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Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers National League Championship Series Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 15 at 8:07 p.m. ET Pitching wins championships, they say, and Philadelphia certainly has the edge in this series, at least in terms of the starting rotation. Deadline acquisition Cliff Lee proved he was worth every penny (or prospect) against the Cardinals when he allowed just two runs in 16.2 innings of work. Cole Hamels, though he struggled in his start against the Rockies (in his defense, his wife was in labor at the time), has great stuff and is capable of domination at the sportsbook. The Dodgers will counter with Clayton Kershaw at the top of the rotation. The youngster, who didn’t have the banner season many expected, pitched very well by allowing two runs in 6.2 innings. After that it gets a little thin with Randy Wolf, Vicente Padilla and Jeff Weaver, while Philly will field Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ. Los Angeles does gain the edge in the bullpen, however. Brad Lidge rebounded for the Phillies with two saves against the Rockies, but handicapping software shows L.A. led the majors in bullpen ERA this season. Closer Jonathan Broxton and set-up man George Sherrill are two of the NL’s best. Both teams can swing the bat. Manny Ramirez headlines a lineup largely made up of young, talented hitters in Los Angeles. Andre Ethier went 6-12 with two HRs against Colorado; Matt Kemp, though he struggled in the opening round (2-14), hit 26 homers and 101 RBIs this season. Of course, despite these talented players, L.A. can’t match up with Philadelphia’s mashing lineup. Philly led the National League in homers and runs this season and its power is very impressive. Four players—Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez and Chase Utley—clubbed at least 30 homers each, while Jimmy Rollins held his own with another 21. Howard, Utley and Werth each helped spark a come-from-behind win in the series finale against the Rockies, keeping Philly’s World Series odds alive. Los Angeles is a very good baseball team, but Philadelphia won the World Series last year for good reason—it’s one of the deepest, most talented teams in Major League Baseball. Supplementing a solid starting rotation with heaps of power throughout the lineup, any squad would have a tough time overtaking the Phillies in a seven-game series; even the Dodgers. Bet on Philadelphia with your MLB picks. |
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Colorado Avalanche vs Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens to win at ( 1.645) Statistic: W:113 L:94 Best Betting Websites visit: |
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Los Angeles Kings/New York Rangers (Over 5.5 goals) at ( 2.000) Statistic: W:111 L:94 Best Betting Websites visit: |
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As far as NFL Week 5 matchups go, the clash between Cincinnati and Baltimore should be one of the most exciting of the week. The Bengals have started out of the gate strong, while the Ravens are looking to bounce back from a controversial loss.
Bengals vs Ravens odds – Sunday, October 11, 1:00 PM ET Carson Palmer led the Bengals from an 11-point deficit with two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 23-20 win over Pittsburgh, and people may start taking the Bengals seriously. Palmer was 20-of-37 for 183 yards and a touchdown, and the Bengals averaged 5.2 yards on the ground. There’s a new outlook in Cincinnati this year, and it all starts with a healthy Palmer, who is one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the league when he’s 100%, which he hasn’t been for the past couple of seasons. After a couple of questionable calls, the Ravens fell 27-21 in New England in a game they really deserved to win. Joe Flacco was 27-of-47 for 264 yards, two touchdowns and a pick, while Ray Rice ran for 103 yards on only 11 carries. Baltimore’s ground game was on form, averaging almost seven yards per carry, and they held the Patriots to only 85 yards on 30 carries. However, as Buffalo can attest to, strange things happen at Foxboro, regardless of the sportsbook odds. The Ravens are an 8.5-point favorite at home in your gambling software after sweeping the Bengals last year, but Cincinnati has still won six of their last 10 against Baltimore. This will be a good test for the improved Cincinnati defense, while Palmer will have his hands full with a Baltimore defense that hasn’t lost a step since Rex Ryan left to coach the New York Jets. However, Baltimore safety Ed Reed is off to a slow start, making some uncharacteristic mistakes, and that could open up the deep threat for the Bengals. This should be a typically hard-hitting AFC North clash, and whoever controls the clock will come away with the win. Cincy won’t back down and they’ll cover, but go with the Ravens straight up in your NFL picks. |
