p></p><p>Michael Lorenzen's latest start against the Nationals ended in a loss for the Phillies, as he gave up seven runs on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings. The final score was 8-7 in favor of Washington.</p><p>The Phillies have been one of the top power lineups in the league of late, having hit 11 home runs over their last five games. Compared to other clubs, this is 1st best in that span. For the season, they are ranked 11th in home runs and 8th in slugging percentage. Overall, Philadelphia is averaging 4.7 runs per game (13th).</p><p>Kyle Schwarber is the home-run king for the Phillies in 2023, leading the team with 33 long balls and 80 runs batted in. His slugging percentage for the year is a respectable .435.</p>

San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies Betting Pick & Prediction 8/23/23

<p>We have made it through three weeks of the 2023 NFL season, and the grace period is now over for all coaches and players. It's now time for everyone to perform up to league standards, or else they are at risk of losing their jobs.</p>



<p>The NFL is the one league that has no trouble firing coaches early in a season, and that could be the case as we now get ready for Week 4 of the season. NFL owners and general managers are desperate for wins, and they don't have time to employ a head coach that simply can't get the job done.</p>



<p>With that in mind, you are going to want to look at some betting odds for this market, as that can help you predict which head coach will be fired first. Three names really stand out, but anyone can really be cut loose in this league.</p>



<p><em><strong><a href="/s/betdsi/">Make sure to bet on NFL games over at BetDSI</a></strong></em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-favorites-to-be-fired">Three Favorites to be Fired</h2>



<p>The first place to start when looking at coaches that might be fired is checking out the 0-3 teams through three weeks, but there are other coaches in play here as well. Every team has some sort of level of preseason expectations, and falling short of that ultimately falls on the head coach.</p>



<p>The betting odds at BetOnline list Josh McDaniels as the betting favorite to be fired first at +200, as his tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders just isn't going well at all. Las Vegas has some serious issues at the quarterback position, and they don't know how to win games.</p>



<p>Matt Eberflus of the Bears (+225) and Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders (+300) are next on the list, and both came into this season with hopes of being a coach of the year candidate. Chicago is 0-3 to begin the year, and Washington doesn't look like it has any shot of competing for a playoff spot.</p>



<p>While these three head coaches are squarely on the hot seat, that doesn't mean that they are alone in this group.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-contenders">Possible Contenders</h2>



<p>There are always some shocking head coach firings in the NFL, and most of those happen after a team suffers an embarrassing loss. You would think that Sean Payton would be a contender to be fired after the Broncos just gave up 70 points, but the odds for that to happen are currently at just +3300.</p>



<p>There are some other coaches that need to start winning games soon, or they will join the list of favorites when it comes to firing coaches. Things can change quickly in the NFL, and there are several coaches who need things to change in the right direction.</p>



<ul>
<li>Brandon Staley +750</li>



<li>Robert Saleh +1000</li>



<li>Kevin O'Connell +1400</li>
</ul>



<p>Brandon Staley, Robert Saleh, and Kevin O'Connell all thought that they would be leading a team that could win a title this season, but that hasn't been the case through three weeks. It would be shocking to see one of these head coaches fired first, but it's not a huge surprise to see one of them fired at some point this season.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-pick">The Pick</h2>



<p>There is going to be an NFL head coach who is fired soon, and you should look no further than Matt Eberflus and the Chicago Bears. Eberflus has been given a long leash in Chicago up to this point, and he is showing no signs of turning things around.</p>



<p>The schedule for the Bears is going to get more difficult over the next few weeks as well, and there isn't a ton of hope for this team to bounce back. Bet on Eberflus at +225 to be the first head coach fired in the NFL.</p>



<p><strong><a href="/s/bookmaker/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bet on the NFL 2023/24 at Bookmaker!</a></strong></p>

An NFL Coach Will Be Fired Soon

Mad scientist Jay Wright navigated the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament with relative ease. Even though his Villanova Wildcats were picked against a lot with one of those trendy 12 over 5 upsets, Villanova took care of business against Winthrop and then beat #13 North Texas in decisive fashion.

The task at hand gets much, much harder here in the Sweet 16 with the top-seeded Baylor Bears in South Region action. Baylor struggled for a bit with Hartford, but eventually pulled away and then had little resistance from Wisconsin en route to this Saturday March 27 matchup with Villanova.

Bettors prefer Baylor, at least according to what we’ve seen so far. The Bears are up to -7.5 with a total of 142 at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bookmaker"><strong>Bookmaker Sportsbook</strong></a>. Some heavy action has hit the board on both the favorite and the over for Saturday’s 5:15 p.m. ET tip.
<h3><strong><u>Villanova Wildcats</u></strong></h3>
The loss of Collin Gillespie has not really come into play for Villanova just yet. The level of competition has played a role, but the play of Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has played a bigger role. The special sophomore has 40 points in 74 minutes over two tournament games and led four Wildcats in double figures in the win over North Texas.

Through three postseason games without Gillespie, nothing looks all that different. Villanova is 32-of-85 from three and 46-of-78 on two-point shots. The Wildcats have scored 1.124, 1.129, and 1.424 points per possession. This has been an offense-first team all season long and the offense looks quite good in the postseason. Villanova did lose to Georgetown in the Big East Tournament, but Georgetown was 23-of-23 at the free throw line in that one-point win.

Money has come in on Baylor, but even Bears backers would acknowledge that Villanova’s low TO% on offense is a concern here. Villanova leads the nation in TO% at 13.2% per Bart Torvik. Baylor in third in the nation in TO% on defense at 24.7%. The reason why it is particularly concerning for Baylor backers is that the Bears defense has not looked the same since the team’s COVID pause from February 2-23.

Baylor allowed 1.026, 1.136, 1.180, 1.016, and 1.145 PPP in five games to end the regular season and then allowed .999 and 1.110 in two Big 12 Tournament games.

Villanova’s best hope here is to win with offense because the defense is not good. While the defense has played better of late, Villanova is outside the top 200 in both 2P% and 3P% defense. Villanova’s Block% is 330th in the nation. They don’t have rim protectors and don’t guard the perimeter very well.
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<h3><strong><u>Baylor Bears</u></strong></h3>
Has Baylor recommitted to defense? Against a solid Wisconsin team, Baylor allowed .982 PPP, which was their best mark since blowing out a terrible Kansas State team on January 27. If Scott Drew’s team is ready to defend again, the Bears go from being a vulnerable #1 seed to a team that has no excuse for not making the Final Four as the champion of the South Region.

We know that Baylor’s offense is good. Really good. The Bears lead the nation in 3P%. They are shooting 53.5% on two-point shots. They’ve taken good care of the basketball and are one of the nation’s top offensive rebounding teams. It’s all about that recommitment to playing defense because the points will come. Baylor has too many good, experienced shooters that can get their own shots or find open teammates for clean looks.

Recent form means more than a program’s history, but it is worth noting that Baylor has had some great teams in the past and has bowed out of the NCAA Tournament prematurely. This is Baylor’s first #1 seed under Scott Drew, but the Bears haven’t made it past the Sweet 16 since 2012. They were a #3 seed in 2017 and made it to the Sweet Sixteen before losing by 20 to South Carolina as a favorite.

The underwhelming past in this type of game hasn’t done much to stem the tide of Baylor money for this game, but it is something that will surely be brought up as the games get closer and every network talks at length about the Baylor program and it’s past shortcomings.
<h3><strong><u>Pick &amp; Analysis</u></strong></h3>
Bettors are playing Baylor and the over like those are free money giveaways. They could very well be. I did like Baylor in this game at 6 or 6.5, but now that we’re up to 7.5, it is a more difficult sell. The total has also shot up three points from opening 139.5. Both moves seem correct to me, but do we want to get involved now at those numbers?

I’ll flip the script a little bit. While I do like Baylor for the full game, I think Villanova +4 first half is a decent look. The Wildcats have the better coach in Wright. I do think Baylor ultimately wins and covers, but a slow start wouldn’t surprise me at all.
<h4><strong>Pick: Villanova +4 1st Half</strong></h4>
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Villanova vs. Baylor Sweet 16 Pick and Preview 3/27/21

The Lakers and Nuggets are set to face off at 7:30 ET on TNT. The Nuggets will host the game at Ball Arena in Denver, CO. The over/under for this Western conference contest is set at 227.5 points, with the Nuggets being the favored team playing at home against the Lakers.
<h3>LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS DENVER NUGGETS BETTING PICK</h3>
<strong>The Pick:</strong> Los Angeles Lakers +4.5 <a href="/s/betdsi/">at BetDSI</a>

This game will be played at Ball Arena at 7:30 ET on Tuesday, October 24th.
<h3>WHY BET THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS:</h3>
<ul>
 	<li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 112-110 in favor of the Lakers.</li>
 	<li>Our projections have LeBron James finishing with LeBron James points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.</li>
 	<li>From the field, we have the Lakers finishing with a field goal percentage of 51.9% and knocking down 10 threes.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Will Los Angeles Shock Everyone at Ball Arena?</h3>
Los Angeles finished last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, belonging to the Western Conference and Pacific Division, achieving a conference rank of 7th. They maintained a conference record of 27-25 and an overall record of 43-39. Additionally, their over/under record stood at 43-38-1.

