These teams enter this game with nearly identical records. Both have been surprises, but in different ways so far this year. The Orioles have been much better than expected, while the Angels haven’t lived up to expectations.
The Rays were in a bad way but may be turning the corner with a series win against the Yankees.
Head coach Nick Saban has fielded a lethal football squad in Dixieland since his arrival six years ago. The Tide had a Sugar Bowl appearance in 2008, followed by National Titles in ’09 and last season. While taskmaster Saban must replace a considerable amount of NFL-bound talent in 2012, this team is deeper and more talented than most, and is poised for another great season in the SEC West division.
Head coach Mark Richt enters his 12th season as the main man Between the Hedges at Sanford Stadium, holding the clipboard for the Georgia Bulldogs. Various times during his tenure, he has been on the hot seat and also been lauded for being a brilliant motivator.
A few weeks ago the Dodgers had the best record in baseball and everything was looking great. Now, the Dodgers are in a tailspin and looking like a team destined to head back to the .500 mark.
As this is being written the Rangers are getting hammered down 7-0 in the 5th as these two division leaders square off.
Oakland dominated the first game of this three-game set, but Boston starts Ace Jon Lester in this one. The Red Sox started the season poorly, but they have been playing good baseball for the last month or so.
Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics MLB Betting Preview
Starting Pitchers: Boston (Lester) vs. Oakland (Colon)
Date/Time: July 3, 10:05 p.m. EST
MLB Gambling Odds from TopBet
Moneyline: Boston (-131) Oakland (+121)
Runline: Red Sox -1.5 (+125) vs. Athletics +1.5 (-145)
Total: 7.5
Oakland is proving to be a scrappy team that is difficult to beat, especially at home. Let’s take a look at this Tuesday night matchup.
The Red Sox might consider Jon Lester their Ace, but he hasn’t pitched like one so far this season. Lester is 5-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 2012. He has allowed 109 hits in 101 innings pitched. He has a very disappointing 1.34 WHIP. Lester has been one of the better pitchers in the American League over the past four years, but he hasn’t been able to find his command this year. Boston’s offense has been short-handed all season, but this team has still managed to pile up the runs. Boston is averaging an impressive 5.14 runs per game. Veteran David Ortiz and youngsters Daniel Nava and Will Middlebrooks are all exceeding expectations and leading the way for this offense.[dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Bartolo Colon will start for the Athletics in this contest. Colon hasn’t started a game since June 17due to an oblique injury. He is 6-7 with a 4.22 ERA this year. The Athletics have managed to stick around .500 despite having the worst team batting average in the majors. Oakland is 20-19 at home so far in 2012. Josh Reddick leads a more powerful than expected middle of the order. Reddick has 19 homers already this year. Yoenis Cespedes has missed a lot of time this year, but he looks like a guy who will hit a lot of home runs for many years to come. The Athletics are fifth in the majors in stolen bases. The pitching staff has a solid 3.53 ERA.
Both of these pitchers have been inconsistent at best this year. Colon is coming off an injury against a good lineup, and Lester has yet to prove himself this season. I like this one to go over the posted total.
MLB Free Pick: Over 7.5
MLB Betting Previews- Tuesday, July 3 Parlay
The MLB divisional races continue to heat up with the soaring July temperatures as teams strive to finish the first half of the regular season on a strong note.
2012 Greenbrier Classic
Location: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States
Course: Greenbrier – The Old White Course
Date: Jul 5-8, 2012
Total Purse: US $ 6,100,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,080,000 (18% of total purse)
Defending Champion: Scott Stallings ($1,080,000)
This week’s stop on the PGA TOUR comes our way from West Virginia and the Greenbrier Course for only the third edition of the Greenbrier Classic. The course this week rewards length – wide fairways will allow bombers to do their thing with relatively little impunity. But difficult greens await – the putters are going to have to be solid in order to contend.
Last week I had Dustin Johnson winning – he had an uncharacteristically poor performance. Greenbrier suits his game very well – will he be my pick two weeks in a row? Let’s take a look.
The Favorites
Tiger Woods 7/2
What’s most impressive about Tiger’s win last week was the fact that he won while utilizing the driver for more than just marking where to drop the ball. But his all-around game seems to be almost back to his standard – he ranks fifth in total driving, 10th in greens in regulation, 14th in Strokes Gained-Putting and first in adjust scoring. Tiger is plain scary again!!
Webb Simpson 15/1
Simpson isn`t letting a US Open hangover affect his game. He finished 9th last week and obviously played very well. Simpson is a Stud and is a threat each and every week!
Dustin Johnson 20/1
DJ was a disappointment last week but Greenbrier is a course that suits his game perfectly. He ranks 19th on the PGA TOUR in adjusted scoring and 10th in proximity to the hole from the rough. He will be looking for a bounce back and should get it this week.
The Contenders:
Phil Mickelson 20/1
Played here last year and actually missed the cut. He, like so many others has the game perfect for this track – 47th on TOUR in greens in regulation, 12th in Strokes Gained-Putting, seventh in birdie average and 17th in adjusted scoring. Phil is flying under the radar a tad but is still dangerous.
Jim Furyk 25/1
Finished T9 here in 2010 but had a bad week at Congressional finishing T34. His accuracy will serve him well this week – he is fifth on TOUR in fairways hit, 30th in GIR and third in adjusted scoring. You can never count Mr. Furyk out!
Brendon de Jonge 30/1
de Jonge has had success in the first two years of this tournament – 3rd last year and T4 the year before. He loves this track and will be motivated after a brutal Sunday last week.
Bill Haas 40/1
Haas has been so-so this year but he did play well here last year losing in a playoff. If there is a course that he can right the ship on, it may be this one.
The Sleepers:
John Rollins 50/1
Leads the PGA TOUR in total driving and ranks 20th in greens in regulation, 11th in birdie average and 19th in the all-around – perfect traits for this course. He finished T4 in his last start at the Travelers and comes into this week in good form.
Jimmy Walker 50/1
Finished T4 in both editions of this tournament and could break through this week. He loves this course and has to be on the radar this week.
Mark Leishman 60/1
Won the Travelers and has shown flashes on this course in the past. He is playing arguable the best golf of his career.
JB Holmes 80/1
Arguable the biggest hitter on TOUR, Holmes is definitely a nice sleeper this week. Despite some struggles this year, Holmes’ length has to be considered this week.
The Pick:
Tiger is certainly a popular pick this week but I am going back to the well again this week. Dustin Johnson at 20/1 is my pick.
My sleeper is Jimmy Walker 50/1. He loves this course and is due for a win after some impressive results here.
The Rangers were on a nice roll but couldn’t close out the sweep against Oakland over the weekend. Still they have won 7 of their last 10 and are one of the best road teams in the Majors with a 23-15 record.
