Service Plays Sunday 4/20/14

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Houston -5
Houston to win series

Today's NBA Picks

Washington at Chicago

The Wizards come into Game 1 of the series tonight carrying a 4-0 ATS record in their last 4 games in Chicago. Washington is the pick (+5) according to Dunkel, which has the Bulls favored by only 2 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Washington (+5). Here are all of today's playoff picks.

BEN BURNS

NHL

Boston Bruins
Kings/Sharks Under

Sunday's NBA playoffs betting news and notes

Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs (-9.5, 205.5)

Mavericks forwards Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion are the only remaining members of the 2011 title team but combined with the steady hand of point guard Jose Calderon and Ellis, who averaged 19 points and 5.7 assists, to coalesce into a dangerous team in the second half. Beginning Jan. 31, they went 23-12 (with two of the losses coming against San Antonio) and won 12 of their final 17 games on the road.

The Spurs, who are looking to repeat as Western Conference champions and seek their fifth NBA title under coach Gregg Popovich, won their final 15 home games of the regular season and have taken nine straight meetings with their in-state rivals. Included in that run of dominance was a 109-100 win at Dallas on April 10 that helped push the Mavericks to the undesirable eighth seed in the West.

TRENDS:

* Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in San Antonio.
* Spurs are 4-0 ATS in their last four Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 4-1 in Mavericks last five Conference Quarterfinals games.


Charlotte Bobcats at Miami Heat (-9.5, 188.5)

The No. 7 seed Bobcats finished strong with a 20-9 mark after the All-Star break and have won eight of their last nine games. Nobody is forecasting Charlotte winning the series but the Bobcats could make things a bit interesting if the supporting cast steps up to help center Al Jefferson. Jefferson is the main reason why Charlotte is part of the postseason fun for the first time since 2010 as he averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds while posting 42 double-doubles.

The second-seeded Heat are 15-0 against Charlotte since LeBron James joined the squad, including a four-game sweep this season capped by James scoring a career-high 61 points on March 3. Miami wasn’t so stout down the stretch, losing its last three outings and six of its final eight. Part of that was due to resting players with the expectation that the two-time defending champions will still be playing in June for the fourth straight season.

TRENDS:

* Bobcats are 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Heat are 4-1 ATS in their last five Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Over is 9-2 in Heat last 11 vs. NBA Southeast.


Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls (-4.5, 180.5)

Washington is appearing in the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-2008 season and could have finished as low as seventh before winning four straight to close the regular season and jumping to No. 5 in the final game. Bradley Beal scored 27 points in the 118-102 win over the Boston Celtics in the finale and put up an average of 21 in the final four games to boost his season mark to 17.1. The Wizards took two of three from the Bulls in the regular season but dropped the last meeting, 96-78 at home on April 5.

Chicago’s season was supposed to go into a tailspin when Derrick Rose was lost due to a knee injury but Joakim Noah emerged not just as the anchor to the defense but as a facilitator in the post while leading the team in assists. Noah put up 21 points and 12 rebounds in the April 5 meeting and finished the season with 11 straight double-doubles, including one of the points-assists variety, one rebounds-assists effort and one triple-double.

TRENDS:

* Under is 21-5 in the last 26 meetings.
* Wizards are 4-0 ATS in their last four vs. Eastern Conference.
* Over is 4-0 in Bulls last four Conference Quarterfinals games.


Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets (-5, 214.5)

The Trail Blazers have been eliminated in the first round in each of their last six playoff appearances but ended the season strong with five straight victories after regaining their stride once All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge (23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds) returned from a back injury. Portland improved its victory total by 21 over last season as second-year pro Damian Lillard (20.7 points) elevated into one of the NBA’s top all-around guards.

Houston averaged a league-best 9.5 3-pointers with star guard James Harden knocking down 177 while finishing fifth in the league with a 25.4 scoring average. Center Dwight Howard averaged 18.3 points and ranked fourth in the league in rebounding (12.2) while having a drama-free campaign with the Rockets. Harden averaged 30.3 points and 7.3 rebounds against Portland this season, while Aldridge checked in with 26.8 points and 15.5 rebounds against Houston.

TRENDS:

* Over is 7-0 in the last seven meetings.
* Trail Blazers are 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Under is 9-1 in Rockets last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.

STATSYSTEMS SPORTS STAT/SHEETS, 4/20/14
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
INFORMATION WORTH BETTING ON EACH DAY
_________________________________________


***** Sunday, 4/20/14 NBA Information *****
(ALL RESULTS ATS) - Against The Spread - and most recent, unless noted otherwise. Each and every day during the 2013-14 National Basketball Association season we will analyze all of your daily basketball action, featuring all our Highly-Rated (Situational & Match-up) Power Trends, along with some of our Situational Analysis (Betting Systems) that pertain to some of that days match-ups.
__________________________________________________

•Situational Trends of The Day
-- DALLAS is 19-3 ATS (+15.7 Units) in road games after 2 straight games where they attempted 15 or free throws since 1996.
The average score was DALLAS 100.0, OPPONENT 95.9.

-- WASHINGTON is 16-3 UNDER (+12.7 Units) after covering 6 or 7 of their last 8 against the spread over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was WASHINGTON 90.7, OPPONENT 96.5.

-- PORTLAND is 16-33 (-20.3 Units) against the 1rst half line after allowing 100 points or more 2 straight games over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was PORTLAND 49.4, OPPONENT 53.1.

-- DALLAS is 11-1 OVER (+9.9 Units) the 1rst half total in road games when playing 4 or less games in 10 days over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was DALLAS 56.8, OPPONENT 56.5.

-- RANDY WITTMAN is 16-2 ATS (+13.8 Units) in road games when playing 6 or less games in 14 days as the coach of WASHINGTON.
The average score was WITTMAN 101.2, OPPONENT 100.5.

•Matchup Trends of The Day
-- SAN ANTONIO is 18-5 ATS (+12.5 Units) versus poor foul drawing teams - attempting <=24 free throws/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
The average score was SAN ANTONIO 109.2, OPPONENT 97.7.

-- DALLAS is 24-9 OVER (+14.1 Units) versus horrible foul drawing teams - attempting <=21 free throws/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was DALLAS 103.1, OPPONENT 100.7.

-- CHARLOTTE is 19-6 (+12.4 Units) against the 1rst half line versus teams who are called for 21 or less fouls/game - 2nd half of the season this season.
The average score was CHARLOTTE 50.1, OPPONENT 45.9.

-- HOUSTON is 19-3 OVER (+15.7 Units) the 1rst half total when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 60% to 70%) over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was HOUSTON 57.1, OPPONENT 57.0.