Los Angeles' offense was led by LeBron James, who recorded an effective field goal percentage of 55% as the leading scorer for the Los Angeles Lakers last season (2022-2023). Moreover, he averaged 28.9 points per game and achieved 18 double doubles.

Last year's offense ended with the Los Angeles Lakers averaging 117.2 points per game in the NBA, placing them 6th in the league. They also had 101.8 possessions per game, ranking 2nd in the NBA. Furthermore, the Lakers attempted the highest number of free throws per game at 26.6, and made 20.6 free throws per game, placing them 2nd in the league.

Los Angeles' defense wrapped up last season with a 20th rank in points allowed per game. They also ranked 26th in steals per game. In terms of defense, they allowed a three-point percentage of 34.1, which was the 2nd best in the NBA, and a field goal percentage of 47.0, which ranked 9th in the NBA.
<h3>Can the Nuggets Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?</h3>
Denver achieved a 1st place ranking in the Western Conference during the 2022-2023 season, with a 34-18 record. Furthermore, their overall performance showcased a commendable 53-29 record, including an over/under record of 37-44-1.

The Denver Nuggets finished last season, with Nikola Jokic, their top scorer, achieving double doubles in 20 games during the 2022-2023 season. Furthermore, he led the team in rebounds with an average of 11.2 per game. Additionally, Jokic also topped the team in points per game, averaging 26.4.

Last year's offense ended with the Denver Nuggets ranking 17th in the NBA, averaging 10.1 offensive rebounds per game. They ranked 24th in the league with 22.4 free throws attempted per game. Denver's scoring average of 115.8 points per game placed them 12th in the NBA.

Denver's defense wrapped up last season with a points allowed per game ranking of 8th, averaging 112.5. They also had a blocked shots per game ranking of 20th, averaging 4.5. Additionally, their steals per game ranking was 11th, with an average of 7.5, and their field goal percentage allowed ranking was 20th, with a percentage of 47.8.
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Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Betting Pick & Prediction 10/24/23

Let's get right into it.....

<strong>VIRGINIA at CLEMSON (8 PM ET)</strong>
<strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betanysports">BetAnySports</a> Line: Clemson -28.5, Total 55</strong>

Last year the Clemson Tigers rolled up 619 yards of offense against the Virginia Cavaliers, on the way to a 62-17 victory. The encouraging news for Virginia is that they were able to integrate QB Brennan Armstrong into the lineup rather seamlessly, but is he going to be the dual threat Bryce Perkins (his predecessor) was? And what, exactly, will help against the #1-ranked Tigers, who have become a Juggernaut on the order of Alabama under Dabo Swinney?

The possibility of Clemson suffering an upset loss isn't what worries us. What worries us is the possibility that Swinney will pull quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the second half as he did against Wake Forest, and the Cavs may come ambling in through the back door. With the NCAA football betting odds at 28.5 points, that could happen. And don't forget that Clemson has Miami on deck next week, and the 'Canes are suddenly a real threat in the ACC with Rhett Lashlee's ramped-up offense. We'd pass on laying the points here, although going over 55 may be somewhat feasible.

<strong>ARKANSAS at MISSISSIPPI STATE (7:30 PM ET)</strong>
<strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/s/bas">BetAnySports</a> Line: Mississippi State -17, Total 68.5</strong>

I have to admit to being at least a little surprised at the ease with which Mike Leach's Air Raid offense was able to move the ball against LSU last week. It took a while to sink in - KJ Costello threw for 623 yards against the defending national champions. This kind of thing wasn't expected out of Costello, who was in a much more conventional, pro-style, run-first offense at Stanford. But it is obvious that Leach, who coached in the Pac-12 at Washington State, saw something.

So now the Bulldogs are in a position where they have to avoid the letdown against an Arkansas squad that did indeed cover the pointspread, even in a 37-10 loss to Georgia. The 3-3-5 defense that has been installed this season does have a tendency to confuse some opponents at first, so maybe Feleipe Franks, the Florida transfer who threw a pick-six last week, will get caught up in all that. Wanna know the scary part? Mississippi State, which is now an aerial circus, actually RAN the ball for 460 yards in last year's 54-24 pasting of the Hogs. And we're not sure Leach wants to take the foot off the gas pedal at this stage. Lay it.

<strong>AUBURN at GEORGIA (7:30 PM ET)</strong>
<strong><a href="http://bangthebook.com/s/bas">BetAnySports</a> Line: Georgia -7.5, Total 43.5</strong>

Last year's meeting was a rough one for the War Eagle, as Georgia emerged with a 21-14 win despite just 110 yards through the air and only 16 first downs. Not sure the Bulldogs' quarterback situation is all that solid, but if you go into this game with any thoughts of taking the points you go into it with the understanding that you believe in Bo Nix. He came in very highly-touted out of high school, and though he was spectacular at times against Oregon in last year's opener, he kind of imploded against top SEC schools like Florida and LSU.

This year he has Chad Morris as a play-caller. Maybe his role is as a coordinator, as he was at Clemson, rather than a head coach, which didn't work out for him at Arkansas. Just throwing that out there. Nix must minimize mistakes. That would seem to be the key (no rocket science there) in a game that may be very tight all the way to the finish. We're taking the points.

<strong>TEXAS TECH at KANSAS STATE (3:30 PM ET)</strong>
<strong>Line: Kansas State -2, Total 63.5</strong>

We're only mentioning this because it is a true "Recovery Bowl." One of these teams (Texas Tech) lost a 15-point lead in the last two minutes and then lost in overtime to Texas. The other team (Kansas State) just scored a huge upset win over Oklahoma.

In their own way, both these teams have to recover from that. Who will do it better? I'm thinking it's Texas Tech, which has the more explosive guy under center in Alex Bowman and the knowledge that they were probably the better team on the field last week in Lubbock. Furthermore, I'm not sure that the Sooners were going to have an easy transition anyway, with a freshman quarterback after two Heisman winners and a contender in Jalen Hurts. So we'll "take" here.

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NCAA Football Betting -- Top-Ranked Clemson, the "Recovery Bowl" and More

NBA fans got a good scare last week when it looked like the playoffs might be dead in the water. But after a few days off, the games began Saturday anew. Milwaukee finished off Orlando to take its spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, which started on Sunday with the Boston Celtics winning one over the Toronto Raptors.

With the final four in the East in place, it sounds like a good time to address who will win the Eastern Conference this season odds (via <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bovada/">Bovada.lv</a>):
<h2><strong>2020 Eastern Conference Winner Odds</strong></h2>
<ul>
 	<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
 	<li>Milwaukee Bucks -115</li>
 	<li>Toronto Raptors +350</li>
 	<li>Boston Celtics +255</li>
 	<li>Miami Heat +800</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
It should come as no surprise that the Bucks are the favorite. They were the most dominant team during the regular season on both ends of the court. They were far from dominant during the seeding games, but they didn’t need to be.

While the Magic gave them a scare with a win in Game One, they went on to win the next four by double digits.

Their opponents in the semis, the Miami Heat, had a relatively easy time in their opening round taking down the Indiana Pacers in four. While they did take down the Bucks the one time, they played during the regular season, 105-89.

But is it realistic to think the Heat can control Giannis Antetokounmpo for four games as they did in that one? Probably not.

The Toronto-Boston series looks like it will be the more competitive of the two. While the odds favor the Raptors, the Celtics dominated Game One on Sunday. Is that a sign of things to come, or can we just chalk that one up to the Raptors stars having incredibly bad days from the floor?

Game Two will give us some indication of how that will go. But as good as the Celtics are, the Raptors were not expected to sweep the Celtics anyway. <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/">Sportsbooks</a> now have the Celtics favored to win the Series, but that could easily change with a dominant win by Toronto in Game Two.

So, who Milwaukee will likely face in the Eastern Conference Finals remains to be seen, but if the odds are any indication—does it matter? Many fans would say no, but it is worth mentioning that the sentiment was the same before last season’s conference finals.

Both Toronto and Boston are capable of playing the kind of defense that can give the Bucks fits. But can they generate the necessary offense to beat Milwaukee? In a game or two? Yes, but in a seven-game series? That’s a little harder to say.

So—who should you bet on?

The Milwaukee Bucks are the safe and obvious bet, by far. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy, it will be incredibly hard to beat in a seven-game series. Could the Celtics or Raptors do it? Absolutely—but if you are going to put money on someone, the Bucks are the obvious choice.

The odds of Boston winning are not worth the risk. As strong as the Raptors have looked since the season restarted, it may be worth putting a little money on them at those odds. But it certainly not worth risking much.

Odds On Who Will Win The NBA’s Eastern Conference

BetAnySports customers might have noticed already that if there is any team that comes into the NBA restart "limping," it's the Brooklyn Nets. They are literally without their rotation, or the vast majority of it. And they are a far cry from the team that hopes to be a bona fide championship contender when the new season commences, around December.

But they must soldier on, and when things resume for them on July 31 (a Friday), they take on the Orlando Magic at the HP Field House in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Tipoff is set for 2:30 PM ET.

The Nets are 30-34 (31-33 ATS) and hold seventh place in the Eastern Conference. But they could be overtaken in this game by the eighth-place Magic (30-35 SU, 31-32-2 ATS), and that is significant, because only seven playoff spots in each conference will be secure; any eighth-place team must be at least four games clear of the #9 team to avoid a "play-in" situation. And the Washington Wizards (24-40) have a chance to creep into that position.

