Braves vs Giants MLB Betting Preview
The Braves avoided a sweep in their last win over the Nationals, but they still trail them by 6 games in the NL East.
Twins vs Rangers MLB Betting Preview
The Rangers have the biggest lead of any division in the American League with a 5-game lead over the Angels in the AL West.
2012-13 Football Previews – (C-USA) – Marshall
Doc Holliday and the Marshall Thundering Herd took a nice step forward in 2011. The Thundering Herd loaded up the schedule and managed to go 6-6 in the regular season and then win in the St. Petersburg Bowl against FIU. Marshal finished 7-6 even though they had to play the 16th toughest schedule in the nation.
PGA Betting – 2012 The Barclays Predictions
Bethpage Black, one of the most difficult courses on TOUR hosts the first event on the FedEx Cup Playoffs this week – the top 125 players on the circuit will square off on the course that hosted the US Open in 2009.
Yankees vs White Sox MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The Yankees and White Sox are meeting in a showdown of two divisional leaders. The Yankees have dropped the first two games in this series, and they are in a bit of a slump right now.
2012-13 Football Previews – (Sun Belt) – W. Kentucky
Western Kentucky started the season 0-4 and it looked like it was going to be another miserable season for the Hilltoppers. The team came together and went 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference to finish 7-5 on the year. This is a team that just a few years ago lost 26 games in a row. Clearly, Willie Taggart is doing something right at Western Kentucky.
2012-13 Football Previews – (Sun Belt) – ULM Warhawks
The Sun Belt is one of the fastest rising conferences in college football. Gus Malzahn is the new coach at Arkansas State and Florida International has had a miraculous turnaround with Mario Cristobal.
2012-13 Football Previews – (MAC) – Western Michigan
Western Michigan has been a ton of fun to watch in the past couple years, but the team is looking to put together a few extra wins this year. The team lost a 66-63 shootout to Toledo on national television last year. They then lost a heart breaking 37-32 decision to Purdue in the Motor City Bowl. There’s plenty of returning talent for this team to make a serious run at the MAC title in 2012.
MLB Betting Previews- Tuesday, August 21 Parlay
The MLB playoff picture is beginning to take shape and there are a couple of crucial series on this week’s slate that could have an impact on the final results.
We have carefully analyzed the stats and betting trends for all the pitching matchups on Tuesday’s schedule to uncover a two-team parlay that should help get your week off to a profitable start.
Game 1: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox
Money Line: New York +105 Chicago -115
Total Line: 8.5
Ivan Nova is scheduled to get the start for the Yankees in the second game of this three-game set. The right-hander is 11-6 on the year with an ERA of 4.76.
He gave-up four runs in just over five innings against Texas his last time out after getting pummeled for 18 runs in his previous three starts. Nova is 2-0 against the White Sox with a 1.33 ERA.
Chicago will go with Francisco Liriano as its starter for Tuesday night. He won his first game with the White Sox his last time out after holding the Blue Jays to two earned runs in just over six innings pitched. Overall the left-hander is 4-10 with a 5.22 ERA. He is 1-4 against the Yankees with an ERA of 4.02.
New York is 13-3 in Nova’s last 16 starts on the road against a team with a winning record. It comes into this series 8-2 in the last 10 meetings and a perfect 6-0 in its last six games in Chicago.
The Yankees may lose the opener on Monday night but get the victory in this game as Nova returns to form. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Game 2: San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Money Line: San Francisco +110 Los Angeles -120
Run Line: 7
The Giants will go with Tim Lincecum in Game 2 of this NL West Division showdown. It has been a struggle for the right-hander this season with a 6-13 record and 5.45 ERA. His last time out he was tagged for four runs on eight hits after giving-up a total of five runs in his previous three starts. Lincecum is 6-5 against the Dodgers with a 2.87 ERA.
Joe Blanton should be on the mound for Los Angeles on Tuesday. Since coming over from Philadelphia at the end of July, the right-hander has given-up 14 earned runs on 18 hits in three starts. Overall, Blanton is 8-11 with a 4.96 ERA this season. Against San Francisco, he is 2-4 with an ERA of 4.75.
San Francisco is 4-11 in Lincecum’s last 15 starts on the road. The Dodgers are 6-2 in their last eight games overall and 5-2 in their last seven games against a team with a winning record.
The bats will have the final say in this matchup as Los Angeles pounds out a win to lock-up the back-end of this parlay.
GRAB OUR BEST Expert MLB Picks for 2011 MLB Betting! —–>
2012-13 Football Previews – (ACC) – Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech has simply been one of the most consistent programs of the past decade and a half of college football. The Hokies are all about coaching continuity; head coach Frank Beamer has been at the helm for over 25 years (the 2012 campaign marks his 26th season holding the clipboard in Blacksburg); offensive co-ordinator Bryan Stinespring is in his 20th year on the staff and “D”
co-ordinator Bud Foster has held that position since 1995.
