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NFL Preseason Stats and Trends and Handicapping Info for Thursday
Lions at Redskins (-2 ½, 40) – 7:30 PM EST
Detroit
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (6-11 SU, 8-9 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, Kellen Moore, Garrett Gilbert
The Lions dominated the woeful Jets in their preseason opener, 23-3 as four-point home favorites. Detroit racked up over 400 yards of offense, including 193 yards on the ground, highlighted by Nebraska rookie Ameer Abdullah’s 67 yards. Detroit accumulated 26 first downs, compared to six from New York, as the Lions improved to 4-1 in their last five preseason openers.
Since 2011, the Lions have turned into one of the best underdogs in preseason action, covering six of the last seven when receiving points in the exhibition season, including a 3-0 ATS mark in 2014. In five preseason games since Caldwell took over, Detroit has cashed the ‘under’ four times.
Washington
Head Coach: Jay Gruden (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Robert Griffin III, Colt McCoy, Kirk Cousins
The Redskins rallied from a 14-3 deficit to beat the Browns, 20-17 last Thursday in a pick-em spot. In spite of the close score, Washington outgained Cleveland by 198 yards, as the Redskins turned the ball over twice in the win. Kirk Cousins put together a solid outing for the ‘Skins by completing 12 of 14 passes for 154 yards, while leading Washington to the go-ahead score in the third quarter.
Washington may not have performed well in the 2014 regular season by going 4-12, but the Redskins won three of four preseason games last August. The ‘under’ improved to 4-1 in Gruden’s preseason tenure, while the Redskins enter Thursday’s action riding an eight-game home exhibition winning streak since 2011.
Bills at Browns (-3, 40) – 8:00 PM EST
Buffalo
Head Coach: Rex Ryan (11-14 SU, 11-14 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Tyrod Taylor, Matt Cassel, E.J. Manuel, Matt Simms
The Bills are definitely not sold on a quarterback as they creep closer to their regular season opener against the Colts. Buffalo dropped its preseason opener to Carolina, 25-24 as three-point favorites, in spite of racking 368 yards of offense. The Bills held the ball for over 37 minutes, as E.J. Manuel tossed a 51-yard touchdown pass in third quarter. However, Manuel isn’t the front-runner for Buffalo’s starting quarterback.
Former Raven Tyrod Taylor gets the start at Cleveland, coming off a 5 for 8 effort against Carolina for 49 yards. Taylor will give way to Matt Cassel, who threw just one incompletion in eight attempts last week, then Manuel will likely see time in the second half after all the starters are out. LeSean McCoy is sidelined this week after suffering a hamstring injury, but another ex-Eagle stepped up against the Panthers as Bryce Brown rushed for 52 yards and one touchdown on six carries.
The Bills have dropped three of their past four preseason games away from Orchard Park, while Buffalo is 1-7 ATS in its last eight preseason contests overall.
Cleveland
Head Coach: Mike Pettine (1-4, SU, 2-3 ATS in preseason)
Quarterback Rotation: Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel, Thaddeus Lewis
The Browns didn’t accomplish much offensively in their 20-17 setback to the Redskins last Thursday, accumulating 170 yards. The lone highlight came from Johnny Manziel, who scampered for a 12-yard touchdown run several plays following a Washington fumble on a punt return. Manziel didn’t put up bad numbers, completing 7 of 11 passes for 42 yards, but the Heisman Trophy winner will once again play second-fiddle to Josh McCown, who makes his second straight start.
Cleveland hasn’t performed well in the preseason under Pettine, losing four of five games. Three of the four defeats have come by three points or less, while owning a 1-3 ATS record as a favorite. Can the Browns bust out of the gate against the Bills like they did against the Redskins? Cleveland scored 14 points in the first half last Thursday, a stark contrast from last preseason when the Browns failed to put up more than seven points in the opening half in three of four exhibition games.
MLB Stats and Trends and Handicapping Info for Thursday
National League
Giants @ Pirates
Peavy is 1-1, 3.18 in his last four starts; four of his last six went over.
Morton is 1-1, 4.70 in his last five starts; three of his last four went over.
Pittsburgh won seven of last nine games with the Giants; over is 3-0-2 in last five series games. Pirates won ten of last 12 games (over 8-3-2). SF won five of its last seven games; under is 7-2-1 in its last ten.
Diamondbacks @ Reds
Corbin is 2-0, 3.15 in his last four starts (over 3-1).
Lamb allowed five runs in six IP (99 PT) in his first MLB start.
Arizona won three of last four games with Cincinnati; seven of last eight tilts in series stayed under the total. D’backs lost five of last seven games; three of last four stayed under. Reds lost eight of last ten games; their last three all stayed under the total.
Phillies @ Marlins
Williams is 1-1, 2.00 in his last three starts.
Hand is 1-1, 3.71 in his last three starts (under 2-1).
Philly won three of last four games with Miami (over 3-1); Phils lost six of last eight games (over 6-3 in last nine). Marlins scored 28 runs in winning three of last four games; over is 6-1-1 in their last eight.
Braves @ Cubs
Foltynewicz is 1-2, 6.45 in his last four starts (over 3-0 in last three).
Arrieta is 3-0, 1.65 in his last four starts; under is 5-1-1 in his last seven.
Atlanta won seven of last ten games with the Cubs, with last three staying under- they scored one run total in last two. Braves lost seven of last nine games overall (over 3-2 in last five). Cubs lost last three games, allowing 25 runs in last two– five of their last six games went over.
Nationals @ Rockies
Scherzer is 0-1, 7.80 in his last three starts (over 4-1 in last five).
