Sports Advisors
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
North Carolina (1-0, 0-0 ATS) at Rutgers (0-1 SU and ATS)
Rutgers, looking to bounce back from a season-opening trouncing, play host to the Tar Heels in a non-conference tilt in Piscataway, N.J.
The Scarlet Knights got rolled 24-7 by Fresno State on Sept. 1 as a 3?-point home chalk, failing to score until more than halfway through the fourth quarter. The Knights allowed 422 total yards, including 206 on the ground ? with the Bulldogs? Ryan Mathews going off for 163 yards and three TDs on 26 carries (6.27 yards per rush). Rutgers finished with 369 yards, but veteran QB Mike Teel (20 of 39, 263 yards) had no TDs against two INTs.
North Carolina barely held off Division I-AA McNeese State 35-27 on Aug. 30 in a non-lined home contest. The Tar Heels were actually outgained 391-384, allowing 239 yards in the air and another 152 on the ground, though Carolina rushed for 163 yards. Multi-purpose star Brandon Tate had an eye-popping 392 total yards, from rushing (3 carries, 106 yards), receiving (4 catches, 93 yards, 1 TD) and kick/punt returns (4 for 193 yards, 1 TD).
These teams met two years ago, with Rutgers taking a 21-16 victory as a 3?-point road pup.
The Scarlet Knights are 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall and 2-4 ATS in their last six as a home favorite, but they sport positive ATS trends of 10-2-1 in non-conference play, 4-1 on Thursday, 6-2 after a SU loss, 8-3 against winning teams and 10-4 after a pointspread setback.
The Tar Heels are on pointspread skids of 0-5 against the Big East, 2-5 after a SU win, 2-5 against teams with a losing record and 2-5 in September.
The over is on streaks of 15-7-1 for North Carolina on the road, 4-1 after a North Carolina victory, 9-1 with Rutgers coming off a bye and 7-1-1 for the Knights against winning teams.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee (83-63) at Philadelphia (79-67)
The Brewers will hand the ball to Ben Sheets (13-7, 2.82 ERA) to open a key four-game weekend series at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies and veteran southpaw Jamie Moyer (13-7, 3.64).
Milwaukee rallied for a 4-3 victory on Wednesday to snap a three-game losing skid and salvage a three-game home series against the Reds. The Brewers, who lead the wild-card chase by four games over both the Astros and Phillies, have dropped seven of their last 10 overall, but they carry positive streaks of 5-1 on the road against lefties, 20-7 overall on the highway, 8-2 behind Sheets against the N.L. East and 14-5 overall with Sheets starting.
Philadelphia dropped two straight against Florida, including Wednesday?s 7-3 defeat, falling to 4-5 in its last nine games. On the bright side, the Phillies remain on runs of 10-4 at home, 5-2 against winning teams, 46-22 in series openers and 5-1 backing Moyer.
These two teams haven?t met since April, when they split a two-game series at Milwaukee. Philly is 4-1 in the last five clashes at Citizens Bank Park.
Sheets is coming off a sterling start Saturday against San Diego, scattering five hits and allowing just one walk in a complete-game, 1-0 victory. The veteran right-hander hasn?t allowed an earned run in his last three starts, covering 20 innings.
The Phillies are 5-1 in Moyer?s last six starts, including winning the last three in a row. On Sunday at Shea Stadium, the 45-year-old threw seven innings of scoreless two-hit ball in a 6-2 victory over the Mets.
Sheets is 6-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 12 road starts this season, and he?s 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in seven career starts against Philadelphia. Moyer is 4-4 with a 4.84 ERA and six no-decisions in 14 home starts this year, and he?s 8-5 with a 3.57 ERA in 16 starts and five relief appearances against Milwaukee.
The under is on a 6-1 tear in Sheets? last seven starts and is on further runs of 5-0 for Sheets against the N.L. East and 14-5-2 for Milwaukee on the highway. For Philadelphia, the under has cashed in five of Moyer?s last six outings overall and is on streaks of 9-2 in Thursday games and 9-2 with Moyer facing a winning team. Finally, the under is 4-1 in the last five series clashes in Philly and 4-0 in Sheets? last four starts against the Phillies.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Chicago Cubs (87-58) at St. Louis (78-67)
After getting a much-needed victory last night, the Cubs are scheduled to trot out Rich Harden (9-2, 1.99) to close a three-game set at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals, who will counter with fellow right-hander Todd Wellemeyer (12-6, 3.74).
Chicago entered Wednesday?s game in a 1-8 rut, but held on for a 4-1 victory to add to their N.L.-best record and maintain their 4?-game N.L. Central lead over Milwaukee. Despite their recent woes, though, the Cubs are on runs of 6-0 behind Harden and 15-4 on the highway.
St. Louis is still 4-2 in its last six at home, but the Cards are in funks of 2-9 on Thursday, 3-7 overall when Wellemeyer faces a winning team and 1-5 in his last six home starts against winning clubs.
Chicago holds a slim 6-5 season series lead against St. Louis.
The Cubs have ripped off six straight wins with Harden starting, including a 3-2 victory at Philadelphia in his most recent effort on Aug. 29. In that outing, Harden allowed two runs on three hits in five innings in getting a no-decision. Harden, who hasn?t taken a loss since July 21, has allowed just nine earned runs in his last nine starts, covering 54 innings (1.50 ERA).
Wellemeyer has gotten the win in four of his last six starts, including a 5-3 home victory over Florida on Saturday, in which he allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings. That snapped a two-game slide for the right-hander, games the Cards lost by a combined score of 15-0.
Harden is 4-2 with a 2.36 ERA in eight road starts this season, and he?s 0-1 with a 4.26 ERA in one career start against St. Louis. Meanwhile, Wellemeyer is 8-5 with a 4.57 ERA in 15 home starts this year, and he?s 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against Chicago.
The under is 5-1 in the last six clashes between these teams at Busch (2-0 this week), and the under for St. Louis is on runs of 6-0 overall and 5-0 at home. Conversely, the over for Chicago is on a 16-6 spree on the road and is 8-1 in its last nine Thursday games.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO CUBS