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Sportsbook fans are fired up for October baseball, and the Cardinals vs. Dodgers series should be very close and exciting. The Dodgers finished 95-67, good enough to win the National League West. The Cardinals went 91-71 while running away with the National League Central. Now it’s time to see who advances to the NL Championship Series. St. Louis Cardinals vs. LA Dodgers Series begins Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9:37 p.m. ET THE LINEUP: The Dodgers have a very deep lineup; every starter is capable of doing some damage. Though his power numbers are down somewhat, Manny Ramirez will anchor Los Angeles. Ramirez is a proven playoff performer who instills fear in his opponents. Youngsters Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp will get a chance to prove themselves on the national stage; they combined for 57 home runs and 207 RBIs this season. There’s a lot of speed here too, with players like Kemp, Juan Pierre, Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are a two-man team when it comes to hitting the baseball. Luckily, those two men are very good at what they do. Albert Pujols is the likely National League MVP after putting up his typically gaudy numbers (.327, 47, 135). His partner in crime, Matt Holliday, was a bust in Oakland but tore the cover off the ball after joining the St. Louis midseason, hitting .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in just 63 games. STARTING PITCHING: St. Louis enjoys a big edge here. Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Joel Pineiro are as dominant a trio you’ll find among all the playoff teams; they combined to go 27-7 since the All-Star break. Carpenter won NL Comeback Player of the Year honors this week, and he might be adding another trophy to his case—the Cy Young—before award season is over. It doesn’t take gambling software to tell you the Cards are in good shape here. The Dodgers planned on Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw to carry the load in 2009, but the youngsters suffered through regression and injuries all season. Both have great stuff and are capable of dominating, but we haven’t seen much of it this season. There isn’t much to look at after those two, unless you like veteran retreads a la Randy Wolf or Jon Garland. That’s not good news for LA’s MLB playoff odds. BULLPEN: St. Louis and Los Angeles are fairly evenly matched in this department. The Dodgers finished first in bullpen ERA this season, with the Cardinals not too far behind at fifth. Jonathan Broxton closes for LA; he had 36 saves and a 2.61 ERA this year. His counterpart, Ryan Franklin, was even more effective, notching 38 saves with a 1.92 ERA. THE PICK: This should be an entertaining matchup. There’s a lot to like from both teams but, ultimately, pitching usually decides who lives and dies in the postseason. Nobody can compete with St. Louis’ top three, especially in a five-game series. Los Angeles will keep it close, but Carpenter, Wainwright and Pineiro will carry the Cardinals to the next round; bet St. Louis with your MLB picks. |
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NFL Week 4 betting players will be treated to a showdown on Sunday, as New Orleans and their top-ranked offense will host the Jets and their defense, which under new coach Rex Ryan, is third in the league right now. Jets vs Saints odds – Sunday, October 4, 4:05 PM ET The Jets forced four turnovers in a 24-17 win over Tennessee at home, picking off Kerry Collins twice while recovering a pair of fumbles. Collins’ counterpart, Mark Sanchez, showed a lot of veteran poise to lead his team to 10 late points in the last 20 minutes of the game, and he went 17-of-30 for 171 yards, two touchdowns and a pick. That’s the thing with Sanchez, and why he’s such an asset to the Jets’ sportsbook picks. So far in his NFL career, he hasn’t looked out of place in the league, and many are raving that he has a maturity well beyond his years. The Saints managed a measly 378 yards in a 27-7 thrashing of the Bills in Buffalo, and Drew Brees didn’t even have to throw a touchdown pass, going 16-of-29 for 172 yards. Pierre Thomas ran 14 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to seal the deal for the Saints, who also managed to keep Terrell Owens without a catch for the first time in 185 straight games. New Orleans is a seven-point favorite, and here’s why you should take them in your handicapping software: they’ve won four of their last five against the Jets, although three of those wins came in the Big Apple. The Saints have won seven of their last 10 at home, and they haven’t scored less than 27 points in their last eight at the Superdome. Finally, Sanchez vs Brees has to go to the home quarterback, and Sanchez will finally show a couple of chinks in the armor to give the Saints a few points. The Jets’ defense will keep it from being a blowout, but take the Saints to win comfortably in your sports picks. |
