SPORTS ADVISORS
NFL PRESEASON
San Francisco (1-1 SU and ATS) at Chicago (0-2 SU and ATS)
The 49ers, who have a quarterback controversy brewing, make their first preseason trip out of the Bay Area when they travel to Soldier Field to take on the Bears to open Week 3 play.
After managing just six points in their preseason opener at Oakland, the 49ers came back and throttled the Packers 34-6 last week at home, finishing with a 355-182 edge in total yards while easily cashing as a 2?-point home favorite. San Francisco is now 9-5 ATS in exhibition play since coach Mike Nolan took over in 2005, but the team has lost nine straight preseason road games, going 3-6 ATS.
Chicago has given up 53 points in its first two games, including last week?s 29-26 overtime loss to the Seahawks as a three-point road favorite. The Bears hung around despite an anemic offensive effort, getting outgained by an eye-popping 431-205 margin, with the Seahawks rushing for 241 yards. The Bears, who lost 24-20 to the Chiefs at home in Week 1, are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 preseason games at Soldier Field dating to 2002, going 3-9-1 ATS as a favorite during this stretch.
Alex Smith?s days as the 49ers? starting quarterback appear to be dwindling. With coaches typically giving their starters most of the playing time in Week 3, San Francisco will start J.T. O?Sullivan at quarterback and play him the entire first half, followed by Smith in the third quarter and Shaun Hill in the fourth. Last week, O?Sullivan was 8 of 17 for 154 yards, with one TD and one INT.
Chicago coach Lovie Smith has already made up his mind on his regular-season starting QB, giving Kyle Orton the nod over Rex Grossman. Orton is expected to play into the third quarter against the 49ers, followed by Grossman and Caleb Hanie. Orton came off the bench and went 5 of 9 for 43 yards last week, leading a field-goal drive late in the first half.
These teams met in Week 3 of last year?s preseason, with the Bears prevailing 31-28, but falling short as a 5?-point home favorite. They also faced off in Week 1 of the 2006 preseason, with San Francisco winning 28-14 as a one-point home underdog.
Including last year?s non-cover against the 49ers, the Bears are 1-4 ATS (2-3 SU) the last five years in Week 3 of the exhibition campaign.
The ?dog has been the play throughout the league thus far in the preseason, going 22-8-2 ATS this August.
Chicago has topped the total five times in its last six summer affairs since the start of last season. Also, the over has hit in each of the last two preseason clashes between these teams (both in Chicago). However, the under is still 4-1 in San Francisco?s last five August road games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees (67-59) at Toronto (65-61)
The Blue Jays send out ace Roy Halladay (14-9, 2.64 ERA) to wrap up a three-game series at Rogers Centre against the Yankees, who will start fellow right-hander Sidney Ponson (7-3, 4.19).
The teams have split the first two games of this set, with Toronto winning 2-1 on Monday and New York earning a 5-1 victory last night. The Blue Jays remain on runs of 7-1 overall, 7-3 in A.L. East play, 15-8 at home and a lengthy 44-14 in Halladay?s last 58 home starts. Meanwhile, the Yankees are 6-3 behind Ponson since signing him in June, but they are on slides of 4-7 overall, 2-6 on the highway and 2-6 against winning teams.
New York now holds a slim 6-5 edge in the season series with Toronto, and the host has won seven of the 11 clashes.
The Blue Jays have alternated wins and losses in Halladay?s last seven starts, with the veteran going 4-3 with a sterling 2.01 ERA over 53 2/3 innings during this stretch. On Saturday at Boston, Halladay shut down the Sox in a 4-1 victory, throwing a seven-hit complete game.
The Yanks have lost in three of Ponson?s last five starts, but they came away with a 3-2 home win Saturday over Kansas City. In that outing, Ponson allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Halladay is 6-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 11 home starts this season, and he?s 12-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 29 career appearances (27 starts) against New York. Ponson, who was with Texas the first 2? months of the season, is 4-3 with a 4.20 ERA in seven road starts this year, and he?s 7-10 with a 4.59 ERA in 19 career appearances (18 starts) against Toronto.
In this rivalry, the under is on streaks of 9-3 overall (2-0 in this series), 6-1 in Toronto and 7-0 with Halladay throwing at home for the Jays. The under is also 7-2 in New York?s last nine overall, 17-4-1 in Toronto?s last 22 games overall and 15-3 in Toronto?s last 18 at home. Finally, the total has stayed low in the last four starts for both Halladay and Ponson.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TORONTO and UNDER
Minnesota (72-54) at L.A. Angels (77-48)
Two of the American League?s top teams open up a four-game set in Anaheim, with the Angels giving the ball to John Lackey (10-2, 3.22 ERA) and the Twins trotting out Scott Baker (7-3, 3.91).