-- RICK CARLISLE is 45-18 ATS (+25.2 Units) in road games versus explosive offensive teams - scoring 103+ points/game as the coach of DALLAS.
The average score was CARLISLE 103.4, OPPONENT 105.6.

•Situation Analysis of The Day
-- Play Against - Road teams versus the money line (DALLAS) - an average team (+/- 3 PPG differential) against a very good team (>=+7 PPG differential), revenging 4 or more losses versus opponent in last 2 years, extremely well rested team - playing 3 or less games in 10 days.
(33-1 since 1996.) (97.1%, +32.3 units. Rating = 7*)

The average money line posted in these games was: Team underdog with a money line of: +100.9
The average score in these games was: Team 104.5, Opponent 93.8 (Average point differential = +10.7)

The situation's record this season is: (0-0, +0 units).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (4-0, +4 units).
Over the last 5 seasons the situation's record is: (10-0, +12 units).

-- Play On - Favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (SAN ANTONIO) – an excellent shooting team (>=47.5%) against a poor defensive team (45.5-47.5%) after 42+ games, average rebounding team (+/-3 Reb/G) against a poor rebounding team (-3 to -5.5 Reb/G) - 42+ games.
(39-15 since 1996.) (72.2%, +22.5 units. Rating = 2*)

The straight up record of the team this system pertains to is : (46-9)
The average line posted in these games was: Team favored by 9.2
The average score in these games was: Team 111.3, Opponent 98.9 (Average point differential = +12.3)
The number of games in which this system covered the spread by 7 or more points was 23 (41.8% of all games.)

The situation's record this season is: (1-3).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (9-5).
Over the last 5 seasons the situation's record is: (18-8).

-- Play Under - All teams where the total is greater than or equal to 200 (DALLAS) - well rested team - playing 4 or less games in 10 days, after failing to cover 2 of their last 3 against the spread, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team.
(75-31 over the last 5 seasons.) (70.8%, +40.9 units. Rating = 3*)

The average total posted in these games was: 207.2
The average score in these games was: Team 101.2, Opponent 102.6 (Total points scored = 203.9)
The number of games in which this system covered the total by 7 or more points was 52 (49.5% of all games.)

The situation's record this season is: (10-5).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (33-18).
Since 1996 the situation's record is: (167-111).

-- Play On - Road underdogs versus the 1rst half line (DALLAS) – an excellent free throw shooting team (>=79%) against a good free throw shooting team (76-79%), good ball handling team (<=14.5 TO's) against a poor pressure defense (<=14.5 TO's) after 42+ games.
(40-12 over the last 5 seasons.) (76.9%, +26.8 units. Rating = 3*)

The average first half line posted in these games was: Opponent favored by 2.7
The average first half score in these games was: Team 50.8, Opponent 51.2 (Average first half point differential = -0.5)

The situation's record this season is: (4-1).
Over the last 3 seasons the situation's record is: (8-1).
Since 1996 the situation's record is: (82-53).
___________________________________________

Eastern Conference Playoffs - Round #1

#711 CHARLOTTE @ #712 MIAMI
Tip-Off: Sunday, 3:35 PM EST
Line: Miami -9.5, Total: 188.5

The Miami Heat begin their run towards a three-peat when they host the Charlotte Bobcats in Game #1 of the first round of the playoffs on Sunday afternoon. Charlotte made an improbable turnaround in just one season by more than doubling its win total from 21 victories in 2012-13 to 43 this season. The club also enters the postseason having won eight of its past nine games SU (6-3 ATS). Miami, however, is a whole different animal having won the past two NBA championships, but the team has been playing poorly down the stretch with five losses in its final six games (1-4-1 ATS). Although the Bobcats were just 18-23 SU on the road this season, they did post a strong 23-17-1 ATS mark. The Heat were a stellar 32-9 SU at home this season, but were a subpar 18-22-1 ATS in these contests. Miami has thoroughly dominated this series in recent years with 16 straight victories (10-5-1 ATS), including four wins this season, but Charlotte was able to cover in a narrow 99-98 road defeat on Dec. 1.

Although the Heat are 17-3 SU in their past 20 games when hosting in this series, the Bobcats are 10-9-1 ATS during this stretch. Both teams have positive betting trends for Sunday, as Charlotte was 9-1 ATS after playing two consecutive games as a favorite this season and 28-15 ATS after going Under the total this season. However, Miami is 12-2 ATS off a home loss over the past two seasons and SG Dwyane Wade (hamstring/rest) is going to be fresh after playing just 54 games this season. PF Michael Beasley (ankle) is questionable for the first game of this series after being injured in the team's regular season finale, but C Greg Oden (back) should be able to play on Sunday. There are no significant injuries for Charlotte.

The Bobcats finished the season on a tear and look to carry that momentum into the first round of the playoffs. While this is not a strong offensive team (96.9 PPG, 23rd in NBA), it allows just 97.1 PPG (4th in league). Charlotte also has a slight rebounding advantage in this series with a minus-0.6 RPG margin (19th in NBA), which is better than Miami's minus-3.4 RPG margin (26th in league). The Bobcats' only chance of pulling off a monumental upset over the Heat is if C Al Jefferson (21.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 1.1 BPG) plays out of his mind. Jefferson averaged 23.6 PPG and 14.6 RPG over the final five games of the season, and in three games against the Heat, the big man averaged a robust 25.3 PPG and 15.3 RPG.

Jefferson will be guarded by much smaller players in this series and will look to use his post game to help Charlotte control the pace. PG Kemba Walker (17.7 PPG, 6.1 APG) averaged 15.5 PPG and 6.0 APG in four games against the Heat this season, and has an extremely winnable matchup with opposing point guard Mario Chalmers in this series. The Bobcats will need Walker to use his speed to get into the lane and create open shots for his teammates while also finishing at the rim himself. SG Gerald Henderson (14.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG) will need to improve his 40% FG clip versus Miami this season that has led to 13.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 3.7 APG. SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (7.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG) could be an X-factor in this series. He is an excellent defender and will see plenty of time trying to stop LeBron James over the next week.

The Heat have their sights set on a third straight NBA title but first they must defeat a pesky Bobcats team. While their rebounding has been a weakness all season, they still limit teams to 97.4 PPG (5th in league) while operating an efficient offense with 102.2 PPG (12th in NBA) and 22.5 APG (11th in league). SF LeBron James (27.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 6.4 APG) averaged 33.3 PPG over his final three games of the NBA season, and is going to have a major size advantage over whichever forward tries to cover him. He must be aggressive right from the opening tip, which hasn't been a problem this season with his unbelievable 37.8 PPG (63% FG), 6.0 RPG and 5.5 APG in the season series versus Charlotte.

