betED: The Line
It?s getting close to the real thing in the NFL, and in preparation for the start of the regular season, this week we feature a pair of NFL preseason matchups to get you in the mood. But first, with MLB pennant races in full swing, we have a pair of baseball games: The LA Dodgers battle the New York Mets in New York City on Friday night, and the Detroit Tigers host the New York Yankees on Saturday night. In the NFL, it?s the New England Patriots at the Carolina Panthers on Friday night, and the Dallas Cowboys at the Houston Texans in an all-Texas matchup on Saturday. In Hot Props, it?s UFC 74: Respect featuring a heavyweight title bout between Randy Couture and Gabriel Gonzaga on Saturday in Las Vegas.
TRIVIA
Who was the first player in NFL History to throw 30 touchdown passes in a single season?
1.George Blanda
2.Otto Graham
3.Y.A. Tittle
4.Johnny Unitas
ANSWER AT BOTTOM
MLB
Friday
LA DODGERS @ NY METS
7:10 pm ET, XM 183
The LA Dodgers continue their quest to move up the NL West standings when they travel to the East Coast to face the NL East-leading New York Mets on Friday night.
The Dodgers are 65-61 SU and 66-53-6 OU. LA will start RHP Brad Penny (ERA: 2.59, W/L: 14-3). The Dodgers strike out less than any team in the league with 5.1 per game. The Mets are 71-54 SU and 59-62-4 OU. They?ll counter with LHP Oliver Perez(ERA: 3.52, W/L: 11-8). The Mets are second best in the league in giving up hits, allowing 8.3 per game.
betED Line: Dodgers +1.5(-225) Total: 8
Bet this game!
Saturday
NY YANKEES @ DETROIT TIGERS
7:05 pm ET, XM 176
The slumping Detroit Tigers will try to gain ground on the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians when they host the New York Yankees Saturday night.
The Yankees are 71-56 SU and 58-57-12 OU. New York will start righthander Chien-Ming Wang (ERA: 4.10, W/L: 14-6). Wang pitched better against the Tigers on Sunday, but not by much. He used his sinker more, which was a plus, according to manager Joe Torre, but sometimes lost concentration with runners on base, as evidenced by Detroit's two stolen bases and Wang's balk. The two stolen bases were the same amount Wang had allowed in his previous 13 starts. The Tigers are 68-58 SU and 68-51-7 OU. Detroit will counter with righthander Jeremy Bonderman (ERA: 4.65, W/L: 10-6). Bonderman has gone winless in his past seven starts while his ERA has risen more than a full run. His last two starts, however, have been more of the hard-luck variety. After picking up a no-decision for seven innings of two-run ball Aug. 14 against the Indians, a Brandon Inge led to an unearned run that put the Yankees ahead for good last Sunday in the Bronx. He finished off the Yankees in the AL Division Series the last time he faced the Bronx Bombers at Comerica Park, so a reprise would be welcomed in Detroit.
betED Line: Yankees -155 Total: -
Bet this game!
NFL PRESEASON
Friday
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS
8:00 pm ET, CBS
The New England Patriots, an early Super Bowl favorite, face the Carolina Panthers in NFL preseason action at Bank of America Stadium.
New England had four turnovers in their 27-24 loss to Tennessee last week, falling as 5-point home favorites. The 51 points scored were over the game total of 35. Tom Brady went 10-for-19 for 145 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Carolina committed three turnovers in their 27-10 loss at Philadelphia last week. The Panthers were 3-point road underdogs and the 37 points were over the total of 35.
betED Line: Even Total: 38
Bet this game!
Saturday
DALLAS COWBOYS @ HOUSTON TEXANS
8:00 pm ET
The undefeated Dallas Cowboys take on the Houston Texans in an all-Texas matchup Saturday night in Houston.
In their last game, the Cowboys scored 24 points in the first half and held off a late rally to beat the Denver Broncos 31-20. The Cowboys easily covered the 4.5-point spread, and the combined 51 points was way over the game total of 34.5.
Houston beat the Arizona Cardinals 33-20 as 3-point road underdogs last weekend. The 53 points scored were over the posted total of 35.5.
betED Line: Cowboys (-2.5)(-110) Total: 40
Bet this game!
HOT PROPS
UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture will defend his title against Gabriel Gonzaga in the main event at UFC 74 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
After coming out of retirement in January, Couture, 44, challenged then-champion Tim Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 68 in March. Couture defeated Sylvia by unanimous decision to claim his third UFC heavyweight title. Gonzaga defeated Mirko Filipovic at UFC 70 to earn the right to fight Couture for the heavyweight title.
Who will win UFC 74?
1.Couture (+115)
2.Gonzaga (-135)
Bet this Fight
TRIVIA ANSWER
4. Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas did it in the 1959 season for the Baltimore Colts, throwing 32 TDs. The '59 season was the most he would ever throw, and he never led the league in TD passes again.