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The Yankees are rolling, having cracked triple-digits in wins and securing the AL East title. New York has won six straight games as it prepares for the playoffs. Sportsbook bettors have watched Kansas City, meanwhile, continues its losing ways. The Royals have dropped six of their last 10, and they’d like to take something positive into the offseason. Beating the Yankees would be a start, but it isn’t going to happen. Anthony Lerew (0-1, 3.86) vs. A.J. Burnett (12-9, 4.19) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7:05 p.m. ET Lerew pitched for the first time since 2007 last Thursday, facing the playoff-bound Red Sox. The right-hander allowed seven hits and four runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings of work. He also walked three batters while striking out two. He’s obviously just a stop-gap measure and not much should be expected of him. A.J. Burnett has delivered a solid season for the Yankees. No, he probably wasn’t worth every penny, but he’s not supposed to carry the rotation either. The hard-throwing righty has allowed just three runs in his last two starts and is coming off an 11K performance against the Angels (in just 5.2 innings). He hasn’t faced K.C. while wearing the pinstripes but he got the job done with Toronto, going 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA in five starts. If you’re betting online, this matchup heavily favors Burnett and the Yankees. Robinson Tejada (4-2, 3.41) vs. Joba Chamberlain (9-6, 4.72) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7:05 p.m. ET Chamberlain’s numbers have steadily declined since he was put on a strict inning-limit a few months ago. After posting an 2.73 ERA in five July starts he’s had a hard time keep that number below eight. At least he pitched well against Kansas City earlier this year, giving up three runs (one earned) and four hits in six innings. Still, we’re betting management hoped for more this season. Tejada, normally a reliever, has pitched well this season. He won three straight games this month before coming apart against Minnesota, when he allowed five earned runs over 4.1 innings. Control was a major issue, as he walked seven batters. Expect to see the bullpen lots in this one as neither of these guys goes deep in games. That said, Chamberlain is still easily the more talented of the two pitchers, plus he’s got the powerful Yankees’ lineup backing him up. Go with New York on your sports picks. |
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The Broncos (2-0) have surprised just about every observer with a quick start to the season, while the Raiders (1-1) are trying to ride the moment they built up from a last-second win against Kansas City last week. Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders Sunday, September 27 at 4:15 p.m. ET NFL Week 3 odds: Denver -2.5 The Broncos suffered through an incredibly disastrous offseason, from the Jay Cutler trade, to the Brandon Marshall fiasco, to new head coach Josh McDaniels winding up on the hot seat before he’d even coached a game. We’re betting management was surprised to see a 2-0 start. Of course, the Broncos haven’t exactly run a gauntlet of tough teams—they barely scraped by the Bengals in Week 1 (thanks to a fluky tipped pass) and whipped Cleveland 27-6 in Week 2. Rookie running back Knowshon Moreno is coming along nicely after recovering from a knee injury. He ran for 75 yards on 17 carries last week and could be used even more heavily on Sunday. Denever needs a great running game to relieve pressure from Kyle Orton. The quarterback was solid last week, throwing for 263 yards with a touchdown and zero turnovers. Denver has allowed just 13 points this season and, luckily for this defense, it gets a crack at another porous offense. The Broncos are at least beating up on teams they should after recording four sacks and three takeaways against Cleveland. It’s a good NFL bet they can do similar things against Oakland. That’s bad news for JaMarcus Russell, who struggled badly last week before leading Oakland on a game-winning drive. His 7-24 effort dropped his completion percentage to 35.2 per cent through two games. If the Raiders are going to do any damage on offense it will be with the running game. Darren McFadden and Michael Bushed played very well in Week 1 but last week things fell apart (combined 70 yards on 21 carries). The Raiders bent but didn’t break against the Chiefs last week. They were torn up on the ground (173 yards) but forced two interceptions, which probably saved the day. Richard Seymour was quiet after a strong debut for the Silver and Black, and he’ll have a tough go against Denver’s fine young tackles. As shocking as it is, the Broncos should improve to 3-0. Denver hasn’t done much to impress, but it is proving capable of beating bad team—and believe us, Oakland is a bad team. Considering how unreliable Russell is, you should bet horses before you bet on the Raiders. Take Denver. |