SG Dwyane Wade (19.0 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.5 RPG) has had plenty of time to rest himself for these playoffs and now is the time for him to go as hard as possible on the court. In two games versus Charlotte this season, Wade averaged just 10.5 PPG in 29.0 MPG, and he will need to attack the basket often and play good help defense in order for Miami to quickly wrap up this series. PG Mario Chalmers (9.8 PPG, 4.9 APG) and C Greg Oden (2.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG) will be relied on heavily to defend Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson, respectively. Chalmers will also need to hit open threes when his teammates create for him, and the club needs more offense than his 8.3 PPG (38% FG) he has posted versus the Bobcats this season. PF Chris Bosh (16.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG) has done a nice job in the season series with 17.3 PPG (57% FG) and 6.5 RPG, and remains the team's main frontcourt scorer.

•BOTTOM LINE: Al Jefferson will test Miami inside, but unless Bismack Biyombo accelerates his development by two years these next few weeks, it won't be enough to keep the Heat from moving on comfortably. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can potentially be a thorn in LeBron James' side down the road, but he's still too raw to make a significant dent.

**STATSYSTEMS SPORTS PREDICTION: Heat Win Series 4-1.
__________________________________________________

#713 WASHINGTON @ #714 CHICAGO
Tip-Off: Sunday, 7:05 PM EST
Line: Chicago -4.5, Total: 181

The Chicago Bulls look to take advantage of their home-court edge on Easter Sunday when they host the Washington Wizards in Game #1 of the first round of the playoffs. Washington finished the season extremely well, winning eight of its final 11 games (7-4 ATS), including four straight win-and-covers to close the regular season. Now the Wizards head to Chicago for Game #1 where they meet a Bulls team that has won eight of its past 10 games (7-3 ATS). Washington, which is 22-19 SU (26-15 ATS) on the road this season, held the 2-1 SU series advantage including a 102-88 romp at United Center on Jan. 13. But Chicago won the most recent meeting on April 5 in the nation's capital by a 96-78 score, and is 25-11 SU (16-20 ATS) when hosting this series since 1996.

Over the past three seasons, the Bulls are 3-2 SU when playing the Wizards at home, but Washington is 4-1 ATS in those games. Both teams also have multiple reasons to make bettors happy. Over the past two seasons, the Wizards are 27-11 ATS revenging a home loss versus an opponent, and 8-0 ATS in road games after scoring 55+ points in the first half in two straight games. The Bulls are 25-17 ATS this season after having won four or five of their previous six contests, and are also 54-39 ATS over the past three seasons after one or more consecutive losses. In the past 10 games played in this series, seven games have gone Under the total.

The Wizards were up-and-down this season, but they finished the season strong and ultimately earned the fifth seed in the East. Washington allowed just 99.4 PPG (9th in NBA) this season and was one of the best passing teams in the league with 23.3 APG (8th in NBA). PG John Wall (19.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG) is the best guard in this series and will need to use his blazing speed to have the Wizards getting easy baskets on fast breaks. Wall will also need to be disciplined on defense in order to avoid getting in foul trouble. SG Bradley Beal (17.1 PPG) averaged 18.4 PPG over the final five games of the season, but scored only 13.7 PPG in three games against the Bulls this season, and the Wizards will need him to do better than that in order to advance in this series.

C Marcin Gortat (13.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG) ended the season strong, averaging 15.4 PPG, 11.2 RPG and 1.6 BPG over the past five games. Gortat has a difficult matchup with Joakim Noah in this series. He will need to stay aggressive and be especially active defensively. PF Nene Hilario (14.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG) is averaging 14.3 PPG in four games since he returned from his knee injury. If he is playing well, he makes the Wizards an extremely difficult team to beat.

Chicago has the fewest points in the league with 93.7 PPG, but it also allows the least amount of points to its opponents (91.8 PPG). The Bulls are also above average in both rebounding (44.1 RPG, 10th in NBA) and assists (22.7 APG, 10th in league). But even without franchise PG Derrick Rose, the Bulls have been able to persevere over the past couple of seasons, and that is because of the fighting mentality of C Joakim Noah (12.6 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG). Noah is a triple-double threat every time he steps onto the court, and he will not let the Bulls lose any of these games without competing at a high level.

Noah averaged 12.7 PPG and 13.3 RPG in three games against the Wizards this season. SG Jimmy Butler (13.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG) scored just 8.0 PPG in three games against Washington this season, but is one of the team’s most consistent offensive options, so he will need to find a way to get over his struggles against Washington. PG D.J. Augustin (13.1 PPG, 4.4 APG) averaged 18.5 PPG over the final four games of the regular season, and will have a huge role in determining the winner of this series. Augustin is the most athletic point guard on the Bulls' roster, so he could see plenty of action in order for Chicago to try to match the speed of John Wall.

•BOTTOM LINE: Tom Thibodeau will look to ruin John Wall's first playoff experience by attempting to make him work at every turn, so count on that battle of wills deciding what looks to be a very competitive series. It's easy to dismiss the Wizards' lack of playoff experience since they haven't been here since '08, but Marcin Gortat and Trevor Ariza have each reached the Finals as important role players. Wall, who shot 50 percent in leading the Wizards to wins in two of three regular-season meetings, has the athleticism to complicate matters and push this series to a deciding game. At home, Chicago should have the edge in a Game #7.

**STATSYSTEMS SPORTS PREDICTION: Bulls Win Series 4-3.
__________________________________________________

Western Conference Playoffs - Round #1

#709 DALLAS @ #710 SAN ANTONIO
Tip-Off: Sunday, 1:05 PM EST
Line: San Antonio -9.5, Total: 206

The top-seeded San Antonio Spurs look to make it to the finals for the sixth time since the 1998-99 season when they open their playoffs at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon. Dallas squeaked into the playoffs, beating out the Suns by going 5-2 SU (4-3 ATS) over its final seven games of the season. The Mavs also performed really well on the road in their past five tries, winning four straight until they were defeated by the Grizzlies, 106-105 in overtime, as 2.5-point underdogs in their final contest. Dallas was swept in the first round by the Thunder in its last playoff appearance back in the 2012 postseason.