Despite some early rumors to the contrary, Kevin Durant, who injured his Achilles last season (was that still last season?) when the Golden State Warriors were in the playoffs, won't be returning until a fresh season comes.

Kyrie Irving is injured, although he made an awful lot of noise protesting the restart. Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan have tested positive for the coronavirus. Wilson Chandler has opted out, citing the fear of catching the virus. Nic Claxton is out with a shoulder injury.

So who is left?

Well, Caris LaVert, who the Nets see as a star in the making, will get an opportunity to spread his wings a little more. Joe Harris, the three-point marksman, is on hand. So is Jarrett Allen, who's not a bad pivot man but can't go up against the better guys in the league.

So at least there's that.

In the NBA betting odds posted on the opener at BetAnySports, the Magic are favored:

<strong>Orlando Magic -6</strong>
<strong>Brooklyn Nets +6</strong>

<strong>Over 211.5 points -110</strong>
<strong>Under 211.5 points -110</strong>
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We can't lie to you; what the Nets have after those guys we mentioned is somewhat "rag-tag." The Nets signed the well-traveled Michael Beasley, who has had something of a choppy career after going second in the draft, but he is going to miss the first five games on a suspension to start things off. Justin Anderson is a possibility to get a lot of playing time at power forward. But Rodions Kurucs is going to get himself another chance. He has been a starter for this team in the past, can hit outside shots and has the ability to go back and forth from power forward to center. He has spent a lot of the season in the G League.

The point guard situation may become interesting. Without Irving and others, the assumption is that Chris Chiozza, a journeyman at best, will get the call. But Jeremiah Martin, an undrafted rookie out of Memphis who has put up nice numbers in the G League, is making a charge, impressing everybody so far in camp.

With minutes likely to be spread out, veterans should play a role here as well. Garrett Temple was already on hand; the 34-year-old LSU product has been all over the NBA and has usually been an extremely dependable defensive player. Lance Thomas, the 32-year-old power forward and Brooklyn native, might be added to the roster. He hasn't played during this regular season, after being cut by the Nets last October.

Maybe there's an "X-factor" in the signing of 40-year-old Jamal Crawford, the oldest player in the NBA "bubble." He's always been a good scorer and ball-handler, and though he hasn't played this season, he had 51 points for Phoenix in last year's season finale (maybe getting the "Kobe finale" treatment?). Crawford is well-accustomed to role-playing, as a three-time winner of the NBA's Sixth Man award.

Another thing to mention here is that the Nets had fired coach Kenny Atkinson and have interim coach Jacques Vaughn in his place, as they mull their long-term coaching options. And Vaughn will have a limited time to get this patchwork roster on the same page. Yeah, we know the Magic doesn't have a home court advantage. But they didn't have to uproot themselves that much to get to the "bubble." Until these "Wait-Till-Next-Year) Nets show us differently, we'll be fading them. And we think we are getting the best of it there.

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NBA Betting -- Nets at Reduced Strength as They Begin Again vs. Magic

<p>At 7:30 ET, the Orlando Magic (-287) will visit the Toronto Raptors (+231) in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Magic (-7) are favored by seven points over the Raptors, who have lost five straight and are 23-43 overall.</p>

<p>This game will be played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and can be seen on TSN. The over/under line is 215.5 points.</p><h3>ORLANDO MAGIC VS TORONTO RAPTORS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Toronto Raptors +7</p><p>This game will be played at Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 ET on Friday, March 15th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TORONTO RAPTORS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 111-107 in favor of the Raptors.</li><li>Our projections have Immanuel Quickley finishing with Immanuel Quickley points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Raptors finishing with a field goal percentage of 43.1% and knocking down 10 threes.</li></ul><h3>Will Orlando Be The Talk of Scotiabank Arena?</h3><p>Orlando is favored by 7 points on the road today and has gone 20-6 ATS as the favorite this season. As the favorite, they have a scoring differential of +9.7 points per game.</p>

<p>As the favorite, the Magic have a record of 22-4 and have gone 43-23 straight up for the season. In the Eastern Conference, they are currently 5th and are 1st in the Southeast Division with a record of 38-28.</p>

<p>Orlando's ATS record on the road is 21-14, and they have an average scoring differential of -3.2 points per game on the road. Overall, they are 16-19 on the road.</p>

<p>In their last game, the Magic defeated the Nets by a score of 114-106. The O/U line for that game was 205.5, and Orlando covered the spread as 6-point favorites.</p>

<p>This season, Orlando has an O/U record of 31-35, and their games have averaged a combined 220 points. In 52 of their 66 games, the O/U line has been higher than today's line of 215.5.</p><p>This season, the Magic are 26th in the league in scoring at 110.7 points per game. On the road, they are averaging 108 points per game.</p>

<p>So far, the Magic have outscored the NBA scoring average in just 36.4% of their games. In terms of pace, they are 26th in the league at 97 possessions per game.</p>

<p>When it comes to three-point shooting, Orlando is 30th in the league in both three-point makes and attempts. They are hitting just 35% of their looks from beyond the arc.</p><p>This season, the Magic defense has been impressive, holding the 3rd position in the league while permitting an average of 109.3 points per contest. When it comes to forced turnovers, the Magic are forcing 14 per game, which is 24th in the league. They also come into the game sitting 12th in blocked shots at 5.3 per game.</p><h3>Can Toronto Lock in a Home Win?</h3><p>Toronto is coming off a 113-104 loss to the Pistons, and they are 23-43 on the season, which is 12th in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors have lost five straight games overall.</p>

<p>As the underdog, the Raptors are 11-33 this season, and they are 22-22 against the spread as the underdog. Today, they are getting 7 points against the Magic and have an ATS record of 31-35.</p>

<p>In their games this season, the Raptors have averaged 232.3 points per game, and their O/U record for the season is 35-30-1. Today's O/U line is 215.5, and their games have averaged 229.7 points.</p>

<p>Against other Eastern Conference teams, the Raptors are 16-24 compared to 7-19 against non-conference opponents. In the Atlantic Division, they are in 5th place.</p>

<p>This season, the Raptors have been one of the best teams in the league in terms of two-point shooting. They are currently 5th in the NBA in two-point field goals made per game and have a two-point shooting percentage of 54%. However, they have struggled from beyond the arc, ranking just 25th in three-point shooting at 35%.</p>

<p>When playing at home, the Raptors have averaged 111.2 points per game, which is 25th in the league. Overall, they are 17th in scoring at 114.1 points per game. In terms of pace, Toronto is 13th in the NBA.</p>

<p>So far this season, the Raptors have outscored the NBA scoring average in 47% of their games. In terms of assists, they are 3rd in the league with an average of 29.3 per game.</p><p>So far, the Raptors' defense is ranked 24th in the league at 118.2 points per contest. Inside the arc, the Raptors defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 55.9% and 37.4% from three-point territory.</p>

Orlando Magic vs Toronto Raptors Betting Pick & Prediction 3/15/24

Newsletter

<p>The Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals have one of the longest rivalries in all of sports. This will be the 2,445th head-to-head meeting between the two clubs. With Tuesday’s result in the books, the Cubs are 1255-1189 now all-time and lead this series 2-0.</p>



<p>Kyle Hendricks and Adam Wainwright will be the respective starters for Wednesday’s ESPN telecast with an 8 p.m. ET first pitch at Busch Stadium. The game opened at <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betonline/"><strong>BetOnline</strong></a> with the Cubs are the slightest of favorites and a total of 8.5. Now that some betting action has come in overnight and other books have opened, the line sits at Cardinals -120 and a total of 8.</p>



<h2 id="h-chicago-cubs"><strong><u>Chicago Cubs</u></strong></h2>



<p>The Cubs players, the fans, the coaches, and the front office are all counting down the days until the Trade Deadline. It is assumed that the Cubs will look a whole lot different after July 31, as they have several impending free agents or guys with short contract terms that could be traded. The trade of Joc Pederson on the last day of the All-Star Break was the first of many dominoes expected to fall.</p>



<p>Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Zach Davies, and Craig Kimbrel are all guys that could be on the move. Those are some impact players for the pennant races and guys that may be excited to get out of Chicago, where a penny-pinching ownership group and the departure of Theo Epstein have made things pretty uncomfortable and uncertain.</p>



<p>Chicago ranks just outside the bottom third of the league offensively, which is not what we should see with all of the talent on the roster. The Cubs have squandered their last year with this core group by striking out too much, not walking enough, and not putting enough quality contact in play.</p>



<p>On the bright side, Kyle Hendricks has found his way again. The always-reliable 31-year-old was not so reliable early in the season, but he now has a 3.65 ERA and a 4.76 FIP in his 111 innings of work. Hendricks has seen a drop-off with his strikeout rate and a big increase in his home run rate, but he’s been able to get back on track since the middle of May.</p>



<p>After six solid innings against the Diamondbacks last weekend, Hendricks has posted a 2.48 ERA with a 3.88 FIP in his last 12 starts. He is 10-0 in that span and the Cubs are 10-2 in those outings. Hendricks still doesn’t have the strikeouts, but he has only allowed one home run in his last six starts and has an average exit velocity against of 83.1 mph. He is officially back.</p>



