Sports Picks & Predictions

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago White Sox -1.5 (-128)

The Key: The Chicago White Sox are 17-5 in their last 22 games overall and really making their move to win the AL Central.  They have a huge edge on the rubber tonight over the Detroit Tigers, who are coming off a double-header yesterday against the Cardinals, while the White Sox had yesterday off.  That’s a huge rest advantage too.  Lucas Giolito is 4-2 with a 3.29 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 9 starts this year.  One of those came against Detroit on August 20th when he pitched 7 shutout innings with 13 strikeouts in a 9-0 victory.  Casey Mize is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in 4 starts for the Tigers.  One of those came against the White Sox on August 19th when he yielded 3 runs in 4 1/3 innings for a 6.24 ERA.  The White Sox are 6-1 against the Tigers in 202 with all 6 wins coming by 2 runs or more.  Take Chicago on the Run Line.

6* Texans/Chiefs *Total* Annihilator on OVER 53

The Key: The Chiefs and Texans are 2 of the better offensive teams in the NFL this season, especially the Chiefs.  And both have suspect defenses, especially the Texans.  I think we see plenty of offensive fireworks in this Week 1 opener tonight to push this total OVER 53 points.  The Texans gave up 25.3 PPG and 393 YPG last year.  The Chiefs can score at will on them.  We saw that in the playoffs when the Chiefs won 51-31 for 82 combined points with the Texans.  Houston won the regular season matchup 31-24 for 55 combined points. This total is 53 is simply too low in today’s NFL and with these 2 teams.  Take the OVER.

7* NBA 2nd Round Total of the Year on Lakers/Rockets UNDER 219.5

The Key: We’ve seen all these playoff series get lower and lower scoring as they progress.  And this Lakers/Rockets series should be no different.  After combining for 226 points in Game 2, the Lakers and Rockets only combined for 214 points in Game 3.  And I see more of the same here in Game 4.  Houston is 21-11 UNDER off a loss this season.  Houston is 17-4 UNDER revenging a home loss over the last 2 years.  Take the UNDER.

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Philadelphia Phillies -104

The Key: The Philadelphia Phillies are 12-4 in their last 16 games overall.  They had yesterday off and will the fresher team today.  The Marlins had to suffer through their worst loss in franchise history, a 9-29 loss to the Atlanta Braves yesterday.  They won’t be fully recovered.  Jake Arrieta owns the Marlins at 8-1 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 11 lifetime starts against them.  Philadelphia is 13-2 when the money line is +100 to -150 this season.  Take Philadelphia.

7* NBA 2nd Round Game of the Year on Denver Nuggets +8

The Key: The Denver Nuggets won Game 2 outright as 8.5-point dogs and covered in Game 3 in a 6-point loss as 8.5-point dogs.  Oddsmakers just aren’t giving them the respect they deserve here on a neutral court as 8-point dogs again for Game 4.  This is a big game for the Nuggets to try and get back into this series and square it up at 2-2.  They will be the hungrier team and will be playing like it.  The Nuggets are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.  Denver is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 conference semifinals games.  Take Denver.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Toronto Blue Jays +127

The Key: The Toronto Blue Jays have now won 17 of their last 24 games and are just 3.5 games back of the Rays in the AL East.  The New York Yankees have lost 15 of their last 20 games coming in and are 6.5 games back.  It’s just not the same Yankees team we saw at the start of the year as they are without arguably their 2 best hitters in Judge and Stanton, plus Urshela.  Tanner Roark is consistently underrated and the Blue Jays are 6-1 (+6.5 units) in his 7 starts this year.  Deivi Garcia was just rocked for 4 runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 3-6 loss to the Orioles in his last start for the Yankees.  Roark is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 2 lifetime starts against the Yankees, both of which have come over the last 3 seasons.  Roark is 10-1 (+13.7 units) as a dog of +125 to +175 over the last 2 years.  Take Toronto.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Toronto Blue Jays -111

The Key: The Toronto Blue Jays have won 16 of their last 23 games while the New York Yankees have lost 14 of their last 19 now.  The Yankees have lost 4 straight including the final 3 games of their series with the Orioles, and then their 7-12 loss to the Blue Jays yesterday.  It’s just not the same Yankees team we saw at the start of the year as they are without arguably their 2 best hitters in Judge and Stanton plus Urshela.  Taijuan Walker is 3-2 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 7 starts this season and 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA and 0.89 ERA in 4 home starts.  J.A. Happ is 1-1 with a 4.68 ERA in 5 starts for th eYankees, and 0-0 with an 8.00 ERA in 2 road starts.  The Yankees are 1-8 in their last 9 against a team with a winning record.  Take Toronto.

7* Heat/Bucks Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee +4

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks went from being basically 5-point favorites in the first 3 games of this series to now underdogs.  They were 2.5-point dogs in Game 4 with the uncertainty surrounding Giannis.  He played and got off to a quick start before injuring his ankle again.  He didn’t play the entire 2nd half and the Bucks still won 118-115 (OT).  Now the Bucks are 4-point dogs in Game 5, basically a 9-point adjustment for likely being without Giannis, and I don’t agree with it.  The Bucks aren’t 9 points worse without him.  They actually can space the floor better because the Heat can’t sink in on Giannis like they have been doing.  Now the Heat have to play the Bucks more straight up because of all the great shooters on their team.  And the Heat have some injuries of their own that are flying under the radar as Herro, Crowder and Olynyk are all questionable to play tonight.  Giannis is also technically questionable and not officially out yet.  The Bucks will be playing with a ton of confidence tonight after pulling out Game 4 in OT and staying alive.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Celtics/Raptors Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -1.5

The Key: The Boston Celtics had a terrible shooting night in Game 4 and lost 93-100.  They made just 7 3-pointers compared to 17 for the Raptors.  Just shoot the ball a little better and they would have won that game.  That’s what I’m expecting to happen for them here in Game 5 as they grab back control of this series.  The Celtics are 27-12 ATS against teams with winning records this season and I trust head coach Brad Stevens to get them to respond today.  Take Boston.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Minnesota Twins -1.5 (-109)

The Key: The Minnesota Twins have a huge edge on the rubber today with Michael Pineda over Michael Fulmer.  Pineda made his first start of the season for the Twins on September 1st and held the White Sox to 2 runs in 6 innings of a 3-2 victory.  Pineda is 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 8 lifetime starts against Detroit.  Fulmer is 0-0 with a 7.27 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in 6 starts this year.  Pineda is 11-1 off a team loss over the last 2 years with his teams winning by 4.1 RPG.  Take Minnesota on the Run Line.

7* Rockets/Lakers Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Los Angeles -5.5

The Key: Rust has played a factor in the Lakers losing both Game 1’s in these playoffs.  They didn’t all play together in the bubble and it hurt them in their upset loss to the Blazers in Game 1 last round.  And having 6 days off prior to this series with Houston hurt them in Game 1.  The Lakers will be much sharper in Game 2 tonight and their massive advantages in this series will show through.  They actually got out rebounded by the Rockets in Game 1, which should never happen with their size.  They won’t let it happen again, and they can’t shoot it much worse than they did in Game 1.  Take Los Angeles.

