Troy imploded. Utah State got there. Switch those around and the tone of today is a whole lot different than it is right now.
The big picture is my opinion, and how I have rated that opinion since the all star break has been unmatched by anyone on this website, and arguably any handicapper on the internet.
7 straight winning weeks. The drive for # 8 in a row is right there within my grasp.
The next 4 days will decide that.
I haven't had a losing week coming out of the all star break. I'm talking about 7 winning weeks in a row based on the adjustments I have made in approaching the day-to-day life of handicapping and releasing games.
My record since then speaks for itself.
Let's get the winning Friday and roll into a juicy Saturday of College football baby.
5 DIMER - SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - I will roll the dice with the red-hot Barry Zito, and a Giants team battling for the wild card spot.
After struggling a bit in the first half, he has been as hot as I have after the all-star break going 4-2 with a 1.92 ERA in nine starts allowing more than 2 earned runs only once in this run.
Mr. Zito is also 1-0 his last 3 starts, allowing just 2 earned over 20 1/3 innings giving up just 2 earned. Absolutely rock solid!
Wish I could say the same about Jeff Suppan, who despite beating the Pirates his last start 4-1, has still been getting lit lately.
Prior to beating the light-hitting Pirates, he was 0-4 with a 6.70 ERA in his previous nine starts, and I feel a lot of that is due to his time on the DL recently due to a strained oblique muscle.
Suppan is 3-6 with a 5.86 ERA in 10 starts against the Giants, and 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA against them this year.
He escaped bases-loaded jams in Pittsburgh, but won't be able to escape them tonight as the Giants get a much needed win in this NL Wild card race.
Zito over Suppan is the play.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (Zito over Suppan)
5 DIMER - TEXAS RANGERS - Feldman is on fire on the road!
No other way around it.
He hasn't surrendered a run in his last two road starts, and in getting a pair of road wins against the Rays and the Twins, he allowed just 8 hits over 12 2-3 shutout innings.
Feldman is 6-0 with a 1.60 ERA in his previous six road outings, and I think the world is aware he is trying to become the first Ranger pitcher to win seven straight on the road since Bobby Witt did it in 1990.
An even more astounding number is the fact Feldman is 10-1 with a 2.75 ERA in 12 road starts overall this year. Unreal just how hot he has been on the highway all year long.
Even more in his favor is his first road win of the season was against the Orioles back in April allowing a run and four hits over five innings of a 6-5 victory.
This Baltimore team is imploding right before our very eyes. They have truly mailed it in as evidenced by their performance on Wednesday.
Trailing 3-2 in the top of the 9th they proceeded to give up a 7-spot to the Yankees and lose 10-3. Their team ERA is the worst in the American League.
Tillman goes for the Orioles but at this point it really doesn't matter what the starter does, the O's have no bullpen. NONE.
This game, much like the Giants above is about one team going in one direction and the other going the opposite way.
Rangers and Feldman get it done.
TEXAS RANGERS (Feldman over Tillman)
5 DIMER - TULSA-TULANE UNDER - I just don't see how these two are going to combine to get over this number tonight?!?!?
Not once did Tulane combine with anyone on their schedule last year to get over this number they have posted tonight and under Bob Toledo, their defense has always started off the year solidly.
In his previous 3 years, Toledo and his Tulane defense never sniffed 64 combined points, and last year at Alabama in their season opener they lost 20-6 as his defense played spectacular.
On the other side of the coin, Tulsa has huge question marks on their offensive line and a brand new QB. On the road against a Tulane defensive line ready to go, they will struggle on offense.
Sometimes the linemaker in Vegas can put up a number based on past performance, and/or reputation, and I really feel that is the case here with Tulsa.
They come into Tulane with just 5 starters back on offense, but 8 on the defensive side, a defense that really improved the last 3 games of the year.
Tulane will try to establish the run, while I really feel on the road with a new QB, and an inexperienced offensive line Tulsa will just not be able to open it up like they have before.
On the college football card last night you had 5 games with a posted total, and 4 of those 5 held UNDER, and I mean way UNDER, while the Utah St/Utah game fell right on the number.
For me, Tulane at home, first game of the year, UNDER is the way to go, just like the ball games last night.
Brandon Lang 9/4
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