<h2 id="h-st-louis-cardinals"><strong><u>St. Louis Cardinals</u></strong></h2>



<p>The starting point in any Adam Wainwright game is to see where the game is being played. It will be at Busch Stadium, which means that Wainwright has a much better projection than he would if the game was on the road. The steady vet has been a saving grace for the Cardinals this season with a 3.71 ERA and a 4.07 FIP in his 111.2 innings of work. With injuries to Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas, Daniel Ponce De Leon, and Dakota Hudson, the Cardinals have been very thin on starting pitching depth.</p>



<p>Wainwright has been fortunate in that the vast majority of his innings have been at home. He’s pitched 73 innings at home with a 2.84 ERA and a .265 wOBA against. He’s worked 38.2 innings on the road with a 5.35 ERA and a .340 wOBA against. Those numbers basically mirror what we’ve seen from Wainwright over the last several seasons, so he lucks out again here to be pitching at home.</p>



<p>The Cardinals offense has been terrible this season and it is a big reason why they are staring at just their second losing season since in more than 20 years. St. Louis ranks 28th in wOBA at .297 and the Cardinals have been the worst offense in baseball since the middle of May. It isn’t even a strikeout issue like we see with the Cubs, the Cardinals just don’t make quality contact and don’t hit for any power.</p>



<p>Their .380 SLG ranks just outside the bottom five. Busch Stadium is a big part of that equation, but it is far from the only part. This just isn’t a group that is capable of scoring lots of runs. If it weren’t for their defensive prowess, the Redbirds would have one of the worst position player groups in baseball.</p>



<h2 id="h-cubs-vs-cardinals-free-pick"><strong><u>Cubs vs. Cardinals Free Pick</u></strong></h2>



<p>Kyle Hendricks is really locked into a nice groove right now. The home run issue he had earlier in the season seems to be in the past and his command tool is very much back. Adam Wainwright has spectacular numbers at home. These are two bad offenses in a general sense, but with this pitching matchup and in this setting, it sure looks like a pitcher’s duel kind of game.</p>





<p></p>

Chicago Cubs vs. St Louis Cardinals Free Pick 07/21/21

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The Big Ten was not even supposed to play this year, remember?

Now one of its teams has a chance to win a national title.

As <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/betanysports"><strong>BetAnySports</strong> </a>customers are undoubtedly aware, the Ohio State Buckeyes, who have only played seven games this season, earned their berth in the National Championship Game through a strange route, which included gaining a special exception from the Big Ten Conference to even appear in their title game, because they didn't have enough games under their belt to qualify.

Well, they did get that game against Northwestern, although maybe they would have received their college football playoff spot anyway. And then, with their revenge-fueled 49-28 win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, which also functioned as the national semi-final game.

Even now they only have seven games on their ledger, although not all of that is their fault (Michigan, for example, canceled their game). Still, some felt as if they didn't deserve to go further, and that apparently included Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who ranked them #11 with his vote in the coaches' poll. Maybe he was just trying to avoid them as a playoff opponent.

That didn't work, did it? Clemson, which beat Ohio State in last year's playoff (29-23), and in controversial fashion, we might add, got off to a 14-0 lead and then pretty much got snuffed.

Justin Fields, who had thrown an interception to end OSU's chances in that Fiesta Bowl game, tossed six touchdown passes, and during this process overcame a massive hit by linebacker James Skalski that injured his ribs.

The final was 49-28, and that woke up a lot of people about what they could do, as they had gone into that game as a 7.5-point underdog.

But oddsmakers are not necessarily impressed with their chances against Alabama. In the BCS Championship Game odds that have been posted at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/s/bas"><strong>BetAnySports</strong></a>, they are, in fact, a considerable underdog:

<strong>Alabama Crimson Tide -8.5</strong>
<strong>Ohio State Buckeyes +8.5</strong>

<strong>Over 75 points -110</strong>
<strong>Under 75 points -110</strong>

There has been some discussion that the Buckeyes may actually be suffering from a "letdown" here. Now, before we go any further, let's explain that this is not one of those instances where they have won a big game and are taking this particular opponent lightly. That would be a silly thing to believe; after all, this is Alabama we're talking about.

No, what we are talking about is that they worked themselves up to a fever pitch for the Clemson game and one has to wonder whether they can get themselves to that emotional level again - the emotional level that is required - with so little turnaround time. It would be almost impossible to do that.

The Buckeyes had been thinking about that Clemson game for the whole season - a whole calendar year, in fact, after that loss in last year's semi-final game, which they felt was taken away by the officials, among other things. They posted material at the training facility and in the locker room that reminded OSU players about the business at hand.

Fields even said, "I prepared for this game like I've never prepared for a game before."

Can he prepare that way again? As a practical matter, it's a rough task, from a physical and mental standpoint.

We wonder about the euphoria that may have come after that resounding revenge victory. How much did they celebrate? Did that somehow inadvertently contribute to the troubles with COVID-19 that they appear to be having now? It's hard to tell; college teams can be secretive about that kind of thing.

Okay, if they haven't come into the game as prepared as they could be, how might that manifest itself, aside from betting Alabama and laying the points?

Well, maybe it affects the way they come out in the early going. There are a few props that might apply. One of them is about who scores first:

<strong>Alabama scores first -150</strong>
<strong>Ohio State scores first +120</strong>

Another involves who scores the first six points:

<strong>Alabama scores six pts first in 1st quarter -155</strong>
<strong>Ohio State six pts first OR neither scores six pts +125</strong>

And then there is the money line in the first quarter, where Alabama is -200 (Ohio State at +170).

All of these props are available at <a href="http://betanysports.eu/btb50/"><strong>BetAnySports</strong></a>, where you can also get reduced juice in betting the side and total. And after the game begins, you have more of an opportunity to play, with Sports Betting Prime....... Open up your account in time for the game - use a debit card, credit card, person-to-person transfer or the virtual currency of Bitcoin, where there is NO transaction fee!
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College Football Props --  There's No LETDOWN For Ohio State.... Is There?

<p>There does appear to be a chance of rain in San Diego on Wednesday, where the Rockies and Padres will face off at 4:10 PM ET. The over/under line is at 7.5 runs, and the Padres are heavy favorites on the money line, with their odds sitting at -247. The Rockies are +206 underdogs.</p>

<p>Colorado will be looking to keep their six-game winning streak alive with Austin Gomber on the mound, while the Padres will start Michael King. San Diego is 2nd in the NL West, while the Rockies are 5th with an overall record of 14-28.</p><h3>COLORADO ROCKIES VS SAN DIEGO PADRES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: OVER 7.5 Runs</p><p>This game will be played at PETCO Park at 4:10 ET on Wednesday, May 15th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE ROCKIES VS PADRES:</h3><ul><li>We have the Padres winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the Rockies to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 11 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>It was all Colorado in the last game of this series, as the Rockies took down the Padres by a score of 6-3. The Rockies offense only had two more hits than the Padres and struck out 13 times, but still picked up a convincing win. Heading into the game, they were at +242 on the money line.</p>

<p>This game featured a starting pitching matchup between Cal Quantrill for the Rockies and Dylan Cease for the Padres. Quantrill went six innings and gave up just one hit and one earned run, picking up a win in the game. Cease lasted just 5 2/3 innings and gave up three earned runs, taking the loss.</p>

<p>San Diego had a late rally in this game, scoring three runs in the 7th inning, but Tyler Kinley closed things out for the Rockies. Offensively, the Padres actually outhit the Rockies in the game 11 to 10.</p><h3>Rockies Records & Stats</h3><p>Colorado is on a six-game winning streak, and they are 14-28 overall this season. The Rockies will be on the road today, taking on the Padres. Currently, they trail the Dodgers by 14 games in the NL West. So far, they are 7-9 in divisional matchups.</p>

<p>At home, the Rockies are 9-12 compared to 5-16 on the road. Colorado has really struggled in night games this season, going 7-18. The Rockies have an overall series record of 1-11-1 this year.</p><p>Colorado has been a solid bet against the run line this season, going 22-20 overall. They are 11-10 at home and on the road, and have covered the run line in two straight road games. They have been an underdog in every game this season and have covered the run line in six straight games as the underdog.</p><p>The Colorado Rockies have hit the over in two straight games, and their games have averaged 9.3 runs per game this season. Their over/under record is 21-21, and the average over/under line in their games is 10 runs. When the over/under line has been set at 7.5 runs, their games have gone over both times. Overall, 85.7% of their games have had over/under lines set higher than 7.5 runs.</p><p>Left-hander Austin Gomber is getting the start for the Rockies today as he faces the Padres on the road. He has made a total of eight starts this season and has a record of 0-2 with an ERA of 3.42. Gomber's WHIP for the season is currently 1.25. In his three quality starts this year, Gomber has pitched at least six innings. He most recently pitched on May 10th, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up one earned run on five hits. Gomber finished with a no-decision in that outing. Before today, he has finished with a no-decision in three straight starts.</p><p>Colorado comes into the game with the league's 22nd ranked scoring offense, averaging just 3.9 runs per game. However, they have been a better offensive team at home, averaging 4.3 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .245, which is 9th in the league, and have the best BABIP in the league. The Rockies have been near the bottom of the league in home runs so far.</p>