Los Angeles got a run in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday night to beat Tampa Bay 5-4, snapping a three-game losing skid and avoiding getting swept by the Rays. Although the Angels are still just 2-5 in their last seven outings, they?re carry the following positive streaks into this contest: 5-1 at home, 23-8 versus winning teams, 9-2 against right-handed starters and 21-7 when Lackey starts a series.
Minnesota beat Oakland 3-1 Wednesday to take two of three from the Athletics, giving the Twins a 38-18 mark in their last 56 games overall (5-1 in their last six). On the flip side, they are 3-7 in their last 10 on the road against right-handers and 4-9 in Baker?s last 13 starts against the A.L. West.
This is the second series of the season between these two, with Los Angeles having taken three of four games in a season-opening set at the Metrodome. The Angels are 7-1 in the last eight clashes in this rivalry and 19-7 in the last 26 meetings in L.A., and they are on a 5-0 tear when Baker starts for the Twins.
The Angels have gone 6-1 in Lackey?s last six starts, winning the last two. On Saturday at Cleveland, Lackey allowed three runs on six hits in six innings of a 4-3 victory. L.A. is also unbeaten won in Lackey?s last three home starts, piling up an eye-popping 36 runs in the process.
The Twins had lost two in a row behind Baker before Saturday?s 7-6 home win over Seattle. In that outing, Baker gave up four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings in helping turn a 5-0 Twins lead into a 6-5 deficit as the Mariners scored six runs in the sixth inning. He ended up with his fourth straight no-decision.
Lackey is 4-1 with a 3.60 ERA in eight home starts this season, and he?s 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 12 career starts against Minnesota. Baker is 4-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 11 road starts this year, but he?s 0-4 with an inflated 7.36 ERA in five career starts against Los Angeles.
For the Angels, the over is on runs of 8-2 against right-handed starters, 7-1 in series openers and 5-1 at home. For the Twins, the over streaks include 5-2 on the highway, 21-9-2 against the A.L. West and 5-0 in Baker?s last five starts overall. In this rivalry, though, the under is 4-1-1 in the last six matchups and 17-8-3 in the past 28 meetings in L.A.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. ANGELS
NFL PRESEASON
San Francisco (1-1 SU and ATS) at Chicago (0-2 SU and ATS)
The 49ers, who have a quarterback controversy brewing, make their first preseason trip out of the Bay Area when they travel to Soldier Field to take on the Bears to open Week 3 play.
After managing just six points in their preseason opener at Oakland, the 49ers came back and throttled the Packers 34-6 last week at home, finishing with a 355-182 edge in total yards while easily cashing as a 2?-point home favorite. San Francisco is now 9-5 ATS in exhibition play since coach Mike Nolan took over in 2005, but the team has lost nine straight preseason road games, going 3-6 ATS.
Chicago has given up 53 points in its first two games, including last week?s 29-26 overtime loss to the Seahawks as a three-point road favorite. The Bears hung around despite an anemic offensive effort, getting outgained by an eye-popping 431-205 margin, with the Seahawks rushing for 241 yards. The Bears, who lost 24-20 to the Chiefs at home in Week 1, are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 preseason games at Soldier Field dating to 2002, going 3-9-1 ATS as a favorite during this stretch.
Alex Smith?s days as the 49ers? starting quarterback appear to be dwindling. With coaches typically giving their starters most of the playing time in Week 3, San Francisco will start J.T. O?Sullivan at quarterback and play him the entire first half, followed by Smith in the third quarter and Shaun Hill in the fourth. Last week, O?Sullivan was 8 of 17 for 154 yards, with one TD and one INT.
Chicago coach Lovie Smith has already made up his mind on his regular-season starting QB, giving Kyle Orton the nod over Rex Grossman. Orton is expected to play into the third quarter against the 49ers, followed by Grossman and Caleb Hanie. Orton came off the bench and went 5 of 9 for 43 yards last week, leading a field-goal drive late in the first half.
These teams met in Week 3 of last year?s preseason, with the Bears prevailing 31-28, but falling short as a 5?-point home favorite. They also faced off in Week 1 of the 2006 preseason, with San Francisco winning 28-14 as a one-point home underdog.
Including last year?s non-cover against the 49ers, the Bears are 1-4 ATS (2-3 SU) the last five years in Week 3 of the exhibition campaign.
The ?dog has been the play throughout the league thus far in the preseason, going 22-8-2 ATS this August.