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Not so fast, NFL betting fans. Baseball ain’t over and the Red Sox and Yankees have unfinished business. Let’s make picks for Friday and Saturday’s games. Friday, September 25, 7:05 p.m. ET Jon Lester (14-7, 3.33) vs C.C. Sabathia (18-7, 3.31) The series kicks off with a doozie of a matchup as each team sends its top power lefty to the mound. Not only has Jon Lester rattled off nine straight quality starts, he saves his best stuff for the Bronx Bombers. He’s faced New York three times this season, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 20 innings. In fact, the Yankees have never beaten him in seven tries. C.C. has matched Lester with nine straight quality starts of his own. He’s a ridiculous 10-1 since the All-Star break and, like Lester, steps it up in these big rivalry games, going 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA this year. The matchup is tougher to call than the Titans Jets odds. In the end, we’ll use hitter track records as the tiebreaker. The only Boston slugger with any success against Sabathia is David Ortiz, and Papi can’t be trusted anymore. Meanwhile, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter each bat .333 or better off Lester all-time. Maybe they’ll get on base and score a run or two – which will be enough to clinch this tight contest. Betting services recommend: Yankees Saturday, September 26, 4:10 p.m. ET Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-5, 6.80) vs Joba Chamberlain (8-6, 4.72) Now it’s time for baseball picks experts to find out if Dice-K is really back. A home win over L.A and a road win in Baltimore don’t compare to visiting the Bronx. Then again, Joba Chamberlain is absolutely useless right now. Horribly mishandled with his “Joba Rules,” he’s pitched four or fewer innings in seven straight starts. He can’t find a rhythm on that tiny pitch count so the Red Sox could rock him. Betting services recommend: Red Sox |
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Ready to handicap NFL odds for Week 2? With a game under each team’s belt, we had a small preview of what to expect this season. Let’s make some educated guesses about this week’s results.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Green Bay Packers (-9.5) Sunday, September 20, 1:00 p.m. ET Those poor Bengals! They had a win over Denver all but sewn up only to get the ultimate gut punch on a tip-pass touchdown to Brandon Stokley. Life doesn’t get easier for the Bengals in online betting this week, as they travel to Green Bay. The Packers’ “D” looked ferocious in Week 1 and could have its way with a faulty Bengals O-line. While the Cincy defense is better than most bettors realize, it still has its hands full with Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings and the potent Packer passing game. Expect a rout. Handicapping software recommends: Packers -9.5
New Orleans Saints @ Philadelphia Eagles (PK) Sunday, September 20, 1:00 p.m. ET Thanks to Donovan McNabb’s rib injury, this matchup won’t be the high-flying passfest we hoped it would be. Now, the matchup is more about the Eagles’ stellar defense against the Saints’ stellar offense. My thinking: the Saints can top 20 points even on an “off” day against a great defense whereas the Eagles will struggle to score that much. Kevin Kolb sucks and, even if McNabb plays, his pain may hinder his performance. Handicapping software recommends: Eagles
Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons (-6) Sunday, September 20, 1:00 p.m. ET After Jake Delhomme’s Week-1 performance, a six-point spread for Atlanta almost feels like stealing. It’s tough to imagine Jake doing anything but turn the ball over, so how could Carolina come anywhere near the six-point spread? The Falcons were surprisingly solid against Miami’s running game last week and shouldn’t be horrible against DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Eagles torched Carolina for 38 points and the solid all-around Falcons offense should do the same. Matt Ryan will take another step toward the Pro Bowl; the Falcons are good NFL picks again. Handicapping software recommends: Falcons -6 |
Ala Hann Special sports betting picks just for you. 