<p>Ryan McMahon has been a bright spot for the Rockies so far, leading the team with a .308 batting average and 22 RBIs. He also has six homers, which is 8th in the league. Ezequiel Tovar has gone 12/35 over his last eight games and is on an eight-game hitting streak. During this stretch, he has two homers and five RBIs.</p><h3>Padres Records & Stats</h3><p>San Diego will take on the Rockies today with an overall record of 22-23, and they are 7.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Padres have dropped two straight games, and they are losing the series vs. the Rockies 0-2. So far, they have gone just 12-12 in divisional games.</p>

<p>At home, the Padres are 10-15 this year, and they are 12-8 on the road. San Diego has dropped two straight games as the favorite, and they are 14-13 overall as the favorite. As the underdog, the Padres are 8-10 this year, and they have an overall series record of 8-5-2. The Padres have won four straight series heading into today's game.</p><p>San Diego has been a solid run line bet on the road this season, going 16-4. However, they have been a different story at home, going just 8-17. They have lost their last two run line bets at home and are just 12-15 on the run line as the favorite this season. Their average run margin in winning games is 3.8, while their average run margin in losing games is -3.1.</p><p>San Diego has had 28 games with over/under lines set higher than 7.5 runs, and the over has hit in 62.2% of their games. Their games have averaged 9.1 runs per game, and their over/under record is 23-21 on the season. The over has hit in their last two games, and their over/under record when the line is set at 7.5 runs is 8-8.</p><p>Right-hander Michael King gets the start for the Padres today as he faces the Rockies at home. King has made eight starts this year and has a record of 3-3 with a 3.67 ERA. His WHIP for the season is 1.31. So far, King has turned in four quality starts and is averaging 9.92 strikeouts per nine innings. In his most recent outing, King went seven innings vs. the Dodgers, giving up 11 hits, but no earned runs. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Before that, he had won two straight starts.</p><p>So far this season, the Padres offense has been one of the best in the league, averaging 4.7 runs per game (11th) and batting a collective .255, which is the 5th best mark in the league. They are also one of the better home run-hitting teams in the league, as they are 7th in the league in homers. San Diego's top power threats are Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth, as they both have seven homers this season.</p>

<p>Jurickson Profar has been a key part of the Padres lineup so far this season, as he is 2nd on the team with seven homers and leads the team with 29 RBIs. Profar is also batting .324 for the season. Over his last seven games, Profar has gone just 5/22, but he does have two homers. Luis Arraez and Fernando Tatis Jr. have also been swinging the bat well of late, with both players going 8/26 in their last seven games.</p>

Colorado Rockies vs San Diego Padres Betting Pick & Prediction 5/15/24

<p>At 7:40 PM from Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, we have an interleague matchup between the Nationals and White Sox. Heading into Monday's game, the Nationals are 19-20, while the White Sox are just 12-29. Television coverage for tonight's game is being handled by MASN.</p>

<p>Chris Flexen is starting for the White Sox, and he is facing off against Trevor Williams for the Nationals. Looking at the money line odds, the Nationals are at -128 compared to the White Sox at +107. The over/under line is at 8.5 runs.</p><h3>WASHINGTON NATIONALS VS CHICAGO WHITE SOX BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Washington Nationals Moneyline -128</p><p>This game will be played at Guaranteed Rate Field at 7:40 ET on Monday, May 13th.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE NATIONALS VS WHITE SOX:</h3><ul><li>We have the Nationals winning by a score of 5 to 4</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the White Sox to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 9 runs and like the over</li></ul><h3>Nationals Records & Stats</h3><p>Washington is coming off a game in which they wasted several good performances. In their 3-2 loss to Boston, MacKenzie Gore was excellent on the mound, allowing just two runs while pitching six innings. They also got a big offensive performance from Eddie Rosario, going 1/2 with a homer and two RBIs.</p>

<p>Rosario's homer tied the game at 2-2 in the 4th inning, but the Nationals couldn't get the win. They were the +117 underdog going into this road game.</p><p>Washington is 19-20 overall, and they are 8.0 games behind the Phillies for the NL East lead. The Nationals and Mets are both 8.0 games back in the division. The Nationals lost the first two games of their series vs. the Red Sox but won the final game.</p>

<p>As the underdog, the Nationals are 17-19 this year and 2-1 when favored. At home, Washington is 7-10 compared to 12-10 on the road. Their overall series record is 5-7-1 this year, and they are coming off losing their series vs. the Red Sox.</p><p>Washington is 25-14 against the run line this season, including a 16-6 mark on the road. The Nationals have been the underdog in 36 of their games and have gone 23-13 against the run line in those contests. Washington's average run differential in its victories is +3.2 runs per game, while it is -3.4 runs per game in its losses.</p><p>Washington's over/under record for the season is 17-21, and the average over/under line in their games is 9 runs. In games with an over/under line of 8.5 runs, they are 7-9. The combined run average in their games this season is 8.4 runs. The under has hit in three straight Nationals games, and they have played 10 games this season with higher over/under lines than 8.5 runs, which is 25.6% of their games. They have played 13 games with lower over/under lines than 8.5 runs, which is 33.3% of their games.</p><p>Washington is sending Trevor Williams to the mound today, and he has made seven starts this season. Williams has a record of 4-0 and an ERA of 1.96. So far, he has made one quality start and is coming off an outing in which he didn't give up a run. In that May 7th start against the Orioles, Williams went five innings, picking up the win and giving up just two hits. Looking at his overall numbers, Williams has been much better on the road, with an ERA of 2.17 compared to 1.62 at home.</p>
<p>So far this season, the Nationals offense is averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 19th in the league. They have been a bit better on the road (4.2 rpg) than at home (4.0 rpg). As a team, the Nationals are batting just .228, which is 16th in the league, and their team slugging percentage of .362 is 22nd in the league. One area they have been good at is avoiding strikeouts, as they have the 8th fewest strikeouts in the league.</p>

<p>Washington will be looking for Eddie Rosario to keep up his recent hot streak, as he has gone 9/19 with four homers over his last six games. This has helped him move into the team's 2nd home run hitter, although he is batting just .174 for the season. Rosario also comes into the game on a seven-game hitting streak. CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr. are the Nationals' top two home run hitters and are also 1st and 2nd in RBIs for the team.</p><h3>White Sox Records & Stats</h3><p>The White Sox will be looking to get back on track after closing out their series vs. the Guardians with a 7-0 loss. Chicago was the +145 underdog at home going into this matchup. Things really got away from the White Sox in the 4th inning, as the Guardians scored three runs in the inning. Chicago's offense didn't score a run, and their only bright spot was Zach Remillard going 2/2.</p>

<p>Michael Soroka got the start for the White Sox and took the loss. He only lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits. Soroka also issued three walks and hit a batter. The White Sox's bullpen didnjson't give up a run, but they also didn't have any timely hitting as the White Sox were already down 7-0 when Soroka was pulled from the game.</p><p>Chicago is hosting the Nationals today with an overall record of 12-29, which has them 5th in the AL Central. So far, they have really struggled against other AL Central teams, going 5-19. The White Sox are 13 games behind the Guardians for the top spot in the division.</p>

<p>The White Sox have been much better at home than on the road this year, going 8-13 at home compared to 4-16 on the road. So far, they are 4-12 in day games. Chicago has really struggled as the underdog this year, coming in with an 11-29 mark. Their overall series record is 3-9-1.</p><p>When betting the run line on the White Sox this season, it's been a mixed bag. They are 20-21 overall, but have been a solid bet at home, going 13-8. Their average run differential is -2.2 runs per game, and they've been outscored by an average of 1.7 runs per game at home. As the underdog, they are 19-21 on the run line, while they are 1-0 as the favorite.</p><p>Chicago's over/under record for the season is 18-22, and the average over/under line in their games is 8 runs. When the line is set at 8.5 runs, they have gone 5-6. Their games have averaged 8 runs per game this season, and their last two games have gone under the total.</p><p>Chris Flexen will be looking to build off his last outing, where he faced the Rays and picked up the win. In that May 8th outing, he went 6 innings, giving up just one earned run on three hits. Looking at his overall numbers, Flexen has made six starts and two of them have been quality starts. His ERA for the season is 4.29, along with a record of 2-3. So far, he has a WHIP of 1.21 and opponents are batting .224 off the right-hander. This year, he has allowed a total of five home runs. At home, his ERA is 8.04 compared to 2.41 on the road.</p><p>Chicago's offense has really struggled this season, as they are averaging just 2.9 runs per game, which is the worst mark in the league. They have been even worse at home, averaging only 3.1 runs per contest. As a team, the White Sox are batting just .213, and their on-base percentage of .273 is also the worst in the league.</p>

<p>Paul DeJong has been a bright spot for the White Sox at the plate, as he is hitting .248 for the season and has gone deep six times, which is the best mark on the team. DeJong has also been hot of late, going 11/35 in his last 10 games with three homers. Korey Lee is also swinging a hot bat right now, as he is on a five-game hitting streak and has gone 7/19 in his last five games.</p>