6* Cardinals/Cubs ESPN *BAILOUT* on St. Louis -101

The Key: The St. Louis Cardinals have won 5 of their last 7 now and are making a run at the Cubs in the NL Central.  They swept the Cubs yesterday and I expect them to win again Sunday thanks to their huge edge on the rubber.  Dakota Hudson sports a 2.77 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 5 starts this year and a 1.64 ERA and 0.64 WHIP in 2 road starts.  Hudson sports a 3.38 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Cubs.  Jon Lester is 2-1 with a 5.11 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 7 starts this year and 0-1 with an 8.04 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 3 home starts.  Lester is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 2.07 WHIP in his last 3 outings.  The left-handed is also 1-2 with a 10.93 ERA in his last 3 starts against the Cardinals, yielding 17 earned runs in 14 innings.  Take St. Louis.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Minnesota Twins -1.5 (-124)

The Key: The Minnesota Twins have a huge edge on the rubber tonight with Kenta Maeda over Tarik Skubal and that should lead to a win by multiple runs.  Maeda is 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 7 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 0.36 WHIP in 2 home starts.  Skubal is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 3 starts for the Tigers, including 0-1 with a 10.39 ERA and 2.77 WHIP in 2 road starts.  Detroit is 24-72 when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 years, losing by 2.2 RPG.  Take Minnesota on the Run Line.

7* Raptors/Celtics Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto +2

The Key: The Toronto Raptors went from being favorites in the first 3 games of this series to now 2-point dogs in Game 4.  I like this price we are getting on the Raptors who have to be feeling very confident after beating the Celtics at the buzzer in Game 3 to avoid an 0-3 hole.  The Raptors just need to shoot it better and they’ll get right back in this series, which seems like an easy fix.  Toronto is shooting just 28.3% from 3-point range in this series compared to 38.7% for Boston.  The Raptors are 26-11 ATS in their last 37 games after failing to cover 4 or 5 of their last 6 ATS.  The Raptors are 13-4 ATS in their last 17 games after failing to cover the spread in 3 or more consecutive games.  Take Toronto.

6* MTSU/Army NCAAF *CA$H COW* on Army -3.5

The Key: Army went 11-2 in 2018 but plummeted to 5-8 in 2019.  They weren’t nearly as bad as their record last year as they still outscored their opponents 28.3 to 23.0 on the season and outgained them 379 to 342 on average.  They simply had bad luck in close games as they lost 6 games by single-digits.  The Black Knights have 12 starters back this year which is more than they had each of the last 2 seasons.  I especially like the defense with 7 starters back from a unit that gave up 23 PPG.  The offense should be fine with Jabari Lewis at QB.  He actually averaged 6.4 YPC last year compared to 5.1 for starter Hopkins.  And he completed 16 of 20 passes for 80% completions, so he may even be better than Hopkins was.  Middle Tennessee went 4-8 last year thanks to an awful defense that gave up 29.9 PPG and 459 YPG.  They only have 5 starters back on D and will be terrible again.  They gave up 194 RYPG and 4.9 YPC last year, which is bad news going up against this triple-option of Army.  The Black Knights will be able to move the ball on the ground at will in this game.  Take Army.

6* MLB Interleague *CA$H COW* on Tampa Bay Rays -124

The Key: We are getting he Tampa Bay Rays at a great price tonight over the lowly Miami Marlins.  The Rays are now 20-4 in their last 24 games overall.  The Marlins are just 7-12 in their last 19 contests.  The Rays beat the Marlins 4-0 in this same matchup of Josh Fleming against Pablo Lopez just a week ago on August 29th.  Fleming is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in his 2 starts this year.  He shut out the Marlins through 5 1/3 innings and gave up just 3 base runners with 6 strikeouts.  Take Tampa Bay.

7* Bucks/Heat Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -5

The Key: The Miami Heat should not be getting this much respect from the books.  They were 5-point dogs in Game 1 and 5.5-point dogs in Game 2 and won both outright to improve to 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS in the playoffs.  But now they are back down to only 5-point dogs in Game 3, a game that the Milwaukee Bucks simply have to have.  Look for the Bucks to be the team playing with the sense of urgency here down 0-2 and for the Heat to have their worst performance of the series knowing that they have some breathing room.  I expect the Bucks to win this game with plenty of room to spare by double-digits.  Take Milwaukee.

6* Thursday NCAAF *CA$H COW* on South Alabama +15

The Key: This South Alabama team looks very promising with the way they closed out last season and now have 15 starters back.  They were competitive in every game when freshman Desmond Trotter took the reigns at quarterback.  They went toe-to-toe with Louisiana in a 27-37 loss and beat Arkansas State 34-30.  Those were 2 of the best teams in the Sun Belt last year.  Trotter has accuracy and mobility, plus smart decision making as he threw 8 touchdowns against only 2 interceptions last year.  Southern Miss should be a pretty good team with 14 starters back from a squad that went 7-6 last year.  But I don’t expect them to come close to winning this game by more than 2 touchdowns in the opener.  Take South Alabama.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago White Sox -130

The Key: Dylan Cease is having a great season for the White Sox.  He is 4-2 with a 3.00 ERA in his last 7 starts and 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Danny Duffy is 2-2 with a 4.11 ERA in 7 starts for the Royals and 1-0 with a 5.00 ERA in 2 home starts.  Cease is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA in 2 starts against the Royals in 2020.  Duffy gave up 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings to the White Sox on August 28th in his last start.  The White Sox are a perfect 11-0 against left-handed starters this season and scoring 6.7 RPG in those contests.  Take Chicago.

7* Raptors/Celtics Game 3 *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto -2

The Key: The Toronto Raptors have to win this game to get back in this series.  They are down 2-0 because Boston has shot lights out while Toronto couldn’t have been colder.  The Celtics are shooting 41.6% with 32 made 3’s in this series while the Raptors are shooting 26.3% with only 21 made 3’s.  It took an out of this world performance from Marcus Smart and his 5 3’s in the 4th quarter for the Celtics to win Game 2.  The Raptors will return the favor in Game 3 tonight.  Take Toronto.

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago Cubs -1.5 (-115)

The Key: The Chicago Cubs have scored 18 runs in winning each of their last 2 games.  They will get after Joe Musgrove in this game as well.  The Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 games.  The Cubs give the ball to Kyle Hendricks, who is 3-4 with a 4.09 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 7 starts this year.  Hendricks sports a 3.27 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 17 lifetime starts against Pittsburgh.  The Pirates are 11-41 in their last 52 against a team with a winning record.  The Cubs are 4-0 against the Pirates this year.  Take Chicago on the Run Line.

6* Wednesday MLB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Philadelphia Phillies +110

The Key: The Washington Nationals are 1-7 in their last 8 games overall to fall to 12-21 and essentially out of the playoff race.  They got their World Series title last year and aren’t taking this season seriously.  The Philadelphia Phillies have played their way right back into the NL East race by going 7-1 in their last 8 games overall.  They have scored at least 5 runs in 6 of those 8 games, including a combined 24 in their last 3 contests.  Zack Wheeler is 3-0 with a 2.58 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 6 starts for the Phillies this year.  He has been better than Max Scherzer, who is getting too much respect from oddsmakers at 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 7 starts.  Wheeler is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last 2 starts against Washington.  The Nationals are 2-10 (-8.3 units) when the line is +125 to -125 this season.  Washington is 4-19 (-21.1 units) against right-handed starters this year.  Take Philadelphia.

