GAMBLING GUIDE

Bookie Busters: Hoping to continue an epic win streak with Europa League Final, NBA and NHL playoffs

Bookie Busters: Hoping to continue an epic win streak with Europa League Final, NBA and NHL playoffs
The Rockets are in must-win mode. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

An epic run, some would say, as Bookie Busters stayed hot by going undefeated at 8-0-1. We are now on a 37-12 run over the last five weeks. 75.5%. Remember to Practice Bankroll management, that is the key! Let's keep streaking....

8-0-1 SWEEP

Celtics +1   WIN

Soccer

Dynamo vs. Whitecaps

Over 2.5  WIN

RB Leipzig vs. Hertha Berlin

Over 3 WIN

Levante vs. Barcelona

Over 3.5 WIN

Both Teams to score WIN

Liverpool first Half  WIN

Arsenal -1 PUSH

Tottenham Over 3.5  WIN

Colorado Rapids vs. New York Red Bulls

Over 2.5  WIN

Europa League Final

Atletico Madrid vs. Marseille

Marseille come into this match off a disappointing 3-3 draw vs. Guingamp this weekend. The squad leans heavily on the skills of French international Dimitri Payet who has seven assists and three goals in this tournament. Also having a breakthrough season is winger Florian Thauvin, who has netted 21 goals in Ligue 1.  The French side will need every bit of their contributions after being held scoreless in five matches in this competition, something that doesn't bode well facing one of Europe's elite defenses. Atletico Madrid has allowed only 20 goals in the last 37 matches; credit to goalkeeper Jan Oblak who is making a case for one of the worlds best keepers after keeping 26 clean sheets this season. Attempting to recreate the magic of 2010 and 2012, Diego Simeone's team enter this match as 3-1 favorites to claim the Europa title.

The Pick

The French side hasn't had much luck in EL finals, tasting defeat the last two times they made it to a final,  losing to Parma in 1999 and Valencia in 2004. I expect Los Rojiblancos to play a conservative gameplan limiting what Marseille will be able to do on the offensive side of the field. Look for a marginal victory here from a team that is battle tested in big games and their experience, will conclusively lead them to a narrow victory.

Atletico -118

Atletico to nil

Antoine Griezmann to score

Match Result and Both Teams to Score

Madrid and No   +150

Predicted lineups

Marseille starting XI: Mandanda; Sarr, Rami, Luiz Gustavo, Amavi; Sanson, Lopez; Thauvin, Payet, Ocampos; Germain

Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Godin, Lucas; Koke, Saul Niguez, Gabi, Correa; Griezmann, Costa

Other sports

Rockets vs. Warriors Game 2

Rockets -1

Not much to this play, Houston in a must-win situation after losing home court. I believe MDA makes the right adjustments on defense and gets his offense going earlier in the shot clock.

Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights - Game 3

Vegas-140 Moneyline

Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers -  Game 3

Over 205

For any questions or comments reach me @JerryBoknowz on Twitter


 

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The Texans will look to get back on track this Sunday against the Colts. Composite Getty Image.

C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.

Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”

The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.

They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.

Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.

Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.

“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.

What's working

The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.

Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.

What needs help

The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.

Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.

Stock up

RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.

Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.

“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”

Stock down

Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.

Injuries

LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.

Key number

3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.

Next steps

The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.

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