Sunday Picks

I'm going to have to write a post about all the ball-busting ways to lose a bet. Yesterday, the Astros fall in the bottom of the 9th, and then in the later game, Giants starter Kevin Correia gets injured in the very first inning and leaves the game. At least Gabbard made it to the 2nd inning on Patriots Day before getting hurt. Picking up the pieces today with 2 baseball picks and 2 in the NBA:

MLB

Braves (Smoltz) -117 (Matchbook), 117 to win 100

Maybe I'm missing something, but this seems like an awfully short number for Smoltz vs. Figueroa (who? exactly). Braves hitting much better than the Mets, and Smoltz has been brilliant lately.


Orioles (Guthrie) +120 (WSEX), 100 to win 120

I think the wrong team is favored in this one, even with the White Sox playing at home. Orioles hitters own Contreras. Guthrie pitches well on the road, and very well in day games. Take the plus number.


NBA

Spurs ML +150 (WSEX), 50 to win 75

Over the last five years, seven teams have gone into Game 4 at home down 0-3 in a first-round series. Six out of seven times, that team lost Game 4 and got swept. Although the Suns are probably better than the average first-round sweep victim, I'm taking the nice number and banking on the Spurs desire to end this series quickly to give themselves time to rest up for the Jazz in the second round.


Hornets +5.5 (Matchbook), 55 to win 50

I know the home team is consisently winning in this matchup, but the Mavs never seemed to put the game away in Game 3 until the very end. In a very even matchup, without the urgency of avoiding going down 0-3 that the Mavs had in the last game, I think the Hornets can at least stay within this number, if not win outright.