San Antonio won the most games in the league this season, which included pulling off a 19-game SU winning streak toward the end of the season, but the club went just 3-4 (SU and ATS) in its final seven games. The Spurs were just one game away from winning their fifth championship when they lost the NBA Finals in seven games against the Heat last year. The Mavericks were 23-18 SU (27-14 ATS) this season when playing on the road, while San Antonio was an impressive 32-9 SU at home, but only 20-21 ATS. The Spurs dominated this series during the regular season with a four-game sweep and a 3-1 ATS mark.

They have averaged 112.3 PPG over the four contests won the most recent meeting on April 10 by a 109-100 margin in Dallas as 1.5-point underdogs. They’ve manhandled the Mavericks over the past three seasons as well, going 10-2 SU (9-3 ATS) and have won seven straight games when hosting them at AT&T Center. Some trends that bettors may want to keep an eye on include the fact that Dallas is 19-3 ATS (86%) in road games since 1996 after two straight contests where it attempted 15+ free throws. Also, San Antonio is 14-2 ATS (88%) coming off a home loss over the past two seasons. The only injury to look out for in this game is that of PF Dirk Nowitzki (knee) who is considered probable for Dallas, as he has not yet missed any time.

The Mavericks put up the 8th-most points in the league this season (104.8 PPG) in part due to their 79.5% shooting from the charity stripe (3rd in NBA). Over the past five games of the season, they actually scored only 98.8 PPG (48% FG) but played solid defense, limiting their opponents to just 97.4 PPG (45% FG) in that same timeframe. Overall on the season, they gave up 102.4 PPG (11th-worst in league) to their opposition. PF Dirk Nowitzki (21.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG) was second in the NBA with an 89.9% mark from the free-throw line on the season, and had a big game (30 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks) in the season finale against the Grizzlies. He has been a beast over 128 career playoff games, averaging 25.9 PPG (46% FG) to go along with 10.3 RPG and 1.1 SPG, while putting up 18.5 PPG (48% FG) and 5.8 RPG in four games against the Spurs this regular season.

SG Monta Ellis (19.0 PPG, 5.7 APG, 1.7 SPG) finished the season off with some great play, netting 23.6 PPG (48% FG), as well as 4.4 APG and 4.4 RPG, over his final five games. With 21.3 PPG (49% FG), 5.5 APG and 1.5 SPG against San Antonio over four contests this season, Ellis has done everything he could to keep his team from being swept. SG Vince Carter (11.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG) has provided the Mavericks with great bench minutes all season long but scored just 8.3 PPG over his final three games. He did do well against the Spurs in four games off the bench this season though, with 15.3 PPG on 45% FG.

The Spurs were once again one of the best offenses in the NBA, as they scored 105.4 PPG (6th in league) and shot an excellent 48.6% FG (2nd in NBA) and a league-best 39.7% threes. Their defense has also done well, allowing their opponents to score only 97.6 PPG (6th in league) this season, but has really struggled over the past five games, giving up an uncharacteristic 106.2 PPG (47% FG) in that timeframe. PG Tony Parker (16.7 PPG, 5.7 APG) has eased his way back into the rotation after missing two games to a back injury and has just 13.3 PPG with 2.7 APG over his past three contests.

In his three games facing the Mavericks this season, Parker has scored 23.3 PPG (54% FG) to go along with 5.7 APG, and has plenty of experience in the postseason, averaging 19.1 PPG (46% FG) with 5.3 APG over 173 career playoff games (165 starts). PF Tim Duncan (15.1 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.9 BPG) continues to be a force as a 37-year-old, and also has a wealth of postseason experience, playing in 211 playoff games while averaging 21.9 PPG (50% FG), 12.0 RPG and 2.4 BPG. Dallas has not given him any trouble in his four starts against them either, as he has 18.5 PPG (51% FG), 12.5 RPG and 1.8 BPG. SF Kawhi Leonard (12.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.7 SPG) has also been strong in his four meetings with the Mavericks this season, tallying 12.8 PPG (50% FG), 9.8 RPG and 1.5 SPG.

•BOTTOM LINE: The Mavericks lost all four regular-season meetings against their Southwest Division rivals, surrendering 112.25 points in seeing their defensive deficiencies capitalized upon. Although you should never sell Dallas short due to Rick Carlisle's merit as a brilliant strategist, it's hard to imagine the Spurs losing four times to anyone this early in the postseason. Gregg Popovich has his guys rested, relatively healthy and ready to go.

**STATSYSTEMS SPORTS PREDICTION: Spurs Win Series 4-2.
___________________________________________________

#715 PORTLAND @ #716 HOUSTON
Tip-Off: Sunday, 9:35 PM EST
Line: Houston -5, Total: 214.5

The Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers, who finished with identical 54-28 records this season, will open their first-round playoff series on Sunday night at Toyota Center. Houston (39-40-3 ATS overall, 21-17-3 ATS on road) won the tiebreaker for home-court advantage in this series by taking three of the four matchups this season, averaging 116 points in those four games (2-2 ATS). The team enters the playoffs with six defeats in its past 11 games (3-8 ATS), but played the majority of those contests without C Dwight Howard. When these teams play each other, the game features two incredible offenses that struggle at times to prevent the other team from scoring.

In all four matchups this season, the game went Over the total. With Howard back, that will make the Rockets' defense a little better, which is vital facing an offense like the Trail Blazers. Portland (44-38 ATS overall, 25-16 ATS on road) comes into the postseason playing some great basketball, winning nine of its past 10 games (6-4 ATS) including five in a row. Despite losing the season series to the Rockets, the Trail Blazers were still able to average 109.5 PPG. One disadvantage they will have to overcome is their lack of playoff experience, as the Rockets have a lot of players that have Finals experience.

LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews are the only three players that were on the team the last time Portland was in the playoffs. Both clubs have strong betting trends, as the Blazers are 20-9 ATS (69%) this season when revenging a loss where an opponent scored 100+ points, while Houston is 20-4 ATS (83%) at home after failing to cover 4 or 5 of its previous six games ATS under head coach Kevin McHale.

The Trail Blazers have done many terrific things this season, leading the NBA in rebounding (46.4 RPG), finishing fourth in scoring 106.7 PPG and ranking ninth in assists (23.2 APG). Portland is led by PF LaMarcus Aldridge, who has been fabulous all season, averaging 23.2 PPG and 11.1 RPG. Those numbers makes him as one of only four players in the NBA to average at least 20 points and 10 boards. During the four regular-season games against the Rockets, Aldridge was even better, averaging 26.8 PPG and 15.5 RPG. He is one of the most skilled post players in the league, as he can score the ball from anywhere on the court. However, what makes him even tougher to guard is the ability to run the pick-and-roll game with PG Damian Lillard (20.7 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.5 RPG).

