GAMBLING GUIDE
Championship weekend gambling guide: Georgia on my mind
Dec 1, 2017, 6:15 am
Look for a big effort from Georgia this weekend. UGAFootballlive.com
Originally appeared on Houstonsportsandstuff.com.
Everyone knows Auburn is very good. Their recent run of success is the most impressive in college football this year. Without a doubt they are one of the best teams in the country.
However, the situational spot for Georgia sets up perfectly from a betting perspective in four different ways.
- Georgia got humiliated a few weeks ago at Auburn 40-17. Georgia looked confused on offense and never established the run. Auburn forced them to pass and it was gross. Gus Malzahn was caught on tape saying Auburn “beat the dawg s*it out of them.” Georgia heard. Georgia remembers.
- The recent success of Auburn has taken a toll on Auburn’s backfield. They have played two different No. 1 teams in the country in the last three weeks. The Auburn kids are in for a letdown- and their health, especially Kerryon Johnson -- will play a factor. He could barely stand up straight last week at the end of the game. You could make the argument that Auburn does not have a running back at 100%. The running backs are key in Malzahn’s offense. If they are still banged up, it will mean trouble for Auburn.
- Guz Malzahn could leave Auburn for Arkansas. Don’t laugh. Malzahn has deep ties to Northern Arkansas where he was a high school football coach and his wife loves it there. Arkansas is home to Malzahn and some people think he is tired of the politics at Auburn. Malzahn always seems to be on the hot seat at Auburn and rumors of him coaching for his job surface every year. He could return home to Arkansas and coach for 20 years. Regardless of if he leaves or not, Arkansas is a distraction.
- Just a few weeks ago Georgia was a favorite playing in Auburn. Fast forward three weeks and they are underdogs? Georgia is healthier, has revenge, and fewer distractions. The line is begging you to take Auburn.
I am playing Georgia three different ways. First half. Full game. Money line. I also have them tied up in several different parlays. This is my largest play of the year.
No one is talking about Georgia right now, but they will after this week.
Good luck on your wagers this weekend.
Direct all hate mail to @jayoff288 I will be on Twitter all weekend.
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The Houston Astros walked out of Phoenix with a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks, but the biggest win of the series might not have been in the standings, it could’ve been the emergence of their latest young spark plug.
Once again, the pitching carried the load. Brandon Walter continued his breakout season with another strong showing, and right now, he looks like Houston’s third starter if the playoffs began today. Behind him, Ryan Gusto and Colton Gordon have quietly helped stabilize a rotation ravaged by injuries. All three own ERAs under 4.5, a luxury the Astros couldn’t have anticipated heading into the year. Another thing they couldn't have anticipated was Lance McCullers' ERA this season being almost seven.
Walter’s rise comes at the same time the McCullers situation grows murkier. After starting the season late, he’s on the injured list again, this time with a blister on his pitching hand. Though the issue isn’t related to his arm, the “vibes” simply haven't been there. He’s struggled in four of his last five starts, and one wonders whether a "phantom" IL stint might be in his future, especially with Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti progressing in rehab assignments. The roster squeeze is coming, and McCullers might not make the cut.
Crushing dingers!
Offensively, the conversation begins and ends with Brice Matthews. The first-round pick has quickly shifted from injury fill-in to potential staple, nearly winning the series by himself with three home runs across the first two games. His athleticism has popped in the field, and while contact concerns remain, the power and energy are real. Matthews is the only prospect of his pedigree ready to contribute, so the club made a wise decision to take a shot on upside, and Matthews delivered. That's why we were so emphatic about the Astros elevating Matthews. Get him in the lineup as a DH if you have to, whatever it takes, this offense needs pop. Then lo and behold, not only does he give the offense a lift, his defense also helped seal a win against Arizona.
Veteran slugger Christian Walker might be heating up too, posting a .348 average with three home runs and an .895 OPS in July. That’s a promising development, especially in a month when the Astros have flipped their typical formula. The pitching has been average — 18th in ERA, 18th in WHIP, 21st in opponent batting average — but the offense has been elite: top-five in slugging, OPS, and runs scored.
Injury bug
Still, questions persist. Chief among them is the health of Yordan Alvarez. His recent comments about his hand injury — specifically, his uncertainty and acknowledgement that rest hasn’t helped — were troubling. If surgery isn’t an option and time off isn’t working, what is the long-term solution? At this point, fans are right to worry about whether Alvarez will ever fully return to the dominant form he once showed.
Trade deadline
With the trade deadline one week away, general manager Dana Brown has to weigh all of this. The pitching could soon be bolstered by returns from the IL. But the offense, especially with no clear return dates for Alvarez, Jeremy Peña, Jake Meyers, and Isaac Paredes, might need immediate help. Despite the sweep, Houston scored just three and four runs in the final two games of the Diamondbacks series. If they’re serious about contending for a championship, another bat may be required. They'll see much better pitching in the postseason.
If the Astros do decide to add an arm, a power right-handed reliever could make sense. With Bryan Abreu the only truly dominant righty in the bullpen, a little late-inning muscle wouldn’t hurt.
Bottom line: the Astros are winning, and they're doing it in multiple ways. But with health concerns piling up and playoff positioning tightening, there’s still plenty of work ahead. Fortunately for Houston, they may have just found another foundational piece in the most unexpected place, a rookie who’s already changing the conversation.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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