7* Heat/Bucks Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks were at a huge disadvantage in Game 1 and I cashed in the Heat +5.5 because of it.  But I’m taking the Bucks in Game 1 tonight because that advantage no longer exists for the Heat.  The Heat had 7 days to get ready for the Bucks while the Bucks only had 1 day to get ready for the Heat.  But now the Bucks will be much more prepared here in Game 2 with another day of practice in between games to figure out the right strategy for the Heat.  The Bucks are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 off a loss by more than 10 points, and the Heat are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games off a win by more than 10 points.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Jazz/Nuggets Game 7 *HEAVY HITTER* on Denver ML -105

The Key: The Denver Nuggets have all the momentum now after storming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the last 2 games by double-digits.  Jamal Murray has been unstoppable, and will continue to be tonight.  The Nuggets won a Game 7 against the Spurs last year so they won’t shy from the pressure.  And all the pressure feels like it’s on the Jazz in this one.  And the Nuggets have Gary Harris back healthy now to give Donovan Mitchell another look defensively after Mitchell had torched the Nuggets before his return.  The Nuggets are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 matchups.  Take Denver on the Money Line.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Minnesota Twins -101

The Key: The Twins have lost every way imaginable during their 6-game skid and now find themselves behind the 1st place White Sox.  They blew a 4-0 lead yesterday in Game 1 of this series.  They will be hungry to bounce back tonight.  Michael Pineda makes his 1st start of the year for the Twins.  Pineda is 5-3 with a 3.24 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 8 lifetime starts against the White Sox.  Pineda went 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA in 4 starts against the White Sox in 2019.  The Twins are 19-8 in the last 27 matchups.  Take Minnesota.

6* Monday MLB *UPSET SPECIAL* on Minnesota Twins +120

The Key: The Twins have been a thorn in my side the last couple days not coming through for me, but I’m giving them another shot Monday, this time as a nice underdog to the Chicago White Sox.  I love fading starting pitchers who are coming off a no-hitter or a complete game like Lucas Giolito, who no-hit the Pirates last time out.  His last 2 starts have been dominant, but they were against 2 of the worst teams in baseball in the Tigers and Pirates.  Giolito is only 4-6 with a 5.34 ERA in 11 lifetime starts against Minnesota.  He was rocked for 7 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in his last start against the Twins on July 24th.  Rich Hill is 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 3 starts this year for the Twins.  Minnesota is 12-3 at home this year.  The Twins are 10-1 in their last 11 home games against a right-handed starter.  Take Minnesota.

7* Heat/Bucks Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Miami +5.5

The Key: The Miami Heat went 2-0 against the Milwaukee Bucks during the regular season before the bubble.  They won 105-89 as 4.5-point home dogs and 131-126 as 11.5-point road dogs.  I’m willing to not count their 116-130 loss to the Bucks in the bubble as 10-point dogs because both Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic sat out that game, and those are their two best players.  The Bucks let the Magic hang around the entire season despite a plethora of injuries for the Magic, including to their best player in Aaron Gordon, who didn’t play the entire series.  The Heat swept the Pacers and won all 4 games by at least 9 points each.  The Bucks have their hands full with the Heat starting with Game 1 of this series.  The Heat have had the last 6 days off to prepare for Milwaukee, while the Bucks only have one day to get ready for Miami after playing on Saturday.  Take Miami.

6* Nuggets/Jazz Game 6 *BAILOUT* on Denver +2.5

The Key: The Denver Nuggets came up clutch down 3-1 and won 117-107 in Game 5.  I think they take a lot of confidence from that effort and force a Game 7 with another win in Game 6 tonight.  The Jazz aren’t going to keep shooting this well throughout the playoffs as they have shot 50% or better throughout the playoffs.  Mike Malone will make some defensive adjustments as he’s had a few extra days to get his Nuggets ready for Game 6.  The Jazz are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against a team with a winning record.  The Nuggets are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 matchups.  Take Denver.

7* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Minnesota Twins -1.5 (-126)

The Key: The Minnesota Twins have had just 2 losing streaks the entire season.  It just so happens that both are 4-game skids like the one they are currently on.  They won’t be losing a 5th straight today.  Kenta Maeda is the real deal at 4-0 with a 2.21 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in 6 starts this year.  Casey Mize clearly still has some work to do in his rookie season.  Mize is 0-1 with a 7.05 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in his 2 starts.  The Twins are 70-25 in their last 95 games against a starter with a WHIP of greater than 1.30.  The Tigers are 29-83 in their last 112 games as underdogs, including 16-58 in their last 74 games as home underdogs.  Take Minnesota on the Run Line.

7* NBA 1st Round Total of the Year on Magic/Bucks UNDER 225.5

The Key: The last 2 games in this series have seen 228 and 227 combined points after a 207-point output in Game 2.  The reason is simple.  Both the Magic and Bucks have shot lights out from 3-point range.  They have both shot at least 40% in each of the last 2 games with the Bucks 34-of-78 (43.6%) and the Magic 37-of-85 (43.5%).  I just cannot see this continuing, and as a result I love the UNDER 225.5 points in Game 5 today.  We just need a slight dip in 3-point shooting from one or both of these teams to cash this UNDER.  Take the UNDER.

7* AL Central Game of the Year on Minnesota Twins -154 (Game 1)

The Key: The Minnesota Twins have lost 2 straight games coming in.  It’s only their second 2-game losing streak of 2020, which shows how good they have been.  They’ll get right back on track today against the lowly Detroit Tigers, who are one of the worst teams in baseball once again in 2020.  Big edge to the Twins on the rubber here.  Randy Dobnak is 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 6 starts this year.  Matt Boyd is 0-4 with an 8.48 ERA and 1.74 WHIP in 6 starts for the Tigers.  He has already yielded 27 runs and 8 homers in 28 2/3 innings.  Dobnak held the Tigers to one hit and zero walks in 6 innings in his only previous start against them in 2019.  Boyd is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA in his last 2 starts against the Twins, yielding 12 earned runs and 6 homers in 12 innings.  The Twins are 70-23 in their last 93 against a starter with a WHIP of greater than 1.30.  The Twins are 53-24 in their last 77 games off a loss.  The Tigers are 19-62 in their last 81 home games.  Take Minnesota in Game 1.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Oakland A’s -138

The Key: The Oakland A’s are one of the best teams in baseball at 21-10 on the season.  The A’s are 7-0 against left-handed starters this season, and they’ll be up against dreadful lefty Kolby Allard tonight.  Allard is 0-2 with a 7.81 ERA and 1.82 WHIP in 4 starts this year while averaging just 3.2 innings per start.  Mike Fiers is the better starter in this matchup, and the A’s have by far the better lineup.  The Rangers are scoring just 3.7 RPG overall and 3.5 RPG at home.  The A’s are scoring 5.0 RPG overall, 5.9 RPG on the road and 5.7 RPG against left-handed starters.  Fiers is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last 2 starts against Texas while yielding only 4 earned runs in 14 innings.  Fiers is 22-4 as a favorite of -110 or higher over the last 2 years.  Take Oakland.