In only his second season in the NBA, the Weber State product has evolved into one of the best guards in the NBA. He is in complete control of the offense, and knows exactly what to do when he is coming off the screen. Lillard can pull up and hit the long-range shot (39% threes), but he also does a great job of attacking the rim. With Lillard and Aldridge demanding so much of the opponent's focus, that allows guys like SG Wesley Matthews (16.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG) and SF Nicolas Batum (13.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 5.1 APG) to have opportunities to go make plays. Matthews is a terrific spot-up shooter (39% threes) that also plays very good defense, while Batum does a little bit of everything for the Trail Blazers. Guys like PG Mo Williams, PF Thomas Robinson and C Robin Lopez will also have to step up and give the team quality minutes against a Houston team that is ready to make a deep playoff run.

The Rockets rank second in the NBA in scoring (107.7 PPG) and fourth in the league in rebounding (45.3 RPG). These two teams are very similar, as the Trail Blazers rank 22nd in the NBA in scoring defense (102.7 PPG), while the Rockets rank 23rd in points allowed (103.1 PPG). C Dwight Howard (18.3 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG) had a solid season for Houston, but he was not given a huge contract for the regular season. The playoffs are the biggest reason why he was brought into town, and he has to take his game to a different level for his team to advance to the NBA Finals. The Rockets have many players that can flat shoot the ball from the outside with a league-best 9.5 made threes per game, so that forces teams away from packing the lane. That will give Howard a lot of one-on-one opportunities against Robin Lopez, and Howard has dominated the Trail Blazers this season with 25.5 PPG and 13.5 RPG.

If he is able to get the ball in the block, that is only going to make superstar SG James Harden (25.4 PPG, 6.1 APG, 4.7 RPG) even tougher to stop. Harden has proven the past two seasons that he is able to be the main scorer on a team. Like Howard, he has been terrific this season against Portland, averaging 30.3 PPG, 7.3 APG and 5.3 RPG. Just like the Blazers, Houston has two stars that are complemented nicely by some talented role players. SF Chandler Parsons (16.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.0 APG), PG Jeremy Lin (12.5 PPG, 4.1 APG), PF Terrence Jones (12.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG) and PG Patrick Beverley (10.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.7 APG) are all guys that can score the ball and bring different things to the table. Beverley has developed as one of the best on-ball defensive players in the NBA, while Jones and Parsons are both guys capable of having a big night in many categories.

•BOTTOM LINE: Dwight Howard and James Harden can absolutely lead the Rockets to an NBA Finals, but they're just as capable of flaming out early. Free-throw shooting is going to be a major factor, as is Patrick Beverley toiling at less than 100 percent at the point. Damian Lillard can take advantage and help steal this series if he's able to find his shooting stroke. He was held to 39 percent as Houston won three of four regular-season meetings, but his streaky nature and ability to raise his game in big moments can help a very capable Portland supporting cast steal a Game #7. LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 26.8 points and 15.5 rebounds against the Rockets, so Howard and friends have and will continue to struggle keeping him in check.

**STATSYSTEMS SPORTS PREDICTION: Trail Blazers Win Series 4-3.
________________________________________________________

Sunday's playoff prop bets
By ANDREW AVERY

The second day of the NBA playoffs is set to go with four more games on the board. If you're looking for a little more than just the spread and/or total, have a look at what the LVH SuperBook is offering for proposition bets:


MAVERICKS at SPURS - GAME 1

LARGEST LEAD OF THE GAME BY: EITHER TEAM

OVER 18.5 -110
UNDER 18.5 -110

TOTAL 3 POINT FIELD GOALS MADE BY: BOTH TEAMS

OVER 16.0 -110
UNDER 16.0 -110

TOTAL POINTS BY: DIRK NOWITZKI (DAL)

OVER 21.5 -110
UNDER 21.5 -110

TOTAL POINTS BY: TIM DUNCAN (SA)

OVER 16.5 -110
UNDER 16.5 -110


BOBCATS at HEAT - GAME 1

LARGEST LEAD OF THE GAME BY: EITHER TEAM

OVER 18.0 -110
UNDER 18.0 -110

TOTAL 3 POINT FIELD GOALS MADE BY: BOTH TEAMS

OVER 14.5 -110
UNDER 14.5 -110

TOTAL POINTS BY: AL JEFFERSON (CHA)

OVER 22.5 -110
UNDER 22.5 -110

TOTAL POINTS BY: LEBRON JAMES (MIA)

OVER 28.5 -110
UNDER 28.5 -110


WIZARDS at BULLS - GAME 1

LARGEST LEAD OF THE GAME BY: EITHER TEAM

OVER 15.0 -110
UNDER 15.0 -110

TOTAL 3 POINT FIELD GOALS MADE BY: BOTH TEAMS

OVER 14.0 -110
UNDER 14.0 -110

TOTAL POINTS BY: JOHN WALL (WAS)

OVER 19.5 -110
UNDER 19.5 -110

TOTAL POINTS BY: JOAKIM NOAH (CHI)

OVER 13.5 -110
UNDER 13.5 -110


BLAZERS at ROCKETS - GAME 1

LARGEST LEAD OF THE GAME BY: EITHER TEAM

OVER 16.0 -110
UNDER 16.0 -110

TOTAL 3 POINT FIELD GOALS MADE BY: BOTH TEAMS

OVER 17.5 -110
UNDER 17.5 -110

TOTAL POINTS BY: LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE (POR)

OVER 23.5 -110
UNDER 23.5 -110

TOTAL POINTS BY: JAMES HARDEN (HOU)

OVER 25.0 -110
UNDER 25.0 -110

Action Report: Sharps behind Spurs, Bulls, Heat in Sunday's games
By ANDREW AVERY

Lines for all of the opening games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs have been out since Thursday so bettors have had ample time to cap and place their wagers on Sunday's series openers.

Mike Perry of SportsBook.com gives us the skinny on the action that they've been seeing for Sunday's matchups on the hardwood.

The San Antonio Spurs opened as 9-point home faves against the Dallas Mavericks. Sharps backed the Spurs at that number, but action has been fairly divided.

"We got Sharp play on the Spurs at -9 so we moved to -9.5," Perry says. "Fifty-two percent of cash and 51 percent of bets are on the Mavs."

The Charlotte Bobcats might have closed the season out on a hot clip, but the Miami Heat are the defending champs and opened as large faves and have seen their share of action.

"A wiseguy played Miami -9 so we moved to -9.5," Perry tells Covers. "Fifty-three percent of cash and 59 percent of bets are on the champs."

