[tinfw17]

Randall the Handle

Atlanta +1.23 over PHILADELPHIA PINNACLE

The Braves love playing here, as they’ve won seven of its last 10 games in Philly and they have a significant edge on the hill today. Jair Jurrjens will take the mound looking for another strong performance at Citizens Bank Park, where he has gone 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA in three starts. Jurrjens is 10-8 overall with an impressive 2.91 ERA. He’s allowed two earned runs or less in seven of his last nine starts and no matter how you break it down this guy is impressive. Joe Blanton is pitching his heart out too and he’s allowed three runs or less in 10 straight starts. How he does it is a big mystery because his stuff is average at best. Blanton’s strength lies in his ability to throw strikes, as he’s only walked 38 batters in 124 frames. He is constantly ahead in the count but these Braves are an aggressive team that will jump on those first pitches and not allow him to get ahead 0-2 or 1-2. The Braves have seen Blanton four times already this year and while Blanton’s numbers are pretty sweet overall, they’re not good against these visitors. In fact, the Braves are hitting a combined .311 off him and his ERA in those four games is 6.38. Facing the Braves for the fifth time this year and having little success, it’s very unlikely that he’ll have success here either. This wager is based on the starters, thus the five-inning wager. Play: Atlanta in the first five innings +1.23 (Risking 2 units).

Soccer

August 30, 2009 8:30am EST
Holland - Eredivisie
FEYENOORD +1.43 over FC Twente PINNACLE
Both teams have started the season on fire as they both share first place with 10 points form the first four games of the season. Feyenoord faltered a little last season, as they were marred with injuries to key players for much of the season. FC Twente on the other hand enjoyed a really good 2008/2009 campaign finishing in 2nd place earning them a chance to qualify for the Champions League this season; unfortunately they lost out to Sporting Lisbon. A new season with many new hopes for both clubs, as they will both be gunning for top spot in the wide open Eredivisie. The home team has won six of last seven matches in this series, which tells us home field plays a huge role here. Feyenoord, a traditionally strong Dutch club led by Canadian born Jonathan De Guzman will come out strong in this one signaling their intent and will sit alone in first place after 90 minutes. Play: FEYENOORD +1.43 (Risking 2 units).

August 30, 2009 11:00am EST
Spain - La Liga
Atletico Madrid +1.10 over MALAGA PINNACLE
A favorite indeed as Atletico should be one of the favorites to win the league in my opinion. They may very well possess the best one-two punch attack in the world let alone the league. Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero are just sick! I witnessed these two guys dismantle Panathinaikos, a very good, well-respected team during the last qualifier of the Champions League. I cannot see Malaga’s back end coping with these two. Not only do they have Forlan, and Aguero, Atletico is full of firepower as they also have Maxi Rodriguez and Simao. This is a deep team attacking wise. They bring Reyes off the bench! Atletico do struggle defensively but defense won’t be needed in this one. Atletico Madrid is a force to be reckoned with as they score a glut of goals and shouldn’t have a problem here in Malaga. Play: Atletico Madrid +1.12 (Risking 2 units).

August 30, 2009 11:00am EST
Spain - La Liga
Villarreal +1.57 over OSASUNA PINNACLE
This is a price that is just way too good to pass on. Villarreal are a really good team that played in last season’s Champions League and did extremely well making it all the way to the quarter-final. They haven’t made many changes since then, as the core still remains and they are poised to make a strong run in Spain’s La Liga trying to get back to the Champions League. Osasuna are just happy with not getting relegated last season, as they did almost that. These teams tied both meetings last season and Villarreal will remember that and as a result should come out firing in this one. With new coach Ernesto Valverde, Villarreal will accept nothing less than three points to open their campaign in what is Europe’s finest league in my opinion. Villarreal gets off to a good start and takes this one easily. Play: Villarreal +1.57 (Risking 2 units).

August 30, 2009 2:45pm EST
Italy Serie A
Genoa +2.25 over ATALANTA PINNACLE
This is another great value selection. Genoa has made great strides the last couple of seasons, as last year they finished a surprising 5th place in Serie A earning a spot in the Europa League. They have gone out and spent some money in acquiring aging Argentine star Hernan Crespo bolstering their already good squad. Genoa is also deadly from set pieces as they showed this a week ago scoring from two free kicks in what was the game of the week against Roma in my opinion. Atalanta is an average squad that plays out the season without much expectation looking to surprise a few teams, maybe even pulling out an upset from time to time, however, Genoa has showed that are for real a season ago. Add in a couple of new additions and this team should get the result they are looking for. There will be no upset here as Genoa wins consecutive matches. Play: Genoa +2.25 (Risking 2 units).