Flande is 0-0, 5.91 in his last two starts; his last three went over.
Washington is 8-3 in last 11 games with Colorado; over is 4-2-1 in last seven series games. Nationals won last two nights after losing six in a row; under is 5-3 in their last eight. Rockies lost eight of last nine games; four of their last six games went over the total.
American League
Indians @ Bronx
Tomlin allowed two runs in 6.1 IP (84 PT) in his first ’15 start.
Nova is 4-1, 3.68 in his last five starts; under is 6-1-1 in his last eight.
Bronx lost four of last five games with Cleveland (over 6-3 in last nine), but they won six of last seven games overall; five of their last eight stayed under the total. Indians lost four of last five games (last three all went over).
Rangers @ Tigers
Perez is 1-0, 3.10 in his last three starts (under 2-1).
Simon is 1-1, 7.27 in his last three starts (over 7-3 in last ten).
Texas lost its last three games with Detroit; six of last seven series games got over the total. Rangers won six of last seven games overall; under is 4-1-1 in their last six. Tigers won three of last four games, scoring 25 runs the last two nights- their last three games went over, with Cabrera back in lineup.
Twins @ Orioles
Duffey in 1-1, 6.75 in his first two starts (over 1-1).
Gonzalez is 0-2, 6.64 in his last ten starts; over is 7-3 in his last ten.
Minnesota won its last four games with Baltimore; over is 3-1-1 in last five in series. Twins lost five of last seven games; four of last six stayed under. Orioles won five of last six games; three of their last four went over the total.
Royals @ Red Sox
Duffy is 2-0, 2.76 in his last three starts; eight of his last nine stayed under.
Miley is 1-1, 4.70 in his last six starts; four of his last five went over.
Royals lost eight of last ten games with Boston; last five series games went over the total. KC won its last five games, allowing 12 runs (under 4-1). Red Sox won four of last six games; their last ten games all went over.
Rays @ Astros
Archer is 1-2, 5.33 in his last four starts; his last three went over.
McHugh is 1-1, 1.80 in his last three starts; eight of his last nine stayed under.
Tampa Bay lost five of last six games; under is 3-1 in last four games. Astros won five of last seven games; eight of their last 11 stayed under total. Rays won eight of their last 11 games with Houston (under 8-2-1) but lost last two.
White Sox @ Angels
Quintana is 0-1, 4.34 in his last three starts; five of his last six went over.
Tropeano is making first start since July 24; he is 1-1, 3.00 in his two starts this season (under 2-0).
White Sox lost last three games with Angels, scoring four runs; home side won 12 of last 13 series games. Chicago lost five of last six games; over is 1-3 in its last four games. Angels won last three games; six of their last nine went under the total.
Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
SF-Pitt– Peavy 5-5; Morton 11-4
Az-Cin– Corbin 4-4; Lamb 0-1
Phil-Mia– Williams 7-12; Hand 2-4
Atl-Chi– Foltynewicz 6-7; Arrieta 16-8 (8-1 last 9)
Wsh-Colo– Scherzer 13-11; Flande 2-2
Clev-NY– Tomlin 0-1; Nova 5-4
Tex-Det– Perez 4-2; Simon 13-9
Min-Balt– Duffey 1-1; Gonzalez 12-10
KC-Bos– Duffy 12-6 (7-1 last 8); Miley 11-13 (1-6 last 7)
TB-Hst– Archer 14-11; McHugh 15-9
Chi-LA– Quintana 9-15; Tropeano 1-1
Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
SF-Pitt– Peavy 1-10; Morton 8-15
Az-Cin– Corbin 1-8; Lamb 1-1
Phil-Mia– Williams 6-19; Hand 3-3
Atl-Chi– Foltynewicz Arrieta 4-24
Wsh-Colo– Scherzer 5-24; Flande 2-4
Clev-NY– Tomlin 0-1; Nova 1-9
Tex-Det– Perez 0-6; Simon 3-22
Min-Balt– Duffey 1-2; Gonzalez 6-22
KC-Bos– Duffy 4-18; Miley 7-24
TB-Hst– Archer 6-25; McHugh 8-24
Chi-LA– Quintana 13-24; Tropeano 0-2
Free Sports Picks from the Pro’s
Insider Sports Report
3* Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns Under 40 (-105)
Brandon Lang
40 Dime – Cleveland Browns
WISEGUY INSIDER
*NFL WISEGUY Washington Redskins -2.5
*NFL WISEGUY Cleveland Browns -3
Sheep
Open Order: $800 – Redskins -1
Dave Scandaliato
Redskins -140
Gabriel Dupont
30 Dime Preseason AFC Preseason Total of the Year
browns/bills under 40
Baseball Crusher
Texas Rangers -104
EZWINNERS
5* (919) Tampa Bay Rays +$102
Sports Cash System
Texas Rangers -104 over Detroit Tigers (Money Line Bet)
Boston Red Sox -109 over KC Royals (Money Line Bet)
Tampa Bay Rays + Houston Astros UNDER 7 (Total Runs Scored)
Cleveland Indians + New York Yankees OVER 8.5 (Total Runs Scored)
Frank Patron
10,000 Unit MLB – Texas Rangers +100
PAUL LEINER
100* MLB – Over 8.5 – Orioles/Twins
100* MLB – D’backs -130
50* MLB – Astros -105
Power Plays WIn
Chicago Cubs -1.5 RL
J.R STEVENS/SMOOTH44
(915) Minnesota +150
(918) Boston +110
JEFF BENTON
Dead Mortal Total – Part 4
50 DIME OVER 9 KANSAS CITY vs BOSTON REDSOX