Washington Nationals vs Chicago White Sox Betting Pick & Prediction 5/13/24

<p>The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes are set to face off at 6:30 ET on BTN. The Hawkeyes will host the game at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN. Ohio State is favored by -2 in this Big Ten conference matchup the against Iowa. The over/under for the game is set at 155 points.</p><h3>OHIO STATE BUCKEYES VS IOWA HAWKEYES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes +2</p><p>This game will be played at Target Center at 6:30 ET on Thursday, March 14th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE IOWA HAWKEYES:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-68 in favor of the Hawkeyes.</li><li>Not only will Iowa pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +2.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 155 points, and we like the under with a projected 143 points.</li></ul><h3>Can The Buckeyes Secure a Win at Minneapolis?</h3><p>Ohio State enters this game as a two-point favorite, and they have been the favorite in 21 of their 31 games this season. They have gone 16-5 in those games, while their overall record stands at 19-12.</p>

<p>On the road, the Buckeyes have gone just 5-8 this season, but they have won two straight away from home. Their average scoring margin on the road is -0.8 points per game.</p><p>Overall, Ohio State has an ATS record of 14-17 this season. As the favorite, the Buckeyes are 9-12 vs. the spread. On the road, their ATS mark is 6-7 and they have gone 2-1 vs. the spread in their last 3 road games. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, Ohio State is 5-5.</p><p>This season, the over/under record in Ohio State games is 17-14. So far, the average over/under line in their games is 143.2 and the average scoring total is 143.4. Today's over/under line of 155 is higher than the average line in their games this year. Over their last three games, the over/under record is 2-1 and the average scoring total is 138 points.</p><p>In their recent matchup, the Ohio State offense ended with 73 points against Rutgers. They finished with an overall field goal percentage of 50% and made 9 threes. Bruce Thornton is currently the leading scorer for the team, entering today's matchup with an average of 16.1. Meanwhile, Jamison Battle also brings a PPG average of 14.4 into the game.</p><p>Currently, the Buckeyes' defense holds the 90th rank in the nation, allowing 69.0 points per game. Against Rutgers in their most recent game, the Ohio State defense gave up a total of 51 points while allowing Rutgers to hit 27% of their shots.</p><h3>Can the Hawkeyes Secure a Win at Home?</h3><p>Despite being the underdog, Iowa has been significantly better at home this season, where they are 14-5 compared to 4-8 on the road. Their average scoring margin at home is +10.9 compared to -5.7 on the road.</p>

<p>Overall, the Hawkeyes are 18-13 this season, including a 10-10 mark in Big Ten play. In their last game, they lost to Illinois, 73-61. Over their last 10 games at home, Iowa is 7-3.</p><p>As the underdog this season, Iowa has gone 5-9 vs. the spread. At home, the Hawkeyes have an ATS mark of just 7-11-1. Their overall ATS record is 12-18-1. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, Iowa has gone 4-6 vs. the spread.</p><p>So far this season, the over/under record for Iowa games is 20-11 and today's line of 155 is lower than the average over/under line in their games (159.9). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 157 points and today's line is lower than that. Their over/under record in their last three games is 2-1.</p><p>Iowa offense recently wrapped up a game with a total of 61 points against Illinois. In that game, they made 7/21 three-point attempts and achieved a field goal percentage of 35.4%. The team's top scorer is Payton Sandfort, who comes into today's matchup with an average of 16.2, while Tony Perkins also maintains a PPG average of 14.5 leading up to the game.</p><p>Looking at the Iowa defense, they will be looking for a better performance considering they are currently conceding 78.6 points per game (311st). Against Illinois in their most recent game, the Iowa defense gave up a total of 73 points while allowing Illinois to hit 35% of their shots.</p>

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Pick & Prediction 3/14/24

Prop betting options are slowly leaking into the sports betting market for the National Championship Game between Clemson and LSU. With the Divisional Round and the massive handle attached to those games, it is clear that the oddsmakers and risk managers are more concerned with that.

It’s fine. We’ll have more prop content as the game gets closer, but we wanted to get some prop betting stuff out to the masses on Sunday. We’ll add some new Monday ones as some of the individual player props come out and whatnot.

For now, here is a Sunday look at the available prop bets at some of the different offshore sportsbooks and some suggestions on how to bet on the big game. Keep in mind that a lot of this information will be relevant when the Super Bowl gets here, too.

<strong>Longest Touchdown</strong>

The importance of shopping around cannot be overstated when it comes to prop bets. Let’s look at this simple prop. How many yards will the longest touchdown be? BetOnline has two numbers, 56.5 and 54.5, listed on the site. The 56.5 is juiced to -160 on the over and the 54.5 is juiced to -243 on the over.

Over at DSI Sportsbook, the longest touchdown prop is 60.5 and -115 both ways. DSI also has the same 54.5 and over at -243 because they use the same Player Props infrastructure at BetOnline. 5Dimes lists 58.5 with -110 on both sides. It is imperative that you multiple outs so that you can score the betting board for the best line.

As a quick handicap on this bet, LSU had 25 plays of 40+ yards, which ranked sixth in the nation. Clemson had 22, which ranked 12th. LSU had 15 plays of 50+ yards, which was tied for fifth. Clemson had 16, which tied for third. LSU had nine plays of 60+ and Clemson had eight.

Clemson did allow four plays of 60+ yards during the season, as did LSU. A lot of people expect some huge plays with the insane skill position talent on these two teams. Who am I to disagree?

That being said, there are some NFL-caliber safeties on both teams here. It would not shock me if there are some big, explosive plays, just not a really long touchdown. The under 60.5 at -115 is kind of intriguing to me. It is also interesting to note that the longest touchdown over would have hit in each of the last three National Championship Games and four of the five that we have had.

<strong>Special Teams/Defensive Touchdown</strong>

This is always a popular betting option. Many recreational bettors love to bet the Yes at the plus money price. It will also come up in conversation this week that Clemson opened the scoring with a pick six of Tua last year to cash that prop right away. There were no defensive scores in 2018, 2017, and 2015. We did have a kick return score in 2016.

The fact of the matter is that the college game is far more high-variance than the NFL game and we are more likely to get huge plays, defensive scores, special teams breakdowns, etc.

Again, shopping around matters. 5Dimes lists the prop as “TD not scored by offense” at +170. DSI has it listed as a Yes/No special/defensive TD at +175 on the Yes. The Yes is +163 at BetOnline within that Player Props section, which is also an available price at DSI, but the No is juiced more heavily than the No at other books.

On one hand, I would want to point to the ability that both quarterbacks have to take care of the football. Burrow threw six interceptions and Lawrence threw eight. Tua had also thrown six when he served up the pick six to open up last year’s scoring.

As a general rule, I shy towards the no on a prop like this, but laying over -200 to do so can be a tough pill to swallow. I wouldn’t think that we get a defensive score here, but these two defenses have almost as many playmakers as the offenses. Clemson had 30 takeaways during the season and LSU had 21, though LSU only recovered four fumbles due to some bad fumble luck. Both teams were top five in interceptions.

I’ll be staying away here, but that’s an idea of how to handicap this prop and also another example of why shopping around is the preferred course of action.

<strong>Highest Scoring Half</strong>

I really like looking at this prop. To me, there is always some intriguing value on the first half at plus money. Why? Because teams run their scripted plays in the first half. Now, many will look at a prop like this and say the second half because it is extremely likely that at least one of the two teams will be pushing the tempo and/or throwing a lot of passes. There is also the expectation of nerves.

These offenses ranked first and third, respectively, in total points. LSU, as we know, hung 49 points in the first half against Oklahoma. Clemson scored 14 points against Ohio State and that game was 16-14 at halftime, which outscored the second half with 22 points.

In last year’s National Championship Game featuring Clemson, the Tigers scored 31 to Alabama’s 16 in the first half. Only 13 points were scored in the second half. The second half won 38-21 in terms of points back in 2017 with Clemson involved. A 40-point fourth quarter produced an instant classic in the first Alabama vs. Clemson game. So Clemson’s three National Championship appearances have resulted in higher-scoring second halves.

The second half is always juiced with this prop. BetOnline shows more points in the second half and potential OT at -180, with the first half at +140. 5Dimes has the same juice. DSI doesn’t have that listed at time of writing, but it will likely be lined in the same range.

The second half likely wins this bet, but -180 is a stiff price to pay. There is a good chance that both teams try to start fast here. There is also a good chance that both teams make some savvy second-half adjustments, particularly on defense. It would be the +140 or nothing for me, but you really have to consider the game flow and how you expect things to play out here. Will we have a team with a big lead? That was a big reason why last year’s second half was so low-scoring. If we have a close, competitive game, will the teams trade scores in the second half? That is certainly a possibility.

So, I lean the +140 for the first half, but there will be better options with other props, most notably the player props.

We’ll be back with more player props and stronger opinions on game props once the sportsbooks list more options.

CFP National Championship Clemson vs. LSU Prop Betting Tips

David Fletcher and the Los Angeles Angels will head east to square off against their divisional nemesis Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The matchup will get going at 8:10 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to ATTSN Southwest to catch the game.
<h2>Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros Odds</h2>
Vegas has listed Houston (-340) as the favorite over Los Angeles (+270). Bettors can wager on the game's total with odds sitting at -120 for over nine runs and +100 for under nine. There's a runline of Angels +1.5 (+135) and Astros -1.5 (-155) for this matchup.

The Astros are 100-53 straight up (SU) and 82-71 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn't moved the needle much for gamblers, gaining 4.7 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 1.4 units ATS. The Angels, on the other hand, have gone 69-84 SU this year and are 75-77 against the spread. They've lost 18.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 5.0 units ATS.