It?s getting close to the real thing in the NFL, and in preparation for the start of the regular season, this week we feature a pair of NFL preseason matchups to get you in the mood. But first, with MLB pennant races in full swing, we have a pair of baseball games: The LA Dodgers battle the New York Mets in New York City on Friday night, and the Detroit Tigers host the New York Yankees on Saturday night. In the NFL, it?s the New England Patriots at the Carolina Panthers on Friday night, and the Dallas Cowboys at the Houston Texans in an all-Texas matchup on Saturday. In Hot Props, it?s UFC 74: Respect featuring a heavyweight title bout between Randy Couture and Gabriel Gonzaga on Saturday in Las Vegas.
TRIVIA
Who was the first player in NFL History to throw 30 touchdown passes in a single season?
1.George Blanda
2.Otto Graham
3.Y.A. Tittle
4.Johnny Unitas
ANSWER AT BOTTOM
MLB
Friday
LA DODGERS @ NY METS
7:10 pm ET, XM 183
The LA Dodgers continue their quest to move up the NL West standings when they travel to the East Coast to face the NL East-leading New York Mets on Friday night.
The Dodgers are 65-61 SU and 66-53-6 OU. LA will start RHP Brad Penny (ERA: 2.59, W/L: 14-3). The Dodgers strike out less than any team in the league with 5.1 per game. The Mets are 71-54 SU and 59-62-4 OU. They?ll counter with LHP Oliver Perez(ERA: 3.52, W/L: 11-8). The Mets are second best in the league in giving up hits, allowing 8.3 per game.
betED Line: Dodgers +1.5(-225) Total: 8
Bet this game!
Saturday
NY YANKEES @ DETROIT TIGERS
7:05 pm ET, XM 176
The slumping Detroit Tigers will try to gain ground on the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians when they host the New York Yankees Saturday night.
The Yankees are 71-56 SU and 58-57-12 OU. New York will start righthander Chien-Ming Wang (ERA: 4.10, W/L: 14-6). Wang pitched better against the Tigers on Sunday, but not by much. He used his sinker more, which was a plus, according to manager Joe Torre, but sometimes lost concentration with runners on base, as evidenced by Detroit's two stolen bases and Wang's balk. The two stolen bases were the same amount Wang had allowed in his previous 13 starts. The Tigers are 68-58 SU and 68-51-7 OU. Detroit will counter with righthander Jeremy Bonderman (ERA: 4.65, W/L: 10-6). Bonderman has gone winless in his past seven starts while his ERA has risen more than a full run. His last two starts, however, have been more of the hard-luck variety. After picking up a no-decision for seven innings of two-run ball Aug. 14 against the Indians, a Brandon Inge led to an unearned run that put the Yankees ahead for good last Sunday in the Bronx. He finished off the Yankees in the AL Division Series the last time he faced the Bronx Bombers at Comerica Park, so a reprise would be welcomed in Detroit.
betED Line: Yankees -155 Total: -
Bet this game!
NFL PRESEASON
Friday
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS
8:00 pm ET, CBS
The New England Patriots, an early Super Bowl favorite, face the Carolina Panthers in NFL preseason action at Bank of America Stadium.
New England had four turnovers in their 27-24 loss to Tennessee last week, falling as 5-point home favorites. The 51 points scored were over the game total of 35. Tom Brady went 10-for-19 for 145 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Carolina committed three turnovers in their 27-10 loss at Philadelphia last week. The Panthers were 3-point road underdogs and the 37 points were over the total of 35.
betED Line: Even Total: 38
Bet this game!
Saturday
DALLAS COWBOYS @ HOUSTON TEXANS
8:00 pm ET
The undefeated Dallas Cowboys take on the Houston Texans in an all-Texas matchup Saturday night in Houston.
In their last game, the Cowboys scored 24 points in the first half and held off a late rally to beat the Denver Broncos 31-20. The Cowboys easily covered the 4.5-point spread, and the combined 51 points was way over the game total of 34.5.
Houston beat the Arizona Cardinals 33-20 as 3-point road underdogs last weekend. The 53 points scored were over the posted total of 35.5.
betED Line: Cowboys (-2.5)(-110) Total: 40
Bet this game!
HOT PROPS
UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture will defend his title against Gabriel Gonzaga in the main event at UFC 74 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
After coming out of retirement in January, Couture, 44, challenged then-champion Tim Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC 68 in March. Couture defeated Sylvia by unanimous decision to claim his third UFC heavyweight title. Gonzaga defeated Mirko Filipovic at UFC 70 to earn the right to fight Couture for the heavyweight title.
Who will win UFC 74?
1.Couture (+115)
2.Gonzaga (-135)
Bet this Fight
TRIVIA ANSWER
4. Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas did it in the 1959 season for the Baltimore Colts, throwing 32 TDs. The '59 season was the most he would ever throw, and he never led the league in TD passes again.
