GAMBLING GUIDE

Bookie Busters: Wild Card money

Bookie Busters: Wild Card money
Photo by Getty Images

For a football fan, this weekend looks to be one of the most interesting periods during a football season. For a gambler, you look to capitalize off market inefficiencies or public overreaction. There are some great spots and player props to dig into. Make sure to not over-bet, the playoffs are just getting started.

New Plays

Coming soon

1/5 710

Memphis Grizzlies at Phoenix Suns 1st Q over 57.5 5U MAX

9 cst 

Titans /Pats

2nd half over 23.5 5U MAX
Titans TT over 10 5U MAX

Previous Plays

NCAAF

Navy vs Kansas St
Navy -2.5 3U MAX
TT over 24.5 3U MAX

12.31

Live

NCAAF

KENTUCKY @ VIRGINIA TECH Live over 53.5 3U MAX

12/31 1120

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS @ INDIANA PACERS

FH over 103.5 3U MAX

76ers TT over 106.5 5U MAX

12/31

NCAAB

Georgia Tech at Florida State Fl st TT FH over 34.5 2U

Niners/Hawks

Over 47 5U MAX bomb

Niners TT over 23.5 5U MAX

For any questions or comments reach me @Jerryboknowz Twitter.

Be sure to check out my show MoneyLine with Josh Jordan on ESPN 97.5. We're on every Sunday from 10-noon, and we'll talk a lot of fantasy football and NFL gambling. Also, be sure to follow us @Moneyline975 on Twitter.

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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