Houston games have had an over/under record of 68-80-5 in 2019. Los Angeles has an over/under record of 72-69-11.

The right-handed Jaime Barria is projected to start for Los Angeles. Barria is 4-9 with a 5.95 ERA and 70 strikeouts. He's 0-1 with four strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA against Houston this year.

The Astros will put the ball in the right hand of Zack Greinke (16-5, 2.95 ERA), who has 174 strikeouts and 29 walks as well as a 1.00 WHIP. Greinke is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in one start against Los Angeles this year.

Houston’s pitching staff has allowed 4.0 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The club's starters have an ERA of 3.63, a WHIP of 1.09 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.5. The bullpen has a 3.83 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 9.8 K/9. In 67 divisional games, Astros starters have an ERA of 3.74 and the bullpen's ERA is 3.51.

Houston’s offense has put up 5.7 runs per outing, including 6.2 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .263/.368/.509 over its last five contests and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.

Outfielder Michael Brantley and first baseman Yuli Gurriel have led the way for the Astros' hitters this year. Brantley is hitting .318/.379/.510 with 21 home runs, 86 RBIs and 86 runs scored, while Gurriel's line sits at .304/.349/.553 with 30 homers, 102 RBIs and 82 runs scored.

For the visiting squad, Los Angeles' pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 5.55 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 8.51 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.72, along with a K/9 of 9.12.

The Angels offense has slashed .249/.329/.426 on its way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.2 per game over the team's last five outings (2-3 SU).

Los Angeles' hitters have been paced by David Fletcher and Mike Trout. Fletcher is slashing .290/.350/.385 with five home runs, 46 RBIs and 79 runs scored, while Trout is slashing .291/.438/.645 with 45 homers, 104 RBIs and 110 runs scored.

The Angels have lost 8.3 units and are 51-50 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 49 of those games, compared to 43 that've gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 8.5 units and are 58-51 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over's cashed in 53 of those games, compared to 53 that went under the total.
<h3>Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros Free MLB Tip</h3>
<a href="http://bangthebook.com/mlb-betting-trends-of-the-day/">Predictions:</a> SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Angels, O/U – OVER
<div class="notes">
<h2>Notes</h2>
Betting Notes

The over has cashed in just one of Houston’s last seven games.

The Angels have an OPS of .755 this season and an OPS of .758 when facing right-handed pitchers. The Astros' OPS stands at .851 overall and .832 versus righties.

Houston has recorded 29.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 24.2 over its last five.

The Angels have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 28 over their last 10.

</div>

Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros Free Pick 09/20/19

<p>The Brewers (59-51, 30-24 home) will host the Pirates (48-60, 22-32 away) in game two of this NL Central series. Starting for the Brewers is Colin Rea, while the Pirates are giving the ball to Quinn Priester. Read on to see my pick for this showdown between Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates.</p><h3>PITTSBURGH PIRATES VS MILWAUKEE BREWERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 Runs</p><p>This game will be played at American Family Field at 8:10 ET on Friday, August 4th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES:</h3><ul><li>The Pirates will be taking on a Brewers club that is just 2-3 vs. the runline over their last five games.</li><li>In their last five games as the underdog, the Pirates have put together a runline record of 3-2.</li><li>Colin Rea has given up four away runs across his last three starts.</li></ul><h3>PITTSBURGH PIRATES HAVE STRUGGLED AGAINST THE NL CENTRAL</h3><p>The Pirates enter today's game with an overall record of 48-60 which includes going 24-46 against teams with above .500 records. As of today, they are 4th in the NL Central. Across their 34 series, Pittsburgh is 12-19-3 and have records of 22-32 and 26-28 on the road and at home, respectively.</p><p><p>Pittsburgh is hoping for another impressive showing from Quinn Priester, who has earned victories in his last two outings. His ERA currently stands at 9.19 and he holds a 2-1 record. He has tallied 13 strikeouts over the course of the season and opponents are batting .262 against him. Teams have managed a .574 slugging percentage when facing Priester.</p></p><p>The Pirates were victorious in the last outing for Quinn Priester, emerging with a 7-6 win over the Phillies. The right-hander pitched five frames, surrendering five hits and five earned runs to his name. His record now stands at 1-0 for the 2023 season.</p><p>For the season, the Pirates are 18th in batting average, hitting a combined .236. Over their last five games, they have hit .255 which is 8th in that span. Pittsburgh's average of 4.1 runs per game puts them 25th in the league. In terms of home runs, they have gone deep 101 times and have a team slugging percentage of .383.</p><p>Over the Pirates' past five contests, Bryan Reynolds has been their most prolific hitter, batting .421. For the 2023 campaign, Reynolds is hitting .263 and has plated 49 runs.</p><h3>WILL THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?</h3><p>On an overall record of 59-51, the Brewers are 1st in the NL Central. In their 34 series, Milwaukee has gone 17-16-1 which includes losing each of their last three sets. On the road, the Brewers are 29-27 and are 30-24 at home.</p><p><p>Colin Rea has made 19 appearances this season, with a .421 slugging percentage allowed and a 1.20 WHIP. His overall record stands at 5-4, with an ERA of 4.76 and 83 strikeouts - averaging 7.75 K's per nine innings. On the road, Rea is 3-2 with an ERA of 4.73; at home, he is 2-2 with an ERA of 5.95.</p></p><p>Colin Rea's most recent outing resulted in a no-decision for the Brewers' 8-6 loss to the Braves. The right-hander pitched five innings, allowing five runs on five hits.</p><p>Having gone deep 6 times in their last five games, the Brewers are 6th in that span. At 4.2 runs per game, Milwaukee is 22nd in the league. This figure has come on a team batting average of .234 while hitting a total of 115 home runs (21st).</p><p>Brice Turang has been the leader in home runs for the Brewers over their last five games, with one. He has hit a total of five homers this season, and is batting .221.</p>

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers Betting Pick & Prediction 8/4/23

<p>Game two of this American League series sees the Red Sox (61-55, 34-27 home) and Tigers (52-64, 26-31 away) facing off at Fenway Park. The starting pitcher for the Red Sox will be Brayan Bello, while the Tigers are turning to Matt Manning. Find out who I like to win in this Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers showdown.</p><h3>DETROIT TIGERS VS BOSTON RED SOX BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Detroit Tigers +161</p><p>This game will be played at Fenway Park at 4:10 ET on Saturday, August 12th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE DETROIT TIGERS:</h3><ul><li>In their last five games, the Tigers have a record of 3-2.</li><li>Coming into the game, the Red Sox have gone just 4-6 in their last ten home games.</li><li>Brayan Bello has struggled of late, coming in with an ERA of 6.34 over his last four starts.</li></ul><h3>DETROIT TIGERS TRYING TO CLOSE GAP IN AL CENTRAL</h3><p>116 games into the season, the Tigers have a record of 52-64, putting them 3rd in the AL Central. This mark includes an overall series 16-19-4. At home, they are 26-33 compared to 26-31 on the road.</p><p><p>Matt Manning has had a mixed start to the 2023 season, with a record of 3-4 in his 10 outings. His ERA is 5.06, and he has given up a home run in each of his last three appearances. Manning's WHIP stands at 1.18, with an OBP allowed of .298, while his strikeout to walk ratio is 39/14.</p></p><p>Matt Manning endured a difficult start against the Rays, surrendering eight runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Tigers ultimately fell 10-6, with Manning taking the loss.</p><p>With a season-long average of 3.9 runs per game, the Tigers are the 28th ranked scoring offense this season. As a team, they are batting .234, with an OBP of .299. In Detroit's last ten games, they are 12th in home runs, having gone deep 10 times in that span.</p><p>Kerry Carpenter has been the Tigers' most prolific hitter over their last five games, batting .430 and leading the team in hits. For the 2023 season, Carpenter is hitting .278 and has 39 RBIs.</p><h3>WILL THE BOSTON RED SOX TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?</h3><p>Entering game 117 of their season, the Red Sox are 10 games out in the AL East and are in 4th place. So far, their overall series record stands at 20-15-3. Boston's road winning percent is currently 49.1% (27-28) compared to 55.7% at home (34-27).</p><p><p>Brayan Bello has been impressive in 19 appearances this season, boasting a .418 slugging percentage allowed and a 1.23 WHIP. His overall record is 8-6 with an ERA of 3.64, and he has tallied 91 strikeouts, averaging 7.54 K's per nine innings. On the road, he is 4-2 with an ERA of 4.91; at home, his record is 4-4 and his ERA stands at 3.80.</p></p><p>Brayan Bello delivered a quality start in his most recent outing, surrendering one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Despite not receiving the decision, the team was able to secure a 6-2 win over Kansas City.</p><p>So far this season, the Red Sox's has gone deep 129 times, placing them 17th in the league. Over Boston's previous five games, they are 17th in runs scored, with their season average of 4.9 runs per game putting them 10th in the league. The Red Sox's overall team batting average stands at .262 along with an OBP of .328.</p><p>Rafael Devers is the Red Sox's home-run leader in 2023, having blasted 26 long balls and driving in 79 runs. His slugging percentage for the season stands at an impressive .511.</p>