Sharp money has been behind the Chicago Bulls as they open their playoffs versus the Washington Wizards, but it's the road team who is seeing the majority of action.

"Sharp action on Chicago -2 (buying a half point) and -3, so we moved to current number of -4.5," Perry confirms. "Fifty-nine percent of cash & 57 percent of bets are on Wiz."

The nightcap featuring the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets has held firm all week according to Perry. The oddsmaker says 58 percent of cash and 60 percent of bets have been on the Rockets.

Sunday's NHL playoffs betting news and notes

Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers (-161, 5)

With Steve Mason still clearing the cobwebs, Ray Emery has been confirmed to start his second contest of the series. The veteran goaltender finished with 32 saves in Game 1, but was left out to dry after rookie Jason Akeson put Philadelphia in a bind with a four-minute high-sticking penalty. Captain Claude Giroux was held without a shot in Game 1 and has combined with linemates Scott Hartnell and Jakub Voracek to record just one tally in the last five meetings with the Rangers. The Flyers boast a 3-0-0 mark at Madison Square Garden when Giroux scores a goal. They have lost 13 of 14 games when he does not.

While the Flyers were monitoring their goaltending situation, New York didn't seem too concerned with its opponent's worries. "Our game plan isn't going to change," Richards said. "Whoever is in net, we've got to get pucks to the net." Productive special teams play set the tone as New York scored on two of its six power-play opportunities while killing off Philadelphia's lone chance with the man advantage. New York D Ryan McDonagh admitted he had difficulty getting "a good grip on the puck, couldn't feel my skates" in his return from a five-game absence due to an injured shoulder.

TRENDS:

* Flyers are 3-13 in the last 16 meetings in New York.
* Flyers are 1-8 in their last nine vs. a team with a winning record.
* Rangers are 5-1 in their last six Conference Quarterfinals games.


Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins (-220, 5)

Jimmy Howard was named to the U.S. Olympic team but it seemed to be a selection based more on reputation than results after he endured a stretch in which he won only once in 12 decisions. Howard did not win three starts in a row until March 18-22, but he finished the regular season by going 4-1-0 and carried the strong play into Game 1, making 25 saves for his third postseason shutout. Pavel Datsyuk's Game 1 tally was his sixth game-winner and 37th overall in the postseason.

Boston played without four regulars in Game 1 but hopes to have defensemen Matt Bartkowski and Kevan Miller back in the lineup - both were dealing with a stomach bug that has been going through the team's locker room. The Bruins have had issues dealing with Detroit's speed throughout the season but they are more preoccupied on ratcheting up an offense that ranked third in the league in goals scored this season. Bruins F Milan Lucic was fined $5,000 for spearing Detroit D Danny DeKeyser in the opener.

TRENDS:

* Red Wings are 4-1 in the last five meetings in Boston.
* Bruins are 1-4 in their last five vs. Atlantic.
* Over is 20-5-7 in Bruins last 32 vs. Eastern Conference.


Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens (-154, 5)

Tampa Bay has shown little resemblance to the team that edged Montreal for second place in the Atlantic Division, allowing four goals in regulation in each contest after permitting a total of four in four regular-season matchups. While rookie Ondrej Palat, the team's leading scorer, remains a game-time decision after missing Friday's loss with an upper-body injury, the bigger question mark is whether coach Jon Cooper will make a switch in goal. Anders Lindback has made five consecutive starts since an injury to No. 1 netminder Ben Bishop but he has not looked sharp in the series - although his teammates have not provided much support in front of him.

The third-seeded Canadiens won both games in Tampa Bay and can push the second-seeded Lightning to the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven series with a win on their home ice. "We are playing as a unit right now," said Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, who came within 1:59 of a shutout in Game 2. "We are living in the moment." After a sub-par performance in the series opener, Price played markedly better in Game 2, flashing the form that led Team Canada to the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Montreal scored only three goals in the final three games of the regular season, but concerns about the offense have been allayed in the first two playoffs games.

TRENDS:

* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Montreal.
* Lightning are 4-10 in their last 14 Sunday games.
* Canadiens are 11-1 in their last 12 vs. Atlantic.


Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks (-137, 5)

Jonathan Quick certainly did not display the form that earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012, badly losing track of the puck on San Jose's first tally and yielding a pair of goals from long range. Captain Dustin Brown was not ready to place any blame on this season's William Jennings Trophy winner. "He made a lot of huge saves for us," Brown said. "It just happened they had too many grade-A scoring chances." Defenseman Drew Doughty returned to the lineup after missing the final four regular-season games with an upper-body injury suffered against the Sharks on April 3 and recorded five shots on goal while blocking four.

Raffi Torres hasn't played much for San Jose this season due to knee troubles, but he's been effective on the rare occasions he's been in the lineup. The 32-year-old agitator has landed on the scoresheet in five of the six games he's appeared - including the series opener, collecting four goals and two assists. In addition to scoring a goal Thursday, Torres continued his usual style of play by registering a team-high seven hits. "That's Raffi," Hertl said. "All the guys are happy that Raffi is again playing. Raffi is very, very important for our team."

TRENDS:

* Home team is 21-5 in the last 26 meetings.
* Kings are 4-1 in their last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Kings last seven games playing on two days rest.

Sunday's American League betting cheat sheet

Check out our quick-hitting betting notes for Sunday's American League games:

Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians (-105, 8.5)

Cold pitching stat: Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco has surrendered 10 runs over 10 1/3 innings to open the season.

Cold batting stat: Cleveland first baseman Nick Swisher is 4-for-27 with eight strikeouts against Toronto righty Brandon Morrow.

Weather: Temperatures in the high-50s are expected with partly cloudy skies.

Key betting note: Toronto is 0-6 in Morrow's previous six starts as a road underdog.

Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers (-142, 8.5)

Hot pitching stat: Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello surrendered just seven home runs in 89 innings at Comerica Park in 2013.

Cold batting stat: Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick is 5-for-22 with eight strikeouts lifetime versus Porcello.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with clear skies and wind blowing in from right-center field at 6 mph.

Key betting note: Detroit is 8-1 in its last nine games against a left-handed starter.

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (-124, 8.5)

Cold pitching stat: Yankees left-hander Vidal Nuno was tagged for seven runs on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings in his previous start.

Hot/Cold batting stat: Members of the New York roster are batting a combined .184 in 38 at-bats against Rays starter Cesar Ramos.

Weather: N/A

Key betting note: The road team is 6-0 in umpire Clint Fagan's last six games behind home plate.

Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals (-192, 8)

Hot pitching stat: Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura has allowed one run over 13 innings in his first two starts.

