by Vegas Writer
Tuesday, Sep 12, 2023Earlier this year I started a daily recap, but I felt it lacked in substance on some days, while providing solid insight on others.
I abandoned it and wanted to perfect it in time for the football season, and vowed to bring you something weekly, every Tuesday in a different manner.
So beginning today, every Tuesday I'll recap my week of picks, possibly review some minor tidbits that stood out in sports not played on a gridiron, and give you a little insight on the forthcoming week.
The reason I'll avoid football on this recap? Because Wednesday you're getting my College Football observations and Thursday you're getting my NFL power rankings.
So let's get started, by looking back.
Since last Tuesday, I'm on a 12-6-1 roll in every sport, including an 8-3 run in college and pro football. And part of those eight winners was my Conference USA Game of the Month winner on Liberty on Saturday, and on Sunday, my NFC South Game of the Month winner on the Falcons and AFC North Dog of the Month winner on the Browns.
The College Football run has been quite impressive since Week 0, as I've nailed six of my last seven releases on the campus gridiron. The lone loss? I fell well short with my College Football Total of the Week on SMU-Oklahoma over this past Saturday.
Breaking down favorites and dogs, I've hit two of the three underdogs I've released and seven of the 11 favorites I've offered.
Sitting at 4-2 in the NFL, I'm a perfect 3-0 with underdogs - all three winning outright. I gave you the Lions over Kansas City on opening night, the Browns over Cincinnati on Sunday, and the Jets over Buffalo on Monday.
As for MLB action, a 3-3-1 week lost a little bit of money, but I did cash my two Games of the Year since last Tuesday, hitting the Yankees Run Line with my A.L. Game of the Year on Tuesday and my N.L. Dog of the Year on the Marlins (+130) on Wednesday.
Only one paid release in the WNBA this past week, as I nailed my Eastern Conference Game of the Month on the Sky over Indiana last Tuesday.
Looking ahead, we begin with the postseason getting underway Wednesday.
The WNBA Playoffs are upon us, with last year's Finals participants tipping things off on opening night. Connecticut is laying -9 1/2 to Minnesota in what will be an intriguing 3 vs. 6 matchup, and defending champion Las Vegas is laying -16 to Chicago in the 1 vs. 8 matchup.
Connecticut may have beaten the Lynx in three of the four meetings this season, but Minnesota has been one of the most competitive teams down the stretch. Since opening the season 0-6, the Lynx are 19-15. Connecticut rolls into the postseason having split its final 12 games. It's also on a blase-blase 5-4 run at home - including a home split with these same Lynx. Big numbers against Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve are always dangerous.
On Friday, in the other quarterfinal games, second-seeded New York is laying -9 to No. 7 seed Washington and in another very intriguing series, fourth-seeded Dallas is laying 6 1/2 to the No. 5 seed Atlanta.
The Dream have the potential of upsetting Dallas in the opening round, led by former Wing Allisha Gray. She left the Wings in the offseason and has been a key component in Atlanta's lineup since arriving. Gray has scored in double digits in 35 of the 38 games she's played. And if there is one opponent she is hoping to find her game it's Dallas, which is 3-0 against the Dream this season. Gray and the Dream will be out for revenge, so beware of the big numbers in this series.
On the MLB diamond, I'm going to have my eyes set on the A.L. East, specifically this weekend when the second-place Tampa Bay Rays visit the first-place Baltimore Orioles in a critical four-game series that could see a change at the top spot.
From the National League, an East-division showdown between the Braves and Marlins in Miami piques my interest. Nobody is going to catch Atlanta, that's a given. But the Marlins are chasing an N.L. Wild-Card berth, as they enter the week 1 1/2 game off the pace. As of Tuesday, the Marlins are the hottest team in the division having won seven of 10. Problem for them is they've lost nine of their 10 meetings with Atlanta this season. This late in the season, though, every postseason contender can be dangerous.