6* MLB Interleague *CA$H COW* on Chicago Cubs -120

The Key: The Chicago Cubs (18-10) should be much bigger favorites over the Detroit Tigers today.  The Tigers are 2-11 in their last 13 games overall and once again one of the worst teams in MLB.  Tyler Chatwood was dominant in his first 2 starts this year yielding only 1 earned run in 12 2/3 innings with 19 strikeouts.  But he suffered an aberration against the Royals last time out and then went on the IL.  He is back healthy here and should return to form.  Spencer Turnbull is only averaging 4.9 innings per start for the Tigers and has already walked 15 batters in 24 2/3 innings.  Detroit is 10-41 as a home underdog of +125 or more over the last 2 years.  Turnbull is 3-15 in home starts over the last 2 years.  Take Chicago.

7* Jazz/Nuggets Game 5 *HEAVY HITTER* on Denver +3

The Key: The Denver Nuggets are in a must-win tonight to keep their season alive.  They battled hard in Game 4 but came up 2 points short.  The Jazz shot nearly 58% as a team and attempted 23 more free throws than the Nuggets.  Only a slight improvement in both categories should have the Nuggets winning this game outright.  The Jazz are 4-16-2 ATS in their last 22 games as favorites.  Take Denver.

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cincinnati Reds -130

The Key: Both the Cincinnati Reds (11-15) and Milwaukee Brewers (11-15) have struggled too start 2020.  But one thing is certain tonight, the Reds have a huge edge on the rubber.  Trevor Bauer is pitching like a Cy Young candidate.  He is 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA and 0.57 WHIP in 4 starts while yielding only 2 earned runs and 15 base runners in 26 1/3 innings with 41 strikeouts.  Brett Anderson is washed up and is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in his 2 home starts this year.  Bauer held the Brewers to 1 run in 6 innings with 12 strikeouts in an 8-3 victory on August 7th earlier this month.  Anderson is 2-2 with a 5.33 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against the Reds.  Take Cincinnati.

7* Pacers/Heat Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Indiana +6

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are a prideful team that won’t just lay down and die for the Miami Heat.  The Pacers have been in every game this series with all 3 games decided by 12 points or fewer.  And I think we are getting them at their best price of the series here as +6 dogs in Game 4.  The Heat are 10-21 ATS after scoring 115 points or more this year.  The Pacers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games off a loss.  The Heat are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 games off a win.  Take Indiana.

6* Bucks/Magic Game 4 *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 225.5

The Key: The Bucks shot 56.1% in Game 3 and that game still only saw 228 combined points.  The Bucks won’t shoot that well again, and this game will stay UNDER the posted total of 225.5 as a result.  This is the pivotal game of the series where the Magic will either get back in it, or the Bucks will take control.  So expect the defensive intensity to be very high in this one on both sides.  The UNDER is 5-2-1 in the last 8 matchups.  Take the UNDER.

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cincinnati Reds -106

The Key: The Cincinnati Reds have a big edge on the rubber tonight with Tyler Mahle over Daniel Ponce de Leon.  Mahle is 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 2 starts this year against the Cubs and Indians.  Ponce de Leon is 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 2 starts this year against the Cubs and Twins.  The Reds are 5-1 in their last 6 games off a loss.  The Cardinals are 0-4 in their last 4 games off a win.  Take Cincinnati.

7* Celtics/76ers Game 4 *HEAVY HITTER* on Philadelphia +8

The Key: The Philadelphia 76ers are playing for their season today down 0-3 in this series.  They were competitive in Games 1 and 3 with a pair of 8-point losses.  And now they are 8-point dogs in Game 4 after not being more than 6-point dogs in any other game in this series thus far.  I like the price we are getting with them here.  The 76ers are 19-8 ATS in their last 27 games off 3 or more consecutive ATS losses.  Take Philadelphia.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Minnesota Twins -153

The Key: The Minnesota Twins suffered a rare loss to the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of this series and will bounce back in Game 2 thanks to their big edge on the rubber.  Randy Dobnak has been a pleasant surprise for the Twins this year.  He is 4-1 with a 1.42 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 5 starts this year with only 4 earned runs, 2 homers and 22 base runners allowed in 25 1/3 innings.  Brady Singer is 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA in 5 starts this year for the Royals.  Dobnak is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against KC, while Singer is 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against the Twins.  Take Minnesota.

6* Rockets/Thunder Game 3 *CA$H COW* on Oklahoma City +3.5

The Key: The Oklahoma City Thunder are in must-win mode in Game 3 after losing the first 2 games of this series to the Rockets.  They choked away Game 2 in the 2nd half and went ice cold from the field.  They scored 59 points in the 1st half but just 39 points after intermission.  Look for them to put it all together and for the Rockets to relax in Game 3 with a 2-0 lead.  Take Oklahoma City.

7* NBA 1st Round Game of the Year on Indiana Pacers +5

The Key: The Indiana Pacers are in must-win mode in Game 3 after dropping the first 2 games of this series.  They were competitive in the first two games but couldn’t get it done in the 2nd half.  They will put it all together in what is essentially a win or go home game for them.  And I also expect the Heat to relax just enough with a comfortable 2-0 lead to let the Pacers have their way today.  Take Indiana.

7* Mavericks/Clippers Game 2 *BAILOUT* on Los Angeles -5

The Key: The Los Angeles Clippers will respond Friday after getting embarrassed by the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2.  It’s a Clippers team that was missing a lot of pieces during the restart, so it’s no wonder they have opened this season a bit rusty.  Look for them to put it all together in Game 3 and take back control of this series.  The Clippers are 17-5 ATS off a loss this season.  Take Los Angeles.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cleveland Indians -1.5 (+109)

The Key: Two teams headed in opposite directions square off Friday when the Detroit Tigers visit the Cleveland Indians.  The Tigers are 0-9 in their last 9 games overall with all 9 losses coming by 2 runs or more.  The Indians are 6-0 in their last 6 games overall with all 6 wins coming by 2 runs or more.  Both trends will continue today considering Cleveland edge on the rubber.  Adam Plutko is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in his 2 home starts this year.  Plutko has never lost to the Tigers, going 4-0 (6-0 ML) with a 4.26 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 6 lifetime starts against them.  Michael Fulmer sports a 7.55 ERA and 2.04 WHIP in his 3 starts this year.  Fulmer is 2-4 with a 6.87 ERA and 1.79 WHIP in 9 lifetime starts against Cleveland.  The Indians are 34-7 against the Tigers over the last 3 years, including 18-2 in their 20 home meetings over this span.  Plutko is 13-1 as a favorite of -110 or higher over the last 2 years with the Indians winning by 3.9 RPG.  Fulmer is 0-12 when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 years with the Tigers losing by 4.6 RPG.  Take Cleveland on the Run Line.

7* Magic/Bucks Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Milwaukee -12.5

The Key: The Milwaukee Bucks were embarrassed in Game 1 by the Orlando Magic, 110-122 as 13.5-point favorites.  Now they are shorter favorites in Game 2 and I think we see a role reversal here with the Bucks dominating from start to finish.  They’ll be playing with a sense of urgency today, something they did not do in Game 1.  Milwaukee is 14-3 ATS off an upset loss by 10 points or more as a favorite over the last 3 years.  They are coming back to win by 13 PPG on average in this situation.  The Magic are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 against a team with a winning record.  The Bucks are 31-14 ATS in their last 45 games off a SU loss.  Take Milwaukee.