Detroit Tigers vs Boston Red Sox Betting Pick & Prediction 8/12/23

<p>The Giants (62-54, 33-25 home) host the Rangers (69-47, 29-27 away) in game two of this interleague series. Getting the start for the Giants is Alex Cobb while the Rangers are turning to Andrew Heaney. Read on to get my best bet for this San Francisco Giants vs. Texas Rangers matchup.</p><h3>TEXAS RANGERS VS SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Texas Rangers +103</p><p>This game will be played at Oracle Park at 9:05 ET on Saturday, August 12th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TEXAS RANGERS:</h3><ul><li>Coming into the game, the Giants have gone just 1-9 in their last ten home games.</li><li>Over their last five games as the favorite, the Giants are just 2-3 (straight-up).</li><li>In Andrew Heaney's five most recent starts, the Rangers are 3-0.</li></ul><h3>TEXAS RANGERS STRUGGLING VS RUNLINE OF LATE</h3><p>The Rangers enter today's game with an overall record of 69-47 which includes going 33-27 against teams with above .500 records. As of today, they are 1st in the AL West. Across their 37 series, Texas is 22-13-2 and have records of 29-27 and 40-20 on the road and at home, respectively.</p><p><p>Texas will hand the ball to Andrew Heaney, who is 9-6 on the season. Heaney has strung together two consecutive starts in which he allowed fewer than three earned runs. His ERA stands at 4.14, with a FIP of 4.77. Opposing batters have posted a .421 slugging percentage against him, and he has 118 strikeouts thus far.</p></p><p>The Rangers earned a victory in Andrew Heaney's last start, blanking the Marlins 6-0. Heaney went 5 2/3 innings, yielding four hits and no earned runs to improve his record to a win.</p><p>So far this season, the Rangers' has gone deep 164 times, placing them 5th in the league. Over Texas' previous five games, they are 11th in runs scored, with their season average of 5.7 runs per game putting them 1st in the league. The Rangers' overall team batting average stands at .271 along with an OBP of .341.</p><p>Over the Rangers' past five contests, Corey Seager has been the leader in home runs with one. For the season, he has tallied 19 long balls and is batting .348.</p><h3>WILL THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?</h3><p>On an overall record of 62-54, the Giants are 2nd in the NL West. In their 38 series, San Francisco has gone 18-18-2 which includes losing each of their last three sets. On the road, the Giants are 29-29 and are 33-25 at home.</p><p><p>Alex Cobb takes the mound for San Francisco with a 6-3 record. He's made 21 appearances this season, posting an ERA of 3.30 and a K/9 of 8.21. His FIP is 3.75 and opponents have managed to get on base against him at a .311 clip.</p></p><p>Alex Cobb was unable to secure a victory in his last outing, lasting 5 1/3 innings against the Athletics. The Giants ultimately fell 8-6, and Cobb was handed a no-decision after allowing five runs on seven hits.</p><p>In their five most recent games, the Giants have put together a batting average of only .191, placing them 28th compared to the rest of the league. At 4.4 runs per game, San Francisco is 18th in the MLB. This figure has come on a team batting average of .238 and OPS of .704 which has them 18th in baseball.</p><p>The San Francisco Giants have seen Wilmer Flores take the lead in home runs over their last five games, with one long ball. Across the entire season, he has totaled 15 home runs and is batting .302.</p>

Texas Rangers vs San Francisco Giants Betting Pick & Prediction 8/12/23

<p>An interleague series continues Saturday night when the Seattle Mariners (21-23, 11-11 away) visit the Atlanta Braves (28-16, 11-9 home). These two teams are having opposite starts to the season. But both will be expecting to play late into October. Below is my MLB pick for the Seattle Mariners vs Atlanta Braves.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seattle-mariners-vs-atlanta-braves-betting-pick"><a></a><a></a>Seattle Mariners vs Atlanta Braves Betting Pick</h2>



<p>The Pick: Seattle Mariners +134</p>



<p>This game will be played at Trusit Park at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-bet-the-seattle-mariners"><a></a>Why Bet the Seattle Mariners:</h2>



<p>✅ Seattle has been good against the Braves having won eight of the last 11 meetings between the two.</p>



<p>✅ In Atlanta, the Mariners have won four of their last six at Trusit Park.</p>



<p>✅ The Braves have lost five of their last eight games over the past week plus.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seattle-mariners-are-in-a-rough-patch"><a></a>Seattle Mariners Are in a Rough Patch</h2>



<p>Seattle has been struggling of late and came to Atlanta have lost two of three in Boston. The Mariners traveled to Atlanta on Thursday and lost the series opener, Friday night, 6-2. Seattle needs to get things going as they are now six games back, and fourth, in the American League West.</p>



<p>Logan Gilbert is set to make his ninth start of the season and he will look to build on his 3.91 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 46.0 innings pitched.</p>



<p>Teoscar Hernandez has been leading the way at the dish as he leads the Mariners with eight home runs and 23 RBIs. Jarred Kelenic is batting a team high .283.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-atlanta-braves-are-turning-it-back-around">The Atlanta Braves Are Turning It Back Around</h2>



<p>Atlanta was in the middle of their worst stretch of the season, but things seem to be turning back around. The Braves went to Texas and took two of three from the Rangers and started this series with an impressive 6-2 victory. Having won three of their last four, the Braves now lead the National League East by 5.5 games.</p>



<p>Jesse Chavez will be pitching for the 22<sup>nd</sup> time this season, as the Braves head into a bullpen game, and he has pitched to a 2.50 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 18.0 innings pitched. Atlanta has been balanced at the plate as Matt Olson has mashed a team high 12 home runs, Sean Murphy has knocked in 34 RBIs, and Ronald Acuna Jr. is batting .343.</p>

Seattle Mariners vs Atlanta Braves Betting Pick &amp; Prediction - 05/20/23

<p>Planning on watching today's Bulldogs and Gaels game? Catch the action at University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, CA, as the Gaels hosts this showdown at 10:00 ET on ESPN. The odds for this West Coast conference game currently have Saint Mary's as the -2.5 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 141.5 points.</p><h3>GONZAGA BULLDOGS VS SAINT MARY'S GAELS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Saint Mary's Gaels -2.5</p><p>This game will be played at University Credit Union Pavilion at 10:00 ET on Saturday, March 2nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE SAINT MARY'S GAELS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Gaels.</li><li>Not only will Saint Mary's pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 141.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Bulldogs Exceed Expectations on the Road?</h3><p>As the underdog, Gonzaga has gone 1-2 this season. They enter the game with a record of 23-6 and have won their last seven games. On the road, the Bulldogs have gone 8-2 this season, and they have won their last six games away from home. In their last game, they beat San Francisco by a score of 86-68.</p>

<p>So far, Gonzaga has been favored in 25 of their 29 games, and they have a record of 21-4 when they are favored. Their average scoring margin on the road this season is +14.3 points per game, and their average scoring margin at home is +15.8 points per game. In West Coast Conference games, they have a record of 13-2.</p><p>As the underdog, Gonzaga has gone just 1-2 against the spread this season. Their overall ATS mark is 13-15, and on the road, they are 5-5 vs. the spread. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Bulldogs have an even 5-5 ATS record.</p><p>So far this season, the over/under record for Gonzaga games is 13-14-1. Today's over/under line of 141.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this season (154.5). In their last three games, the average scoring total is 159 points.</p><p>In their latest game, Gonzaga offense put up 86 points against San Francisco. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 62.5% and made 3 threes. Graham Ike is the current leading scorer for the team, with an average of 16.7 as they approach today's matchup. In addition, Anton Watson brings a PPG average of 14.6 into the game.</p><p>Currently, the Bulldogs' defense holds the 92nd rank in the nation, allowing 69.1 points per game. Against San Francisco in their most recent game, the Gonzaga defense gave up a total of 68 points while allowing San Francisco to hit 40% of their shots.</p><h3>Can Saint Mary's Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?</h3><p>Having won 16 straight games, Saint Mary's is looking to extend its streak to 17 as they host Gonzaga. The Gaels are a perfect 15-0 in West Coast Conference play and have gone 13-6 at home this season. Their average scoring margin at home is +14.1, and they have won their last eight games at home.</p>

<p>So far this year, Saint Mary's has been favored in 26 of its 30 games and has gone 20-6 in those contests. Overall, the Gaels have a record of 24-6, and they have gone 9-6 in non-conference action.</p><p>As the favorite this season, Saint Mary's has gone 13-13 vs. the spread. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Gaels have a mark of 7-3 ATS.</p><p>So far this season, the over/under record for Saint Mary's games is 16-13 and the average scoring total in their games is 132.9 points. Today's over/under line of 141.5 is higher than the average OU line in their games this year (133.2). Over their last three games, the over/under record is 3-0 and the average scoring total in those games is 141 points.</p><p>Saint Mary's recently showcased a strong offensive performance, scoring 83 points against Pepperdine. This output exceeded their season average of 74.8 points per game. Offensively, the Gaels have a season long field goal percentage of 47%, which is 78th in the nation. In terms of three-pointers, they are 194th in percentage and 170th in three-pointers made.</p><p>At this time, the Gaels' defense is positioned 3rd in the country, permitting 58.1 points per game. In today's game vs. Gonzaga, the Saint Mary's defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, Saint Mary's made 17 free-throws vs. the Gaels.</p>

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs Saint Mary's Gaels Betting Pick & Prediction 3/2/24

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