This is actually my full writeup with both NFL and MLB for today. I took longer than expected handicapping so I apologize for the tardiness.
8/25/01 Update
2001 MLB Record: 118-124-1, +6231
2001 NFL Record: 4-3, +15
Yesterday: 2-1 MLB, +460; 0-1 NFL -100
8/25 MLB Plays:
Tough loss on the NFL exhibition game but two good wins in bases made it a profitable day. I have two plays today in bases to go with NFL.
Toronto -122 over BALTIMORE 615/500
Escobar has been superb lately. Quantrill will likely not be going out of the pen but Plesac, DeWitt and Kock should all be strong. Toronto's lineup is really playing well right now. Maduro has struggled as a starter against every team except Kansas City. Baltimore has an exceptionally weak bullpen and an inconsistent lineup. Toronto is also hot right now, having won 3 of 4 from the Twins in their last series.
Minnesota -122 over KANSAS CITY 615/500
I hate to take two chalk plays in one day but these are both strong. Mays was awesome last time out. He seems to have his filthy stuff back so he should go long here. Guardardo is unavailable but Hawkins, Cressend and Jones should be able to pick up the slack if Mays even needs it. Wilson has been a very inconsistent starter and the Royals' pen is really bad outside of Grimsley and Hernandez. The Royals lineup also remains weak without Sweeney.
8/25 NFL Plays:
Detroit vs. PITTSBURGH over 37 110/100
Detroit is a scoring machine right now. Pittsburgh will want to impress the home crowd at the new stadium so the starters should be left in long on offense.
Seattle vs. SAN FRANCISCO over 41 110/100
41 may seem like a lot of points for a preseason game but knowing Holmgren, the offensive starters should be in for close to three quarters. San Francisco's offense looks downright lethal right now with Hearst and Seattle's defense remains weak.
NYJ/NYG over 27.5 / New England +12 teaser 110/100
Getting a totals play under 28 points on this weekend is gravy, especially with how efficient the Jets offense looks. New England looks like a better team overall than Tampa. Keyshawn will also likely miss the game today. Getting over 10 points in a preseason game is generally a good play.
Before I get to each individual game, I want to pass along a word that historically the second to last week of preseason NFL is a strong over week. Everyone knows that defense wins championships so most teams play very vanilla defense without complex schemes throughout preseason. This is the week that starters generally see the most action, so historically they have been able to take advantage of that. Obviously some games will go under this week but if you are betting unders be very careful. If you play a side, lean towards the over this week.
This week's lines are courtesy of Sportsinteraction (www.sportsinteraction.com). This is arguably the top underdog book available. If you bet underdogs in any sport, especially moneyline dogs, this book is a must-have.
SATURDAY:
Buffalo +3 / 35 vs. CINCINNATI
Very tough call here. If Johnson is out, then Buffalo is a tough team to handicap. The QB battle should work in Cincy's favor here. If Johnson is planning to play, then the over may be a play to look at.
Miami +2.5 / 35.5 vs. GREEN BAY
My hometown team and my favorite team (at least for this year) facing each other. Too many emotional factors for me.
Arizona +3 / 35.5 vs. CHICAGO
The Cards looked downright superb last week up in Seattle. That almost makes this over look very strong. Though call, though, because I want to wait for media reports on how the Bears' QB situation is shaking out.
New Orleans +7 / 39.5 vs. DENVER
Denver in a walk. I really cannot imagine it going any other way. New Orleans moved the ball but struggled to score against Dallas. Denver is opening the new stadium and they have two good QBs and three good running backs. The over is the right side in my view but I dunno if it is strong enough for a play.
St. Louis -3 / 41 vs. SAN DIEGO
Tough call here. St. Louis is a very deep team but Flutie and Brees will both likely roll up some points. 40.5 seems like a very low total for this kind of matchup. If anything, the over may be the best play here.
MONDAY:
Oakland -6 / 34.5 vs. Dallas (a Estadia Azteca en Mexico, D.F.)
You know, I probably should somehow understand this line, but I just don't. Oakland barely beat Dallas, won, but failed to cover against Arizona and then lost to Frisco. Yet they are touchdown faves against the Cowboys. I think the crowd will be strongly pro-Dallas unless half of Los Angeles decides to make the trip down (did you know that Los Angeles has the second largest population of Mexicans in the world after Mexico, D.F.? And all of them are Raider fans.) I will probably pass on this one based on the uncertainty at quarterback for Dallas.