6* MLB Interleague *MOUND MISMATCH* on Colorado Rockies -130

The Key: The Colorado Rockies will be hungry for a victory tonight.  They have dropped the first 3 games of this series to Houston and want to avoid the sweep.  The good news is that ace German Marquez takes the rubber for the Rockies to get the job done.  Marquez sports a 2.25 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 5 starts this year for the Rockies.  Cristian Javier is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 2 road starts this year and won’t enjoy pitching at Coors Field today.  Colorado is 15-3 after batting .175 or worse over a 3-game span over the last 3 years.  The Astros are 0-6 in their last 6 games as underdogs.  The Rockies are 59-23 in their last 82 games as home favorites.  Take Colorado.

6* MLB Interleague *MOUND MISMATCH* on Texas Rangers +119

The Key: Few starters have been as impressive as Lance Lynn thus far in 2020.  And he had a great season in Texas in 2019 going 16-11 with a 3.67 ERA in 33 starts, so it has been no fluke.  Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA and 0.74 WHIP in 5 starts this year with 36 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.  Chris Paddack is 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 5 starts for the Padres, including 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in his last 3 outings.  Lynn is 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 7 lifetime starts against San Diego as well.  I love the price we are getting on Lynn and the Rangers today as they try an avenge 2 losses to the Padres to open this series.  San Diego is 1-9 in its last 10 home games off 7 or more consecutive road games.  Take Texas.

7* Jazz/Nuggets Game 2 *HEAVY HITTER* on Utah +4

The Key: The Utah Jazz forced overtime in Game 1 despite shooting just 16 for 47 (34%) from 3 while Denver shot 22 for 41 (53.7%).  Look for the Jazz to pull the upset in Game 2 as the Nuggets don’t have an answer for Donovan Mitchell, who scored 57 points in the opener.  And I fully expect him to get more help from his role players in this one, especially from 3-point range.  The Jazz are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as underdogs.  Take Utah.

7* Blazers/Lakers Game 1 *BAILOUT* on Portland +6.5

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers just had a knack for playing in close games in the restart and that will continue in Game 1 tonight.  All 9 of their games were decided by 10 points or fewer, including 7 by 5 points or less.  They have an unstoppable offense that will challenge the Lakers, who are without 2 key defenders on the perimeter in Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo.  They’re going to have a very hard time matching up with Lillard and McCollum.  The Lakers went 3-5 SU & 1-7 ATS in the restart, and I have a hard time believing they can just flip a switch here in Game 1.  It’s going to take them a few games to gel, while the Blazers have already gelled as a team with all of the meaningful games they’ve played thus far.  The Blazers are 16-2 ATS in their last 18 games off 3 straight wins by 6 points or less.  The Blazers are 46-22 ATS in the last 68 matchups.  Take Portland.

6* MLB Interleague *MOUND MISMATCH* on Philadelphia Phillies -120

The Key: The Boston Red Sox have lost 8 straight games and were just swept by both the Rays and Yankees in 4 games.  They are one of the worst teams in MLB at 6-17 on the year.  The Phillies have won 3 straight and have a big edge on the rubber tonight.  Zach Eflin is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 2 starts for the Phillies.  Zack Godley is 0-2 with an 11.33 ERA and 2.42 WHIP in 3 starts for the Red Sox, yielding 13 earned runs, 25 base runners and 5 homers in 10 1/3 innings.  Boston is 5-19 at home with a money line of +125 to -125 over the last 2 years.  The Red Sox are 5-21 in their last 26 games as underdogs.  Take Philadelphia.

6* American League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Chicago White Sox -147

The Key: The Detroit Tigers have come back down to reality after their surprising start this season.  They are now 0-5 in their last 5 games overall with all 5 losses coming by multiple runs.  The White Sox are starting to live up to their potential and have climbed back to .500 on the season.  They have a big edge on the rubber with Gio Gonzalez, who is 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 3 starts in 2020.  Matt Boyd is 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 4 starts for Detroit.  Boyd is 4-7 with a 5.08 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 15 lifetime starts against the White Sox.  He just faced Chicago in his last start on August 12 and yielded 7 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.  The Tigers are 22-74 in their last 96 games as underdogs.  The White Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 against a left-handed starter.  The White Sox are 13-5 in the last 18 matchups.  Take Chicago.

7* 76ers/Celtics Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Boston -6

The Key: The Boston Celtics enter the playoffs fully healthy and ready to go for a title.  The same cannot be said for the 76ers, who lost Ben Simmons to a season-ending injury in the bubble and Joel Embiid is nursing a hand injury.  The Celtics will make easy work of the short-handed 76ers in Game 1 of this series tonight.  The Celtics are 10-1 ATS in road games off a loss this season.  Boston is 13-2 ATS when playing 4 or less games in 10 days this year.  Philadelphia is 6-22 ATS off 2 or more consecutive ATS wins over the last 2 years.  The 76ers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games off a win by more than 10 points.  Take Boston.

7* NL East Game of the Month on Philadelphia Phillies -122

The Key: I always love the angle of the pitcher facing his former team for the first time.  That will be the case for Zack Wheeler of the Phillies up against the Mets Sunday.  Wheeler is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 3 starts in 2020.  He’ll be opposed by Rick Porcello, who was terrible in Boston last year and hasn’t been any better for the Mets thus far.  Porcello is 1-2 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 4 starts in 2020.  The Mets are 0-8 as underdogs of +100 to +150 this year.  The Phillies are 9-2 in their last 11 home matchups with the Mets.  Take Philadelphia.

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee Brewers -115

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers need to make up ground on the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.  They have the edge on the rubber tonight with Adrian Houser.  He is 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 3 starts this year, including 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 2 road starts.  Colin Rea will make his first start of the year for the Cubs.  He is 7-7 with a 4.59 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in his 3 seasons in the big leagues.  The Cubs are 11-24 in their last 35 games as underdogs, including 1-5 in their last 6 games as home underdogs.  Take Milwaukee.

7* Blazers/Grizzlies *Total* Annihilator on UNDER 232

The Key: There’s always more defense played in playoff games.  And given what’s at stake here for these teams with win or go home for Memphis, defense will be played at a high level.  The 1st meeting between these teams this season saw just 215 combined points.  The 2nd meeting did have 275 combined points, but that was in overtime.  I think we see a similar result to the first meeting given the situation.  Memphis is 18-5 UNDER vs. teams who score 110+ PPG in the 2nd half of the season this season.  Memphis is 12-1 UNDER in road games when playing 8 or more games in 14 days over the last 2 years.  Take the UNDER.

7* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Cincinnati Reds -1.5 (+108)

The Key: Sonny Gray has been one of the top starters in the game over the last 2 years.  Gray is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 4 starts this year with 35 strikeouts in 24 innings.  That includes 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA and 0.70 WHIP in 3 home starts.  Chad Kuhl will be making just his 2nd start of the year for the Pirates.  Kuhl is 18-20 with a 4.30 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 64 games in MLB lifetime.  Gray is 14-1 at home when the total is 8.5 to 10 over the last 2 years and the Reds are winning by 3.5 RPG.  Take Cincinnati on the Run Line.