Hot batting stat: Royals outfielder Alex Gordon is 6-for-18 with two walks lifetime against Twins righty Phil Hughes.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s under partly cloudy skies with wind blowing out to left field at 11 mph.

Key betting note: Under is 6-1 in umpire Brian Gorman's last seven Sunday games behind home plate.

Chicago White Sox at Texas Rangers (-170, 9.5)

Hot pitching stat: White Sox right-hander Erik Johnson recorded a career-best nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings in his last start.

Hot batting stat: Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder - the only Texas player to have faced Johnson - is 4-for-6 with two homers against him.

Weather: A 30 percent chance of thunderstorms is in the forecast with temperatures in the low-70s and wind blowing in from right field at 9 mph.

Key betting note: Texas has won the third game of a series six of the last seven times.

Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics (-205, 8)

Cold pitching stat: Houston is 1-5 in right-hander Brad Peacock's last six starts against teams with winning record.

Cold batting stat: Members of the Astros roster are hitting a collective .190 versus Athletics righty Jesse Chavez.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with sunny skies and wind blowing out to right field at 10 mph.

Key betting note: Under is 4-0 in Peacock's last four starts against the American League West.

Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox (-152, 9)

Hot pitching stat: Red Sox right-hander Jake Peavy has allowed one run on three hits with eight strikeouts in back-to-back starts.

Cold batting stat: Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy is 1-for-17 in his carer against Peavy.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-40s with clear skies and wind blowing from right to left field at 6 mph.

Key betting note: Baltimore is 3-13 in its last 16 games with umpire Ted Barrett behind home plate.


** Odds, stats, weather forecast and probable pitchers as of 7:05 p.m. ET Saturday.

Sunday's National League betting cheat sheet

Check out our quick-hitting betting notes for Sunday's National League games:

Atlanta Braves at New York Mets (100, 7.5)

Cold pitching stat: Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler allowed four runs over five innings in his last start against the Braves.

Hot batting stat: Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman is 5-for-9 with three walks and a homer against Wheeler.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-50s with clear skies and wind blowing from right to left field at 9 mph.

Key betting note: Over is 4-1-1 in Wheeler's last six starts versus teams with winning records.

Milwaukee Brewers at Pittsburgh Pirates (-119, 7)

Hot pitching stat: Brewers right-hander Marco Estrada has allowed three earned runs in 11 2/3 road innings in 2014.

Cold batting stat: Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez is 3-for-18 with eight strikeouts lifetime versus Estrada.

Weather: Clear skies are forecast with temperatures in the high-60s and wind blowing in from right field at 6 mph.

Key betting note: Milwaukee is 10-2 in Estrada's last 12 starts as a road underdog.

St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals (-144, 7)

Cold pitching stat: Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg was tagged for six runs in just four innings in his last outing.

Cold batting stat: Members of the Washington roster are a collective 6-for-33 against Cardinals right-hander Shelby Miller.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing in from right field at 11 mph.

Key betting note: The Nationals are 12-2 in Strasburg's last 14 Sunday starts.

Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs (102, OFF)

Cold pitching stat: Reds right-hander Homer Bailey has allowed opposing hitters to bat .369 against him in three starts this season.

Cold batting stat: Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro is just 5-for-27 against Bailey.

Weather: Temperatures will be low-60s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing out to left-center field at 7 mph.

Key betting note: Over is 5-1 in Bailey's last six road starts.

Philadelphia Phillies at Colorado Rockies (-163, 10)

Hot pitching stat: Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio allowed two runs over six strong innings to prevail in his last start.

Cold batting stat: Rockies outfielder Michael Cuddyer is a .239 hitter with zero home runs in 46 at-bats against Phillies righty Roberto Hernandez.

Weather: Partly cloudy skies are expected with temperatures in the mid-60s and wind blowing in from center field at 6 mph.

Key betting note: Over is 9-1-2 in Nicasio's previous 12 outings following a quality start in his last appearance.

Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers (-150, 8)

Hot pitching stat: Dodgers right-hander Josh Beckett threw five scoreless innings against San Diego in his last start.

Hot batting stat: Diamondbacks second baseman Aaron Hill is 15-for-38 with a homer and eight RBIs against Beckett.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-70s under clear skies with wind blowing out to right-center field at 6 mph.

Key betting note: Over is 7-0 in Beckett's last seven home starts.

San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres (-105, 7)

Cold pitching stat: Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum allowed four runs in six innings in his previous road start.

Cold batting stat: Padres infielder Everth Cabrera has three hits and six strikeouts in 16 at-bats against Lincecum.

Weather: Clear skies are expected with temperatures in the high-60s and wind blowing from left to right field at 7 mph.

Key betting note: Under is 8-1 in San Diego's last nine Sunday games.

Interleague

Seattle Mariners at Miami Marlins (-109, 8)

Cold pitching stat: Marlins right-hander Kevin Slowey is allowing batters to hit .313 against him in 2014.

Hot batting stat: Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano is 3-for-10 with a homer against Slowey.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-70s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing in from left field at 6 mph.

Key betting note: Seattle is 1-8 in starter Brandon Maurer's last nine outings.


** Odds, stats, weather forecast and probable pitchers as of 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

Anthony Michael (YouWinNow)

NBA Play of the Day - #709 Dallas Mavericks +9

Dallas has been a cover machine on the road with a record of 47-19 in their last 66 road games. The rest time since the end of the regular season will do wonders for the Mavs here having them very ready for this game. Yes, San Antonio has beaten Dallas the last 9 times SU but the line in most of those games was less than 9 being offered here. Look for Dallas to have a chip on their shoulder here and stay within this number.

2Halves2Win (1-3 in NBA playoffs for -1.70u thus far):

1* GAME: Bobcats-Heat o185 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)
1* GAME: Mavericks-Spurs u206 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)
1* GAME: Wizards-Bulls o180 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)
1* GAME: Bulls -4.5 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)
1* GAME: TrailBlazers +5.5 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)

tgunn11 said:

Baseball Crusher
St. Louis Cardinals +134 over Washington Nats
(System Record: 12-0, won last game)
Overall Record: 12-8

Click to expand...

Rest of Crusher's Baseball, Hockey & Basketball Plays Today:

Boston Red Sox -150 over Baltimore
New York Yankees +114 over Tampa Bay Rays
New York Mets +100 over Atlanta Braves

Boston Bruins + Detroit Red Wings UNDER 5
Philadelphia Flyers +148 over NY Rangers
San Jose Sharks + Los Angeles Kings OVER 5

Charlotte Bobcats +9.5 over Miami Heat
Chicago Bulls -4.5 over Washington Wiz
Houston Rockets + Portland Trail Blazers OVER 214.5

MLB

Hot pitchers
-- Miller is 1-1, 3.00 in his last two starts.
-- Colorado won all three Nicasio starts (2-0, 3.50).
-- Erlin is 1-1, 3.38 in two starts this season.

