4-23-14

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Paul Leiner

100* Spurs -8

100* Marlins / Braves Over 7

50* Indians -140

[Can'tPickAWinner]

River City Sharps

3 Units Kansas City Royals +120

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Steve's Golf Picks
We came close last week with a few guys in the running on a blustery weekend, but none of them could keep pace with Luke Donald and Matt Kuchar. Kuchar eventually pulled out a victory and is cementing himself as one of the games best. We move on to New Orleans where the players will try and be triumphant at a tremendous golf course. Let's take a closer look at TPC Louisiana and try and pick up a winner like we did last year here (Billy Horschel 35 to 1).
THE COURSE
The players will be testing their skills at TPC Louisiana this week. A Pete Dye designed course from 2003, TPC Louisiana has been the host of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the past 7 years. The tournament was played here in 2005 but then was forced to move to English Turn Golf and CC for a year due to Hurricane Katrina. The storm caused severe damage to the course but allowed Pete Dye and others to improve it. The team shortened the course by 179 yards and altered the set ups around many greens.
TPC Louisiana will be playing as a Par 72 this week at a total of 7341 yards. It features only 5 waters hazards but extremely well placed and contoured bunkers will test the golfers this week (71 in total). Pete Dye has a knack for knowing where players sight lines will be, and he places sand traps in areas that will punish a below average shot.
My favourite hole at TPC Louisiana is the 348 yard Par 4, 16th. This hole was shortened by just over 80 yards after the Hurricane, resulting a hole that gives the players options. Longer hitter may be tempted to attack the green with a driver, while shorter hitter will lay up to a proper wedge yardage. The problem with going for this green is the overhanging trees, a large fairway bunker, and water to the left side of the green. Many interesting numbers will appears on players score cards this week due to this very entertaining Par 4.
THE PLAYERS
The world's best will now have a stretch of tournaments coming up that they will play in to build towards The Players Championship (May 8th to 11th). We will get to watch just one player currently residing inside the World Top 20 on the Official Golf rankings (Justin Rose). Many young faces will battle it out in the big easy which should produce a very exciting event.
With such little high end talent in this tournament I feel it will be a bit more wide open than usual. I would not be at all surprised if we witnessed yet another packed leaderboard this week (hopefully with our guy winning).
Steve's Six Pack