7* Blazers/Nets TNT *BAILOUT* on Brooklyn +10

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are getting too much respect from oddsmakers tonight.  They are 5-2 since the restart and on the verge of making the playoffs, but those 5 wins all came by 10 points or less.  In fact, all 7 of their games have been decided by 10 points or less thus far.  Brooklyn is playing too well right now to be catching this many points.  The Nets are 5-1 SU & 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.  Three of those wins came against playoff teams with upsets over Milwaukee as 19-point dogs, the Clippers as 9-point dogs and the Magic as 4.5-point dogs.  The Nets are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games playing on one days’ rest.  Take Brooklyn.

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Milwaukee Brewers +165

The Key: I really like the price we are getting on the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday.  You Darvish gave up 3 runs in 4 innings of a 3-8 loss to the Brewers as a -145 favorite back on July 25th.  And now he’s upwards of a -180 favorite today.  Brett Anderson is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against the Cubs.  The Brewers will be hungry to carve into that Chicago lead within the division starting with Game 1 of this series tonight.  Anderson is 8-0 (+10.7 units) in road games against a team with a winning record over the last 2 years.  Take Milwaukee.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Miami Heat -2

The Key: The situation is a much better one for the Miami Heat than it is for the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight.  The Heat are almost at full strength with the exception of Kendrick Nunn.  The Thunder are without Schroder and likely to be without Gilgeous-Alexander, Adams and Gallinari again tonight.  The Heat should be much bigger favorites given their advantage in the health department.  The Thunder are likely to not take any chances here with their injured players.  Take Miami.

6* NL *MOUND MISMATCH* on Colorado Rockies -104

The Key: The Colorado Rockies are rolling at 12-5 on the season.  They are scoring 5.6 RPG and holding opponents to just 4.0 RPG.  They have a big edge on the rubber tonight with Antonio Senzatela, who is 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 3 starts this year.  Luke Weaver is 0-3 with a 12.20 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in 3 starts for the Diamondbacks as he has been a disaster.  Weaver is 1-1 with a 6.94 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against Colorado as well.  Senzatela is 9-1 at home when the total is 12 or higher over the last 2 years.  Take Colorado.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Tampa Bay Rays -104

The Key: We’re getting the Tampa Bay Rays at a great price tonight.  Andrew Kittredge sports a 2.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against Boston.  Martin Perez is 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 9 lifetime starts against Tampa Bay.  The Rays should be bigger favorites today instead of this nearly even money price against the awful Perez.  The Red Sox are 8-22 in their last 30 vs. a team with a winning record.  The Red Sox are 0-6 in their last 6 as home underdogs.  Take Tampa Bay.

7* Blazers/Mavs TNT *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland -4.5

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are in 9th place, but just a half-game ahead of both Phoenix and San Antonio.  Whoever finishes 8th and 9th will be in a playoff to be the 8th seed.  This game matters a lot more to Portland than it does Dallas, which all but appears locked into 7th.  And the Mavericks could be without both Doncic and Porzingis again tonight after both sat out last game for precautionary reasons.  The Blazers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall and will continue their stellar play tonight as they make their push to make the playoffs.  Take Portland.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Phoenix Suns -9.5

The Key: The Phoenix Suns are 6-0 SU & 6-0 ATS since the restart to pull within a half-game of the 9th spot in the West.  They are trying desperately to make the playoffs and are handling the pressure of the situation well.  The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to get healthy before the playoffs as that is their top priority right now.  They were already without Ben Simmons for the season, and now both Joel Embiid and Josh Richardson have been ruled out tonight.  Plus Al Horford and Tobias Harris are questionable with ankle injuries.  They are looking at essentially sitting their entire starting 5 for this one.  The 76ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.  Take Phoenix.

6* Lakers/Nuggets Western Conference *BAILOUT* on Denver +5

The Key: The Los Angeles Lakers already have the top seed in the West and can’t be trusted to be laying points tonight.  They are 0-3 SU & 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games while losing those 3 games by a combined 40 points.  The Denver Nuggets have gone 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games and are getting healthier.  They have more incentive to play well than the Lakers do right now as the Nuggets are fighting for playoff positioning in the crowded West.  Take Denver.

6* MLB Interleague *CA$H COW* on Minnesota Twins +100

The Key: The Minnesota Twins have lost 4 in a row since their 10-2 start.  It’s time for them to get back on track here against the Milwaukee Brewers.  The Twins will be happy to be sending Randy Dobnak back to the rubber tonight.  Dobnk is 2-1 with a 0.60 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 3 starts this year while yielding only 1 earned run in 15 innings.  With those numbers, they should not be dogs to the Brewers tonight.  Take Minnesota.

7* Raptors/Bucks ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Toronto +7.5

The Key: The Toronto Raptors are 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS since the restart and playing with a sense of urgency.  The Milwaukee Bucks already have the top seed in the East and are not playing with a sense of urgency at all.  The Bucks are just 2-3 SU & 1-3-1 ATS in their 5 games since the restart.  Take Toronto.

6* National League *CA$H COW* on Cincinnati Reds +109

The Key: No analysis Sunday.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on Memphis Grizzlies +7

The Key: No analysis Sunday.

6* Lakers/Pacers TNT *CA$H COW* on Indiana +7

The Key: The Lakers have clinched the top seed in the West and don’t have anything to play for.  They are playing like it as they have gone 2-3 SU & 1-4 ATS since the restart with 2 straight blowout losses to OKC by 19 and Houston by 16.  They should not be 7-point favorites against the Pacers today.  Indiana is 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS since the restart and trying to improve its seeding in the East.  The Lakers are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games when playing their 4th road game in 7 days.  Take Indiana.

6* Astros/A’s AL West *CA$H COW* on Houston +131

The Key: I love the price we are getting with the Houston Astros today as you’ll rarely get the chance to back them as dogs.  And Houston will be hungry for a win after dropping 3 straight and now trailing Oakland by 3.5 games in the AL West.  This is a very important game for them to say the least after falling to the A’s in extra innings yesterday.  Take Houston.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Denver Nuggets -1.5

The Key: The Utah Jazz will be playing for a second consecutive day after falling 111-119 to San Antonio yesterday.  And it’s unsure whether Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley and Royce O’Neale will play today.  The Jazz are already without Bojan Bogdanovic and his 20 PPG.  They aren’t very deep and will struggle against the rested Nuggets, who had yesterday off.  The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days’ rest.  Take Denver.

7* NBA Non-Conference *HEAVY HITTER* on New Orleans Pelicans -7.5

The Key: The Pelicans are in must-win mode trying to make the playoffs in the West.  The Washington Wizards are 0-4 since the restart and won’t be making the playoffs.  They will find it hard to be motivated from here on out.  The Wizards have lost all 4 games by 8 points or more, and that’s all it will take for the Pelicans to cover this spread tonight.  Washington hasn’t even been competitive due to all of their injuries.  New Orleans is 12-3 ATS in road games off an upset loss as a favorite over the last 2 years.  The Wizards are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games as underdogs.  The Pelicans are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games after yielding more than 125 points in their previous game.  Take New Orleans.

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Toronto Blue Jays +101

The Key: Tanner Roark has consistently been one of the most underrated starters in baseball over the last couple years.  He is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 0.60 WHIP in his lone start of 2020 thus far.  Ryan Weber is 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA and 2.43 WHIP in 2 starts for Boston, yielding 9 earned runs, 4 homers and 17 base runners in 7 innings.  Roark is 7-0 lifetime on the road when the total is 10 or higher.  Take Toronto.

7* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Portland Trail Blazers -4

The Key: I like the situation for the Blazers tonight.  They are pushing to make the playoffs and playing every game like a must-win.  The Denver Nuggets are just playing for playoff positioning.  And the Nuggets will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day after a tough 132-126 win over San Antonio last night, while Portland had yesterday off.  Take Portland.

6* MLB Interleague *CA$H COW* on Baltimore Orioles +122

The Key: The Baltimore Orioles will be hungry to avoid the sweep after dropping the first 3 games of this series to the Miami Marlins.  The Marlins are overvalued right now after starting 5-1 and I’ll fade them as a favorite here.  Wade LeBlanc is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in 2 starts for the Orioles.  LeBlanc is 14-4 (+12.4 Units) when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 years.  Take Baltimore.

6* MLB Interleague *CA$H COW* on Houston Astros -135

The Key: I cashed in the Astros in an 8-2 victory over the Diamondbacks yesterday.  I’ll take the Astros again today for many of the same reasons.  They have a big edge at the plate as they are scoring 6.0 RPG on the season while Arizona is hitting .194 and scoring 2.6 RPG this year.  They also have the edge on the rubber with Lance McCullers Jr. over Robbie Ray.  Ray is 0-2 with an 8.63 ERA and 2.16 WHIP in 2 starts this year.  The Astros are 43-12 in their last 55 games versus a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.  Houston is 12-2 in its last 14 interleague road games against a left-handed starter.  The Diamondbacks are 1-5 in their last 6 games overall.  Arizona is 5-16 in its last 21 games as an underdog.  Take Houston.

7* Nets/Celtics ESPN *BAILOUT* on Boston -8.5

The Key: The Brooklyn Nets just pulled off the biggest upset in NBA history with their 119-116 win over the Milwaukee Bucks as 19-point dogs.  The Nets are down to the last players on their bench, and the Bucks were sitting starters at crucial points in the game because they already have the No. 1 seed wrapped up.  The Nets will now be playing the second of a back-to-back, which is an even worse situation for them than most teams given how short-handed they are.  And it’s a letdown spot off such a big win.  The Celtics will be focused after starting 1-2 out of the break with losses to Milwaukee by 7 and Miami by 6.  They are playing for playoff positioning and want to keep a Top 3 seed so they can avoid Milwaukee in the 2nd round.  Boston is 9-1 ATS in road games off a loss this season.  Take Boston.

7* Rockets/Blazers TNT *BAILOUT* on Portland +4

The Key: The Portland Trail Blazers are 2 games behind the Grizzlies for the 8th seed in the West.  They need wins more than the Houston Rockets, who are simply playing for playoff positioning.  After 2 narrow wins by a combined 8 points in their last 2 games, the Rockets will run out of luck tonight.  The Blazers are 2-0 SU & 2-0 ATS against Houston in 2020 with a 10-point win as 8.5-point dogs and a 13-point win as 5-point dogs.  The Rockets are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as favorites.  The Blazers are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games against a team with a winning record.  Take Portland.

6* MLB Interleague *CA$H COW* on Houston Astros -127

The Key: Christian Javier was impressive in his 2020 debut for the Astros.  He gave up just 1 run and 3 base runners with 8 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings against the Dodgers on July 29th.  He will have more success against an Arizona lineup that has been dreadful.  The Diamondbacks are hitting .192 and scoring 2.7 RPG this year.  To compare, the Astros are hitting .255 and scoring 5.8 RPG this year.  Madison Bumgarner is well past his prime and will get knocked around by the Astros tonight.   The Astros are 48-13 in their last 61 during Game 1 of a series.  The Diamondbacks are 3-14 in their last 17 games as underdogs.  Take Houston.

6* MLB Interleague *CA$H COW* on Chicago White Sox -103

The Key: The Milwaukee Brewers will be shaking off some rust today having not played since July 29th.  They will be sending the washed up Brett Anderson to the mound too.  And they face a buzz saw in the Chicago White Sox who have won 4 straight while outscoring the opposition 27-9.  Chicago has really gotten its offense going, and Milwaukee will be without both Ryan Braun and Lorenzo Cain.  I’ll back the team with momentum against the rusty team with a terrible starter today.  Take Chicago.

7* Grizzlies/Pelicans ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on New Orleans -4.5

The Key: This is a must-win game for the Pelicans.  They have dropped their first 2 games back and sit 3.5 games behind the Grizzlies for the 8th seed.  They have to be within 4 games of the 8th place team to get a play-in game.  They catch the Grizzlies at a good time as they will be playing the 2nd of a back-to-back and 3rd game in 4 days.  The Pelicans had yesterday off and will be plenty rested after getting blown out by the Clippers on Saturday.  The Pelicans are 2-0 SU & 2-0 ATS against Memphis this year winning 126-116 and 139-111.  The Pelicans are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games against a team with a losing record.  The Pelicans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games after yielding more than 125 points in their previous game.  Take New Orleans.

7* Mavs/Suns NBA *BAILOUT* on Phoenix +6

The Key: The Phoenix Suns need wins more right now as they are trying to stay alive for the 8th seed in the West.  The Dallas Mavericks are simply playing for playoff positioning.  The Suns looked great in their 125-112 win over Washington.  They had 6 players score in double figures in that win and play well together as a team.  And I like them to give the Mavericks a run for their money today.  The Suns won 133-104 as 7-point dogs in their last meeting at Dallas on January 28th.  Take Phoenix.

6* American League *CA$H COW* on Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (-115)

The Key: The Tampa Bay Rays have lost 4 in a row.  They’ll be hungry to avoid the sweep here against Baltimore and I expect them to win in a blowout.  Yonny Chirinos fired 4 innings without allowing a single earned run against the Braves in his last start.  Tom Milone yielded 4 runs in 3 innings against Boston in a 2-13 loss in his last start.  Milone is 2-3 with a 6.28 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 5 lifetime starts against Tampa Bay.  Chirinos sports a 4.15 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 3 lifetime starts against Baltimore.  The Orioles are 9-34 off a win by 2 runs or less over the last 3 years.  Take Tampa Bay on the Run Line.

6* MLB *MOUND MISMATCH* on Oakland A’s -148

The Key: Mike Fiers has a big advantage on the rubber over Yusei Kikuchi tonight.  Fiers sported a 3.56 ERA in 2018 and a 3.90 ERA in 2019.  He has a 3.38 ERA in his last 3 outings against Seattle.  Kikuchi sports a 5.61 ERA over the last 2 years in Seattle.  He has never beaten the A’s, going 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against Oakland.  The A’s are 38-14 in their last 52 games against left-handed starters.  Take Oakland.

7* Jazz/Thunder NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on Oklahoma City -2

The Key: The Utah Jazz are without their 2nd-leading scorer in Bojan Bogdonavic, who averages over 20 PPG.  They were able to escape with a come from behind 106-104 win over the Pelicans in their opener.  They won’t be so fortunate against the Oakland City Thunder, who are fully healthy for the restart.  The Thunder are 19-6 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 this season.  Take Oklahoma City.

6* National League *MOUND MISMATCH* on Atlanta Braves -130

The Key: No analysis Friday.

7* Grizzlies/Blazers NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on Portland -2.5

The Key: No analysis Friday.

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Washington Wizards +7.5

The Key: No analysis Friday.