-- Peavy is 0-0, 1.42 in his last two starts.
-- Ventura is 1-0, 1.38 in two starts this season.
-- Ross is 1-0, 1.69 in his last couple starts.
-- Chavez is 0-0, 2.25 in three starts, all won by Oakland's bullpen.


Cold pitchers
-- Strasburg is 1-2, 7.29 in four starts this season.
-- Hale is 0-0, 3.86 in two starts this season. Wheeler is 1-2, 4.67 in his three starts this season.
-- Estrada is 1-1, 3.57 in three starts this month. Cole is 1-1, 6.75 in his last couple starts.
-- Bailey is 0-1, 8.16 in his first three starts. Villanueva is 1-1, 11.25 in two starts this season.
-- Hernandez has a 4.41 RA in his first three '14 starts.
-- Lincecum is 0-1, 7.20 in three starts this season.
-- Collmenter allowed three runs in four IP (73 PT) in his first '14 start, his first one since 2012. Beckett is 0-0, 5.00 in two starts this month.

-- Scherzer is 1-1, 4.15 in two starts this year. Santiago is 0-2, 4.96 in his first three starts this year.
-- Carrasco is 0-2, 8.71 in two starts this season. Morrow is 1-1, 4.30 in three starts this season.
-- Tillman is 0-3, 7.31 in his first three starts for Baltimore.
-- Nuno is making first '14 start; he was 1-1, 2.12 in three starts LY. Ramos allowed four runs in two IP in his first '14 start.
-- Hughes is 0-2, 7.20 in his first three starts for Minnesota.
-- Johnson is 0-1, 6.35 in three starts this season.
-- Peacock is making first '14 start; he was 2-1, 3.65 in last four starts LY, has a 7.45 RA in four relief appearances this year.

-- Slowey has made 104 MLB starts; he was 3-6, 4.11 in 14 starts for Miami last season; he has a 5.11 RA in four relief stints this month. Maurer is making first '14 start; he was 1-0, 3.12 in his last three starts LY.

Pitchers allowing runs in first inning:
Cin-Cubs: Bailey 1-3; Villanueva 0-2
Stl-Wsh: Miller 0-3; Strasburg 2-4
Mil-Pitt: Estrada 0-3; Cole 0-3
Atl-NY: Hale 1-2; Wheeler 2-3
Phil-Col: Hernandez 1-3; Nicasio 1-3
SF-SD: Lincecum 2-3; Erlin 0-2
Az-LA: Collmenter 0-1; Beckett 1-2

LA-Det: Santiago 0-3; Porcello 2-2
Tor-Cle: Morrow 1-3; Carrasco 1-2
NY-TB: Nuno 0-0; Ramos 0-1
Blt-Bos: Jimenez 1-3; Peavy 0-3
Chi-Tex: Johnson 2-3; Ross 1-3
Min-KC: Hughes 1-3; Ventura 1-2
Hst-A's: Peacock 0-0; Chavez 2-3

Sea-Mia: Maurer 0-0; Slowey 0-0

Totals
-- Eight of last eleven Cub games went over the total.
-- Under is 5-1-1 in last seven St Louis road games.
-- Seven of last eight Milwaukee road games went over.
-- Eight of eleven Atlanta road games stayed under.
-- Eight of last twelve Philly games went over total.
-- Six of last seven San Diego games stayed under.
-- Seven of last nine Arizona road games went over total.

-- 12 of 16 Angel games went over the total.
-- Last four Cleveland home games stayed under.
-- Four of last six Bronx road games stayed under.
-- 13 of 18 Boston games stayed under the total.
-- 11 of 18 White Sox games went over the total.
-- 13 of 17 Minnesota games went over the total. Five of Royals' last seven home games stayed under.
-- Over is 3-0-1 in last four Oakland games.

-- Eight of Miami's last ten games went over total.

Hot teams
-- Cincinnati won four of its last six games.
-- Washington won five of its last seven home games. Cardinals won six of last eight games overall.
-- Brewers won eight of their nine road games.
-- Braves won seven of their last eight games.
-- Colorado won six of its eight home games.
-- San Diego won seven of its last ten games.


-- Angels are 5-3 on the road this season.
-- Blue Jays won seven of last eleven games.
-- Tampa Bay won five of its last seven home games.
-- Boston won three of last four games. Orioles won four of their last six.
-- Rangers won six of their last seven games.
-- Kansas City won its last five games.
-- Oakland won five of its last six games.

-- Miami won its last two games, scoring 15 runs.

Cold teams
-- Cubs lost 11 of their first 16 games.
-- Pirates lost seven of their last nine games.
-- Mets lost six of their eight home games.
-- Phillies lost four of their last five games.
-- San Francisco lost its last three games, scoring one run in each game.
-- Arizona lost seven of its last eight games. Dodgers lost four of seven at home.

-- Detroit lost three of its last five home games.
-- Indians lost seven of their last nine games.
-- Bronx lost last two games, allowing 27 runs.
-- Twins lost five of their eight road games.
-- White Sox lost six of their eight road games.
-- Astros lost 13 of their last 16 games.

-- Seattle lost seven of their last eight games.

Umpires
-- StL-Wsh-- All four Gibson games this season stayed under.
-- Cin-Chi-- Five of last seven Blaser games stayed under.
-- Mil-Pitt-- Nine of last eleven Culbreth games stayed under.
-- Atl-NY-- Last five Wegner games stayed under the total.
-- Phil-Col-- This is second MLB game behind plate for rookie Segal.
-- Az-LA-- This is second MLB game behind plate for rookie Pattillo.
-- SF-SD-- Seven of last eight Dimuro games stayed under.

-- Tor-Cle-- Underdogs won eight of last twelve Kulpa games.
-- LA-Det-- Underdogs won nine of last fourteen Knight games.
-- Blt-Bos-- Nine of last twelve TBarrett games stayed under.
-- Min-KC-- Seven of last nine Gorman games went over total.
-- Hst-A's-- Six of last eight Fletcher games stayed under total.
-- NY-TB-- Visiting team won last five Fagan games.
-- Chi-Tex-- 12 of last 14 Hoye games stayed under total.

-- Sea-Mia-- Five of last six Hickox games stayed under total.