2012-13 Football Previews – Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) – North Carolina (NC) State Wolfpack
It has been a long road of incremental steps for the Wolfpack during head coach Tom O’Brien’s tenure. Injuries, flirtations from the baseball diamond and transfers have seen a lot of NC State’s best talent squandered; it also must compete every year with a cross-state rival Tar Heels squad that reels in a lot of the best recruits in the state.
2012-13 Football Previews – Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Tech head coach Paul Johnson – quirky option offense and all – knows how to bring a scrappy team to the yard. In his first season wearing the headset in 2007 – with predominately underclassman players on the roster – Johnson guided the Jackets to a 9-3 record, and they haven’t looked back.
This season, Georgia Tech once again has a competitive team that has the assets to contend with North Carolina or Virginia Tech in the ACC Coastal division. The Jackets will have to deal with a tricky schedule, but it’s always a ton of planning for opposing defenses when they face Tech’s triple option; especially because the offense seems to be slowly developing a more comprehensive passing attack in recent seasons.
ACC 2012-13 Football Previews: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Coach: Paul Johnson
2011 Record: 8-5
Georgia Tech Gambling Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS:
Even though most people don’t associate Georgia Tech with passing, it’s easy to forget that successful pro WRs Calvin Johnson and, more recently, Demaryius Thomas have gone through Atlanta. Although don’t be confused for a second: Coach Johnson and the Yellow Jackets hang their hat on the run game. Tech’s multi-look option offense will be powered by QB Tevin Washington, and RBs David Sims, Orwin Smith and B.J. Bostic. Look for back-up RB Charles Perkins and second-string pivot Synjyn Days to also get some looks. The efforts will be underscored by Tech’s offensive line, which is the best Johnson has had in his tenure. Junior LG Will Jackson is outstanding, and RG Omoregi Uzzi, C Jay Finch and LT Ray Beno are all well-suited to the scheme.
On “D”, Tech has some of its usual versatile athletes, but perhaps the best of the bunch is junior CB Louis Young. He has been flying under the radar, but perhaps not for long, as he has all the tools to play DB at the next level. Linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, DE Izaan Cross and safety Isaiah Johnson should also stand out on defense. Also, look for a big spike in production from sophomore LB Quayshawn Nealy, who registered 52 tackles in ’11 and should start at Will ’backer. Tech always seems to have a couple defenders every year that have a nice blend of size and speed, and project well for pro football.
The special teams duties will be handled by junior K Justin Moore and junior P Sean Poole, both returning starters. The Jackets should improve in special teams productivity, with the addition of special teams coach David Walkosky.
2012-13 Georgia Tech Football Prediction: 9-4
Head coach Johnson has a fantastic track record at Georgia Southern and Navy, and he produced a winning ball-club in Atlanta as soon as he arrived five seasons ago, even though Tech at the time had one of the youngest rosters in the ACC. This might be the most talented overall crop that Johnson’s had run out of the tunnel. An experienced offensive line should really maximize the efficacy of the triple option and the previously mentioned defenders should shine on the other side of the ball.
The scheduling gods didn’t do GT any favors, though. Tech plays road games at Virginia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina and Georgia. Tech also gets Miami on Sept. 22 and an at-times-pesky BYU squad drawn from out of conference. I’ll call for merely a one win improvement from last year – not because the Yellow Jackets aren’t talented – but because that away schedule is a gauntlet.
2012-13 Football Previews – (MAC) – NIU
You might be surprised to learn that Northern Illinois has the longest current winning streak in all of FBS football right now. Northern Illinois has won nine straight games heading into this season. The Huskies won the MAC Championship and their bowl game in Dave Doeren’s first season as their coach.
2012-13 Football Previews – (MAC) – Kent St.
Darrell Hazzell took the Kent State job before last season, and the team proceeded to start 0-6 against FBS competitors. In those six games, the Golden Flashes averaged a pathetic 7 points per game on the offensive end. By the end of the year, the Golden Flashes had a 5-7 record and some momentum heading into the 2012 season.
2012-13 Football Previews – (C-USA) – ECU
Ruffin McNeill’s goal was to take Skip Holtz’s success and move it to the next level at East Carolina. In his first two years that hasn’t worked out. The defense has been awful and the offense has been one-dimensional. The Pirates have gone 5-7 in consecutive seasons, and the fan base expects more.
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MLB Power Rankings – Aug 20th
Dave B’s MLB Power Ratings – Aug 20
September is nearly here and as always we are seeing some clear separation between the haves and the have-nots in Major League Baseball. There are only two real close division races in the Bigs – the rest of the divisions have leaders running away.