6* Dodgers/Diamondbacks MLB *BAILOUT* on Arizona +144 

The Key: If there’s such a thing as a letdown spot in MLB this would be it.  The Dodgers just swept their 2-game series with the Astros by winning in extra innings last night.  It was sweet revenge for the Dodgers, who felt like they were robbed of a World Series title by the Astros a few years ago due to the cheating scandal.  And we’re getting the Diamondbacks at a great price tonight with Robbie Ray on the mound.  Ray has had great success against the Dodgers, going 8-6 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 21 lifetime starts.  Ross Stripling is 1-2 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 8 lifetime starts against the Diamondbacks.  Take Arizona. 

7* Jazz/Pelicans NBA *HEAVY HITTER* on New Orleans -2 

The Key: The Pelicans won all 3 of their scrimmages and are now 11-5 in their last 16 games overall.  They are completely healthy and loaded for this restart.  The same cannot be said for the Jazz, who are without Bojan Bogdonovic (20.2 PPG) for the remainder of the season after he had wrist surgery in May.  The Pelicans need wins more as they are on the outside looking in in terms of the playoffs.  Take New Orleans. 

7* AL Central Game of the Month on Chicago White Sox -113 

The Key: The White Sox really need a win as they are just 1-4 while the Cleveland Indians are 4-1.  Ace Lucas Giolito is here to the rescue and is the much better starter in this matchup with Zach Plesac.  Giolito is 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 4 lifetime starts against Cleveland.  He has pitched 14 2/3 shutout innings in his last 2 starts against them with 17 K’s.  Plesac has never beaten the White Sox, going 0-2 with a 5.25 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against them.  Take Chicago. 

7* National League Game of the Week Pittsburgh Pirates +155

The Key: The Pittsburgh Pirates want revenge after blowing a 5-1 lead in the 9th and losing in extras to the Brewers yesterday.  We are getting them at a tremendous price here Tuesday in Game 2 of this series.  Derek Holland has never lost to the Brewers as he is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against them.  Josh Lindblom makes his return to the majors after spending the last few years in Korea.  He is 5-8 with a 4.10 ERA and 1.37 WHP lifetime in the majors.  Take Pittsburgh.

7* American League *HEAVY HITTER* on Houston Astros -1.5 (-120)

The Key: Josh James is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 7 lifetime appearances against the Mariners.  Kendall Graveman will be making his first appearance since May 11, 2018 for the Mariners.  He went 1-5 with a 7.60 ERA in 2018.  The Astros are hitting .290 and scoring 7.0 RPG through 3 games this season behind one of the best lineups in MLB.  The Mariners are hitting .238 and scoring 3.7 RPG.  Seattle is 10-45 vs. teams outscoring opponents by 0.5 RPG or more over the last 2 years.  It is losing by 2.4 RPG in this situation.  Take Houston on the Run Line.

7* Braves/Mets ESPN *HEAVY HITTER* on Atlanta +102

The Key: The Braves should not be underdogs to the Mets today.  Rick Porcello went 14-12 with a 5.52 ERA with Boston in 2019 and is on the decline.  Sean Newcomb went 6-3 with a 3.16 ERA last year for the Braves.  Newcomb is 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 7 lifetime starts against the Mets.  Take Atlanta.

7* Saturday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Pirates/Cardinals UNDER 9.5

The Key: I definitely got robbed on the UNDER 8.5 yesterday in the Cardinals/Pirates game.  It was 3-0 going into the 7th inning and finished with 9 combined runs.  I’m back on the UNDER 9.5 today because the fact remains that these are two of the worst lineups in baseball, especially Pittsburgh.  Adam Wainwright has allowed just 2 earned runs in 13 innings in his final 2 starts against the Pirates in 2019.  Trevor Williams gave up just 2 earned runs in 12 innings in his 2 starts against St. Louis in 2019.  Take the UNDER.

7* Friday MLB *Total* Annihilator on Pirates/Cardinals UNDER 8.5

The Key: The Pirates have arguably the worst lineup in baseball.  They aren’t going to contribute much to this total going up against Jack Flaherty.  Flaherty is 4-1 with a 1.84 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 7 lifetime starts against the Pirates.  Joe Musgrove appeared to fix some mechanical issues at the end of last season by going 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA with 32 K’s over his final 5 starts of 2019.  The one weakness for the Cardinals is their lineup as it just hasn’t produced the last few years.  They are a perfect ‘under’ team and that will prove to be the case today.  Take the UNDER.

6* UNC/Syracuse ACC *CA$H COW* on North Carolina -3 

The Key: The North Carolina Tar Heels are 4-1 SU & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall with their only loss coming at Duke in a game they were competitive for 38 minutes.  Their 4 wins have come by 12.8 PPG including their 78-56 win over Virginia Tech yesterday.  It was basically a home game for the Tar Heels played in Greensboro.  And the blowout allowed them to get their starters some rest and stay fresh for Syracuse today.  This is a Syracuse team that UNC just beat 92-79 on the road on February 29th.  The Tar Heels are 6-0 ATS against teams that commit 12 or fewer turnovers per game after 15-plus games this year.  The Tar Heels are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games off a win by more than 20 points. The Tar Heels are 9-0 SU in their last 9 matchups with Syracuse with all 9 wins by 4 points or more.  Take North Carolina. 

7* SEC Game of the Month on Vanderbilt +9.5 

The Key: The Vanderbilt Commodores should not be nearly double-digit underdogs to the Arkansas Razorbacks tonight.  They beat Alabama 87-79 as 12-point road dogs and South Carolina 83-74 as 5-point home dogs to close out the season.  And they are now 8-4 ATS in their last 12 games.  Arkansas is just 4-9 ATS on the highway this year and this will basically be a road game for the Razorbacks being played in Nashville.  The Razorbacks have lost 5 straight road games by 8, 10, 14, 21 and 4 points.  Arkansas is 0-7 ATS in its last 7 games after yielding 75 or more points in 2 straight games.  They are yielding 88.7 PPG in their last 3 games and cannot be trusted to get enough stops defensively to cover this huge number.  Take Vanderbilt. 

6* Nuggets/Mavericks ESPN *CA$H COW* on Denver -1 

The Key: This is a bad situation for the Dallas Mavericks tonight.  They will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day and their 7th game in 11 days after a 109-119 loss in San Antonio last night.  They are just 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall and are struggling due to injuries. Luka Doncic is playing through a wrist injury that is clearly hampering him, and they have 5 other players either out or questionable tonight.  The Nuggets are fully healthy and had yesterday off.  The Nuggets are 4-1 SU in their last 5 matchups with the Mavericks.  Dallas is 4-12 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 this year.  The Mavericks are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 home games against a team with a winning road record.  Take Denver. 

6* NBA Situational *SLAM DUNK* on Atlanta Hawks -4.5 

The Key: This is a bad situation for the New York Knicks tonight.  They will be playing for a 2nd consecutive day after losing a 115-122 shootout in Washington last night.  The Hawks had yesterday off and will be playing just their 4th game in 9 days.  Atlanta is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 home games after allowing 130 points or more.  The Knicks are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games as road underdogs.  The Hawks are 8-3-2 ATS in their last 13 home games, including 4-1-2 ATS in their last 7 games as home favorites.  Take Atlanta.