Tuesday's Picks and Predictions PLUS What Have We Learned??

TODAY'S MLB AND CFB PICKS WILL BE POSTED HERE FOR FREE!! BE SURE TO CHECK BACK!!

GOOD LUCK BABE - SEE MORE OF ME HERE

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: What have we learned so far??

• Ole Miss continues to disappoint. Their win against Vandy was as ugly as it gets. Snead threw 3 more picks and doesn’t seem focused.
• LSU proved why they were in my preseason top 6. People thought I was crazy but this team is talented enough to beat the best on any given day – of course their biggest test comes this weekend against top-ranked Florida. With or without Tebow this will be a tough game for the Gators. Keep in mind the Gators have turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 12 times in the red zone so far.
• I had huge expectations for Cal this year, as did many, but Oregon took the wind out of their sails and this team just rolled over and played dead against USC, which was supposed to be one of the best games in college football this season!
• How about the Washington Huskies!? This team went 0-fer last year but people failed to recognize their REAL issues like injuries and coaching. I said a healthy Washington team would be a dangerous one this year and they are proving me right so far!
• Speaking of Washington how about Notre Dame?? 4-1 and not even ranked?? I love it!! Maybe I am not the only one who thinks this team is only average at-best. Their defense is horrible – I don’t care what anyone thinks – it’s true!
• Miami U. bounces back big! Granted, Oklahoma was without Bradford but it is still a huge win for the Canes no matter how you slice it! This team finally has that killer instinct again and that will-to-win! I am very happy for them and really enjoy watching them play again!
• Stanford has quietly impressed. This team shows up every week and plays solid fundamental football. Well-coached teams typically do well and strong fundamentals can make up for some lack of talent. Their biggest tests have yet to come but I am curious to see how they perform in the coming weeks!
• I think I was the only one who never had Houston ranked in the top 25, even after their back-to-back wins against Okie State and Texas Tech, but I just knew this team was a fraud. I can see them losing at least another 3 games before it’s over!
• Auburn continues to earn my respect and yet other pollsters continue to dis them, barely ranking them in the top 20 while I have them at #8! This team is very talented and fun to watch but they do need to sure up a few minor issues on defense to beat the elite teams of the conference.
• I feel sorry for the Tennessee defense because this unit is very talented and very well might be one of the best in the nation but their offense is borderline pathetic. Is Crompton really the best talent they can attract?? I find it so hard to believe given the history of the Vols!! Until they have a legitimate QB this team will continue to be “just average”.
• How about Idaho?? Who?? That’s right – I-D-A-H-O!! This team was one of the worst programs in the history of D-1 football but they now have the hearts of lions and the will of champions!! They had history stacked up against them this past weekend, found themselves down 14 early, and yet continued to fight and claw their way back to victory!! I love underdog stories and this is a great one in the making. Wouldn’t it be great if they knocked off Boise State and won the conference title!!?? I don’t think it’s as far fetched as it might sound!!

MLB

5:05PM EST

MINNESOTA VS. DETROIT

TOP PLAY: DETROIT +155

I absolutely love this play! Detroit struggled down the stretch while the Twins were on fire and able to catch the Tigers and force this one game playoff. This has much of the public laying their hard earned cash on the Twins today thinking this momentum is enough to carry them for one more game – BUT NOT ME!! Then you have a rookie pitcher in Porcello starting ON THE ROAD in the BIGGEST GAME OF HIS LIFE TO-DATE and this has the public even more giddy thinking they have found a “lock” – BUT NOT ME!! Folks, prior to one of Porcello’s first starts this year I did an interview with one of his former pitching coaches who also happens to be a good friend of mine. That interview really was a prelude to Porcello and his success surprises everyone but us!! Again, nobody even knew who this kid was and we said it wouldn’t be long before they found out – AHHH (SIGH) – and here we are!! So, everyone is pointing to Porcello’s inexperience in “big games” but at the same time are failing to acknowledge Baker’s lack of big game experience. What humors me is how some people are even calling Baker “dominant” – yet this guy has failed to make it to the 6^th inning in 10 of 32 starts and gave up 6 or more hits in 16 of 32 starts – anything but dominant!! Additionally, he has been blasted by the Tigers this year posting a 6.75 ERA and a .333 BA in 4 starts – he had ONE solid start against them and that was just 4 days ago and STILL didn’t make it past the 5^th inning!! Here is something else you might find interesting – Baker has started ZERO GAMES on less than 5 days rest this year!! When pitchers find themselves in unfamiliar roles they typically fail!! And Baker’s history on less than 5 days rest suggests HE DOES FAIL TODAY!! Look at Baker’s history on less than 5 days rest:

• 2008: 2 starts and 5.56 ERA

• 2007: no starts

• 2006: 1 start 6.23 ERA

• 2005: no starts

Please tell me the Tigers aren’t chomping at the bit knowing this history and knowing they POUNDED him already this year in 3 of 4 games!! Folks, Porcello is a “kool kat” and doesn’t get easily rattled, and never has, so don’t think it happens today!! Detroit jumps on Baker early and the bullpen holds off the Twins late!! Listen to our interview with one of Porcello's pitching coaches.

PREDICTION: DETROIT 5 MINNESOTA 2

CFB

8:00PM EST

301 Middle Tenn St
302 Troy

TOP PLAY: MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE +7

TOP PLAY: UNDER 57

STRONG OPINION: MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE MONEYLINE +245

It’s always tough to go against Troy at home but I can’t resist tonight!! The only other time I backed MTSU was opening week at Clemson. Despite not covering the spread MTSU showed me a lot. First, the game was much closer than the score actually indicated. MTSU’s special teams were horrible giving up a 96 yard kickoff return to start the game and offensively they turned the ball over 3 times inside Clemson’s 5 yard line. However, statistically speaking MTSU stood toe-to-toe with Clemson and played them even in almost every statistical category. Even more impressive to me was the fact that they held their own in the trenches and matched their team speed very well, something I haven’t forgotten. Meanwhile, Troy stepped up once and played Florida and got absolutely annihilated!! Granted, it was Florida but the one thing I can’t forget is just how slow and under-sized they looked. I also can’t forget how Troy went to Bowling Green during opening week, the only other time I backed Troy, and they got pasted by a pathetic MAC conference school. Troy looked terrible and frankly, even had trouble matching Bowling Green’s team speed. As stout as Troy’s defense is supposed to be teams have lit them up through the air and this plays right into MTSU’s strength!! Again, many have Troy winning this conference but not me!! I strongly believe MTSU is the better team and they know that if they can win this game tonight the fate of the conference title lies in their own hands!! I believe they get it done!!

PREDICTION: MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 31 TROY 23