JEFF OVERTON (150/1) - Jeff has a history of playing well on certain courses and this is one of them. He has had an average year with 5 Top 25's in 13 starts, but will be excited about heading to New Orleans this week. 2010 was the closest he came at the Zurich Classic when he finished solo 2nd. Last year Jeff played much better here than his final place showed, as it was an opening round 73 that mainly caused his T42 result. Overton played his first PGA Tour event in 2005 and he has still yet to taste victory. Jeff has finished in the runner up four times, and has been working on his game very hard lately. It has always been his short game that has held Jeff back, and that is exactly what he has focused on. Avoiding the one bad round will be crucial this week but look for his putter to be hot on greens that he is very familiar with.
ANDREW LOUPE (110/1) - Loupe absolutely bombs the ball off the tee, one of the main reasons he will have success in his first career start at the Zurich Classic. He attacks golf courses and should be able to overpower this Par 72. Loupe had a great chance to win just under a month ago at the the Valero Texas Open but struggle to a final round 75 (finished T4). Much was made of how long it takes Andrew to hit the ball, as his pre-shot routine is repeated. He does however have one of the best putting strokes on Tour, as Andrew ranks 19th for Strokes Gained through putting. That stat is even more impressive considering this is his first year on Tour, and first time seeing most of these greens. Loupe is a name you will see on leaderboards in the coming weeks, and this track sets up well for a maiden victory.
CAMERON TRINGALE (55/1) - Recently at the Shell Houston Open it looked as though Tringale was going to crack through and pick up his first career PGA Tour victory. He shot a final round 71 though and finished in solo 4th. Tringale's game is trending towards a victory though, as his accuracy statistics have been improving. Tringale is one of the shorter hitters on Tour, meaning he has certain weeks when his chances of winning are very low. This week though he will be able to deal with Par 72 that is just over 7300 yards. Cameron hits over 67% of his Greens in Regulation in 2014, something that may come easier this week based on past results at TPC Louisiana. He has competed here four times and his results have been ( 2010 - T28, 2011 - T18, 2012 - T7, 2013 - MC).
CHARLES HOWELL III (60/1) - Another player who has been snake bitten over the years has been Charles Howell III. His last win came in February of 2007, though he has had plenty of close calls over the years. Coming out of Oklahoma State in 2000, Charles was highly regarded as someone who would be competing alongside Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods for years. He has never reached this lofty prediction, but does possess all the talent to do so. Charles has enjoyed some good finishes at this tournament in the past (2011 - T13, 2009 - T2), but has been hampered by one bad round most years. He is one of the most accurate iron players on Tour (T8 for Greens in Regulation), and also one of the best sand players (9th on Tour). He is also 10th on Tour in Scrambling. I expect someone who is this accurate to have plenty of birdie opportunities, but that fact that he is so great at getting up and down gives me confidence if Charles is ever in trouble. It is time for his next win, and TPC Louisiana is the perfect place.
RORY SABBATINI (90/1) - Rory's last win on Tour came in 2011 at The Honda Classic, but this week sets up well for the South African. He is coming off a great tournament last week at the RBC Heritage, where Sabbatini finished in a tie for 9th. Though he has not enjoyed many great finishes in 2014 (only 2 Top 25's), he will be confident going to TPC Louisiana. In 2009 he finished in a tie for 2nd here, and his game sets up terrifically for another excellent finish here. It has always been Rory's putting that has held him back, but last week he rolled the ball beautifully. Rory also knows these greens very well, so we can expect the putter to stay hot. TPC Louisiana is a place where the winning score will be between -17 and -19. He loves making birdies and is one of the best on Tour at making eagles(ranks 14th). We will enjoy watching this entertaining guy going very low all week.
Nick Watney (45/1) - Watney won this event in 2007 (the first season at this course), and will look to get back in the winners circle this week. Nick has been busy helping out his wife Amber with the couples first born baby for the past month. He is however ready to get back to making birdies. Watney has made the cut in all but one of his events, he has only finished inside the Top 25 once though. Nick obviously has a goal of making the 2014 Ryder Cup team, and to do so he will need to go on a solid run before the season is done. I expect that to start this week in New Orleans, as Nick has stated previously how much he enjoys this tournament and course. Look for Nick to build of last years edition of the Zurich Classic, one which saw him shoot in the 60's in all four rounds. Expect this proud father to celebrate with his newly expanded family at weeks end.
HEAD TO HEAD


We have just one HEAD TO HEAD and we will go two units on it:
Jeff Overton (+110) over David Hearn - Overton has enjoyed success at this tournament and should be able to take this match up. He is the type of player who can get on great birdie runs, and go very low. Hearn is a player who i feel has more success when the tournament is difficult. He has played well here the past few years but looks out of sorts right now, missing the past two cuts.
Let's get that winner in the Big Easy this week.
Steve

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ecks and Bacon

Ben lee lost on Tuesday in Soccer with Atletico Madrid -$105/Chelsea.

Ben lee won his three team six point teaser in the NBA on Tuesday.

(1) Pacers from -7 to -1/Hawks (W)

(2) Nets from +4.5 to +10.5/Raptors (W)

(3) Wizards from +5.5 to +11.5/Bulls (W)

"Mr Chalk" won on Tuesday in MLB with the Cubs -$120/Diamondbacks.

E&B have another three team six point teaser in the in the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday.

(1) Heat from -10 to -4/Bobcats

(2) Spurs from -8 to -2/Mavricks

(3) Rockets from -6 to Pk/Trailblazers

For Wednesday in MLB "Mr Chalk" likes the Braves -$165/Marlins.