Let's get ready for a big week of action, as the football runs continue, and this overall success rolls into Tuesday night's MLB Game of the Month.
I abandoned it and wanted to perfect it in time for the football season, and vowed to bring you something weekly, every Tuesday in a different manner.
So beginning today, every Tuesday I'll recap my week of picks, possibly review some minor tidbits that stood out in sports not played on a gridiron, and give you a little insight on the forthcoming week.
The reason I'll avoid football on this recap? Because Wednesday you're getting my College Football observations and Thursday you're getting my NFL power rankings.
So let's get started, by looking back.
Since last Tuesday, I'm on a 12-6-1 roll in every sport, including an 8-3 run in college and pro football. And part of those eight winners was my Conference USA Game of the Month winner on Liberty on Saturday, and on Sunday, my NFC South Game of the Month winner on the Falcons and AFC North Dog of the Month winner on the Browns.
The College Football run has been quite impressive since Week 0, as I've nailed six of my last seven releases on the campus gridiron. The lone loss? I fell well short with my College Football Total of the Week on SMU-Oklahoma over this past Saturday.
Breaking down favorites and dogs, I've hit two of the three underdogs I've released and seven of the 11 favorites I've offered.
Sitting at 4-2 in the NFL, I'm a perfect 3-0 with underdogs - all three winning outright. I gave you the Lions over Kansas City on opening night, the Browns over Cincinnati on Sunday, and the Jets over Buffalo on Monday.
As for MLB action, a 3-3-1 week lost a little bit of money, but I did cash my two Games of the Year since last Tuesday, hitting the Yankees Run Line with my A.L. Game of the Year on Tuesday and my N.L. Dog of the Year on the Marlins (+130) on Wednesday.
Only one paid release in the WNBA this past week, as I nailed my Eastern Conference Game of the Month on the Sky over Indiana last Tuesday.
Looking ahead, we begin with the postseason getting underway Wednesday.
The WNBA Playoffs are upon us, with last year's Finals participants tipping things off on opening night. Connecticut is laying -9 1/2 to Minnesota in what will be an intriguing 3 vs. 6 matchup, and defending champion Las Vegas is laying -16 to Chicago in the 1 vs. 8 matchup.
Connecticut may have beaten the Lynx in three of the four meetings this season, but Minnesota has been one of the most competitive teams down the stretch. Since opening the season 0-6, the Lynx are 19-15. Connecticut rolls into the postseason having split its final 12 games. It's also on a blase-blase 5-4 run at home - including a home split with these same Lynx. Big numbers against Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve are always dangerous.
On Friday, in the other quarterfinal games, second-seeded New York is laying -9 to No. 7 seed Washington and in another very intriguing series, fourth-seeded Dallas is laying 6 1/2 to the No. 5 seed Atlanta.
The Dream have the potential of upsetting Dallas in the opening round, led by former Wing Allisha Gray. She left the Wings in the offseason and has been a key component in Atlanta's lineup since arriving. Gray has scored in double digits in 35 of the 38 games she's played. And if there is one opponent she is hoping to find her game it's Dallas, which is 3-0 against the Dream this season. Gray and the Dream will be out for revenge, so beware of the big numbers in this series.
On the MLB diamond, I'm going to have my eyes set on the A.L. East, specifically this weekend when the second-place Tampa Bay Rays visit the first-place Baltimore Orioles in a critical four-game series that could see a change at the top spot.
From the National League, an East-division showdown between the Braves and Marlins in Miami piques my interest. Nobody is going to catch Atlanta, that's a given. But the Marlins are chasing an N.L. Wild-Card berth, as they enter the week 1 1/2 game off the pace. As of Tuesday, the Marlins are the hottest team in the division having won seven of 10. Problem for them is they've lost nine of their 10 meetings with Atlanta this season. This late in the season, though, every postseason contender can be dangerous.
Let's get ready for a big week of action, as the football runs continue, and this overall success rolls into Tuesday night's MLB Game of the Month.