Chicago has topped the total five times in its last six summer affairs since the start of last season. Also, the over has hit in each of the last two preseason clashes between these teams (both in Chicago). However, the under is still 4-1 in San Francisco?s last five August road games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees (67-59) at Toronto (65-61)
The Blue Jays send out ace Roy Halladay (14-9, 2.64 ERA) to wrap up a three-game series at Rogers Centre against the Yankees, who will start fellow right-hander Sidney Ponson (7-3, 4.19).
The teams have split the first two games of this set, with Toronto winning 2-1 on Monday and New York earning a 5-1 victory last night. The Blue Jays remain on runs of 7-1 overall, 7-3 in A.L. East play, 15-8 at home and a lengthy 44-14 in Halladay?s last 58 home starts. Meanwhile, the Yankees are 6-3 behind Ponson since signing him in June, but they are on slides of 4-7 overall, 2-6 on the highway and 2-6 against winning teams.
New York now holds a slim 6-5 edge in the season series with Toronto, and the host has won seven of the 11 clashes.
The Blue Jays have alternated wins and losses in Halladay?s last seven starts, with the veteran going 4-3 with a sterling 2.01 ERA over 53 2/3 innings during this stretch. On Saturday at Boston, Halladay shut down the Sox in a 4-1 victory, throwing a seven-hit complete game.
The Yanks have lost in three of Ponson?s last five starts, but they came away with a 3-2 home win Saturday over Kansas City. In that outing, Ponson allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Halladay is 6-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 11 home starts this season, and he?s 12-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 29 career appearances (27 starts) against New York. Ponson, who was with Texas the first 2? months of the season, is 4-3 with a 4.20 ERA in seven road starts this year, and he?s 7-10 with a 4.59 ERA in 19 career appearances (18 starts) against Toronto.
In this rivalry, the under is on streaks of 9-3 overall (2-0 in this series), 6-1 in Toronto and 7-0 with Halladay throwing at home for the Jays. The under is also 7-2 in New York?s last nine overall, 17-4-1 in Toronto?s last 22 games overall and 15-3 in Toronto?s last 18 at home. Finally, the total has stayed low in the last four starts for both Halladay and Ponson.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TORONTO and UNDER
Minnesota (72-54) at L.A. Angels (77-48)
Two of the American League?s top teams open up a four-game set in Anaheim, with the Angels giving the ball to John Lackey (10-2, 3.22 ERA) and the Twins trotting out Scott Baker (7-3, 3.91).
Los Angeles got a run in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday night to beat Tampa Bay 5-4, snapping a three-game losing skid and avoiding getting swept by the Rays. Although the Angels are still just 2-5 in their last seven outings, they?re carry the following positive streaks into this contest: 5-1 at home, 23-8 versus winning teams, 9-2 against right-handed starters and 21-7 when Lackey starts a series.
Minnesota beat Oakland 3-1 Wednesday to take two of three from the Athletics, giving the Twins a 38-18 mark in their last 56 games overall (5-1 in their last six). On the flip side, they are 3-7 in their last 10 on the road against right-handers and 4-9 in Baker?s last 13 starts against the A.L. West.
This is the second series of the season between these two, with Los Angeles having taken three of four games in a season-opening set at the Metrodome. The Angels are 7-1 in the last eight clashes in this rivalry and 19-7 in the last 26 meetings in L.A., and they are on a 5-0 tear when Baker starts for the Twins.
The Angels have gone 6-1 in Lackey?s last six starts, winning the last two. On Saturday at Cleveland, Lackey allowed three runs on six hits in six innings of a 4-3 victory. L.A. is also unbeaten won in Lackey?s last three home starts, piling up an eye-popping 36 runs in the process.
The Twins had lost two in a row behind Baker before Saturday?s 7-6 home win over Seattle. In that outing, Baker gave up four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings in helping turn a 5-0 Twins lead into a 6-5 deficit as the Mariners scored six runs in the sixth inning. He ended up with his fourth straight no-decision.
Lackey is 4-1 with a 3.60 ERA in eight home starts this season, and he?s 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 12 career starts against Minnesota. Baker is 4-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 11 road starts this year, but he?s 0-4 with an inflated 7.36 ERA in five career starts against Los Angeles.
For the Angels, the over is on runs of 8-2 against right-handed starters, 7-1 in series openers and 5-1 at home. For the Twins, the over streaks include 5-2 on the highway, 21-9-2 against the A.L. West and 5-0 in Baker?s last five starts overall. In this rivalry, though, the under is 4-1-1 in the last six matchups and 17-8-3 in the past 28 meetings in L.A.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. ANGELS