8/25/01 Update
2001 MLB Record: 118-124-1, +6231
2001 NFL Record: 4-3, +15
Yesterday: 2-1 MLB, +460; 0-1 NFL -100
8/25 MLB Plays:
Tough loss on the NFL exhibition game but two good wins in bases made it a profitable day. I have two plays today in bases to go with NFL.
Toronto -122 over BALTIMORE 615/500
Escobar has been superb lately. Quantrill will likely not be going out of the pen but Plesac, DeWitt and Kock should all be strong. Toronto's lineup is really playing well right now. Maduro has struggled as a starter against every team except Kansas City. Baltimore has an exceptionally weak bullpen and an inconsistent lineup. Toronto is also hot right now, having won 3 of 4 from the Twins in their last series.
Minnesota -122 over KANSAS CITY 615/500
I hate to take two chalk plays in one day but these are both strong. Mays was awesome last time out. He seems to have his filthy stuff back so he should go long here. Guardardo is unavailable but Hawkins, Cressend and Jones should be able to pick up the slack if Mays even needs it. Wilson has been a very inconsistent starter and the Royals' pen is really bad outside of Grimsley and Hernandez. The Royals lineup also remains weak without Sweeney.
8/25 NFL Plays:
Detroit vs. PITTSBURGH over 37 110/100
Detroit is a scoring machine right now. Pittsburgh will want to impress the home crowd at the new stadium so the starters should be left in long on offense.
Seattle vs. SAN FRANCISCO over 41 110/100
41 may seem like a lot of points for a preseason game but knowing Holmgren, the offensive starters should be in for close to three quarters. San Francisco's offense looks downright lethal right now with Hearst and Seattle's defense remains weak.
NYJ/NYG over 27.5 / New England +12 teaser 110/100
Getting a totals play under 28 points on this weekend is gravy, especially with how efficient the Jets offense looks. New England looks like a better team overall than Tampa. Keyshawn will also likely miss the game today. Getting over 10 points in a preseason game is generally a good play.
Before I get to each individual game, I want to pass along a word that historically the second to last week of preseason NFL is a strong over week. Everyone knows that defense wins championships so most teams play very vanilla defense without complex schemes throughout preseason. This is the week that starters generally see the most action, so historically they have been able to take advantage of that. Obviously some games will go under this week but if you are betting unders be very careful. If you play a side, lean towards the over this week.
This week's lines are courtesy of Sportsinteraction (www.sportsinteraction.com). This is arguably the top underdog book available. If you bet underdogs in any sport, especially moneyline dogs, this book is a must-have.
SATURDAY:
Buffalo +3 / 35 vs. CINCINNATI
Very tough call here. If Johnson is out, then Buffalo is a tough team to handicap. The QB battle should work in Cincy's favor here. If Johnson is planning to play, then the over may be a play to look at.
Miami +2.5 / 35.5 vs. GREEN BAY
My hometown team and my favorite team (at least for this year) facing each other. Too many emotional factors for me.
Arizona +3 / 35.5 vs. CHICAGO
The Cards looked downright superb last week up in Seattle. That almost makes this over look very strong. Though call, though, because I want to wait for media reports on how the Bears' QB situation is shaking out.
New Orleans +7 / 39.5 vs. DENVER
Denver in a walk. I really cannot imagine it going any other way. New Orleans moved the ball but struggled to score against Dallas. Denver is opening the new stadium and they have two good QBs and three good running backs. The over is the right side in my view but I dunno if it is strong enough for a play.
St. Louis -3 / 41 vs. SAN DIEGO
Tough call here. St. Louis is a very deep team but Flutie and Brees will both likely roll up some points. 40.5 seems like a very low total for this kind of matchup. If anything, the over may be the best play here.
MONDAY:
Oakland -6 / 34.5 vs. Dallas (a Estadia Azteca en Mexico, D.F.)
You know, I probably should somehow understand this line, but I just don't. Oakland barely beat Dallas, won, but failed to cover against Arizona and then lost to Frisco. Yet they are touchdown faves against the Cowboys. I think the crowd will be strongly pro-Dallas unless half of Los Angeles decides to make the trip down (did you know that Los Angeles has the second largest population of Mexicans in the world after Mexico, D.F.? And all of them are Raider fans.) I will probably pass on this one based on the uncertainty at quarterback for Dallas.