Ben lee is 2-3 -$128 for week twenty six 102-115-5 -$2063

"Mr Chalk" is 10-8 -$119 for the 2014 MLB season

All E&B selections will be for $50 unless noted

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Sean Higgs

Play Title: 4* Money-Maker
Play Selected: Money Line: 155

Taking the MARLINS here. Ok. I get it. Harang is having a career month. Leading the NL in ERA (.70) , throwing 7 no-hit innings last time out and actually carrying 2 no-hitters into the 6th of his last 2 starts. But this is 35 year old Aaron Harang we are talking about. He still has walked 12 guys in his 25 innings of work. 9 Hits allowed! Come on. Off a 121 pitch performance, this isn't going to continue. For the Fish we have Nate Eovaldi. The kid throws fire. 23Ks in 25 innings and just 3 walks. He is 1-1 with a 2.79 career ERA at Turner Field. 4* Money-Maker MIAMI MARLINS

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Doc's Sports Picks For Major League Baseball 4/23

3-unit Play Take #951 Miami Marlins (+135) over Atlanta Braves (12:10pm EST)


3-unit Play Take #956 Colorado Rockies (-105) over San Francisco Giants (3:10pm EST)


3-unit Play Take #965 Los Angeles Dodgers (-160) over Philadelphia Phillies (10:10pm EST)


4-unit Play Take #966 Oakland A's (-155) over Texas Rangers (3:35pm EST)


3-unit Play Take #967 Houston Astros (+130) over Seattle Mariners (3:40pm EST)


4-unit Play Take #976 Tampa Bay Rays (-180) over Minnesota Twins (7:10pm EST)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

GOODFELLA

FREE 1* on MIAMI MARLINS

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Steve Stevens

Atlanta Braves ML

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Marc Lawrence LTS:
Rockets-6

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Las Vegas Pipeline

10* Rockets

10* LAD

10* Blackhawks

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cleveland Insider (4-2-1 +9.25 yest)

NBA
5* Houston Rockets -6 over the Portland Trailblazers

MLB
5* Washington Nationals -123 over the LA Angels

NHL
5* Chicago Blackhawks -150 over the Saint Louis Blues

[golden contender]

GC: MLB Play

Wednesday card has 5* 15-0 NBA Power system of the week and the MLB Totals play of the week from a Solid totals system that averages 11 runs per game. In the NHL its another historical system side. NBA Top play cashes and NHL Moves to 6-1 last 7. Free MLB System play below.


The Free MLB System play is on the Chicago Cubs. Game 954 at 2:20 eastern. The Cubs fit a solid system that has a 68-15 record. We want to play on home favorites off a home favored win by 5 or more runs in a game where the totals was 8 or less, if they had 10 or more hits, and their opponent is off a road dog loss and scored 2 or less runs with 5+ hits and both teams made no more than 1 error.. The Cubs have won 3 of the last 4 at home vs leftys. Arizona has lost 11 of 13 as a road dog off a road dog loss by 5 or more runs and is a dismal 5-18 this year including 0-6 vs teams under .500. W. Miley pitches today and he allowed 7 runs in 7 innings in his only start here. J. Samardjiza goes for the Cubs and he is off to a fast start this season with a 1.29 era. Look for the Cubs to take another from Arizona. On Hump day we will bang your book good with the 5* NBA 15-0 Power system game of the week, the MLB Totals of the week and another NHL Historical system side. NHL Cashed again and is on a 6-1 run. NBA Top play cashed again last night. MLB has been solid the whole month. Jump on now and Flatten your book on Hump day. For the free MLB Play take the Chicago Cubs. GC

[Can'tPickAWinner]

KELSO NBA

50--heat
10--mavs

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Chase Diamond

10* Chicago Cubs -126

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Wunderdog Sports Free Pick

Game: San Diego Padres @ Milwaukee Brewers
Time: Wednesday 04/23 8:10 PM Eastern
Pick: Game Total UNDER 7.5 (-105) at 5Dimes

The Milwaukee Brewers have been the big surprise to open the 2014 MLB season, and come into this contest with the best record in baseball. They have done it off the mound as the Brewers rank second overall in team ERA, and their pen is getting it done as their bullpen ERA ranks #5 best. San Diego has not improved upon a bad offense from a year ago, as they rank #27 of 30 teams with a team batting average of just .228. Pitching has dominated the first two games in this series with just a total of 10 runs scored. San Diego is in a doubly good spot on the UNDER as the Padres are 20-5-2 to the UNDER in their last 27 after their opponent scores 2 or fewer in their previous game, and 20-5 to the UNDER when they scored 2 or less. The Brewers 34-15-2 to the UNDER in their last 51 games overall. Go with the UNDER in this one.