Monday, September 04, 2017 Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers (MLB) 1:10 PM EDT Kansas City Royals Premium Pick GTBets Play Title: 10 Star Earlybird Momentum Grabber Play Selected: Money Line: -138 (WINNER) Analysis: There's 1 team today that should be primed for their stretch drive. This team won't take their foot off the accelerator having to make-up a few games to put themselves into prime playoff position. That team is the Kansas City Royals. KC has been more than just dependable when facing teams with a losing home record (Detroit 31-36). They've won a stellar 8 of their last 10 times in this given situation. Getting rid of Justin Verlander tells me they've abandoned the season & are experimenting in hope of getting a better chemistry. That's why they're putting a rookie on the mound this afternoon in RHP Artie Lewicki fresh up from their Triple-A, the Toledo Mud Hens. My bottom line stresses that the Royals' RHP on the mound Jake Junis has looked brilliant over his last 3 posting a nifty 2.12 ERA. He's definitely not the same pitcher that the Tigers hit with a fresher lineup just a few months back. KC also has a winning road record versus RHP in day games for the season.The dagger for us has to be Detroit being a perfect 0-6 of late versus RHP & now having to face a Kansas City team that's won the last 5 in this intra-divisional rivalry. KC came in after winning a series with Minnesota on the road & the momentum continues here. Let's go to Comerica Park in Michigan to play the KANSAS CITY ROYALS as my 10 Star Earlybird Momentum Grabber! --Sunday, September 03, 2017 Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs (MLB) - 2:20 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -230 Chicago Cubs Pick Title: 9 Star MLB Focused Pennant Pusher (LOSS) Not too concerned about our slow start in CFB since our teams TO's were far from the status quo. If this game was your typical Sunday homer letdown, I would say to proceed with great caution. However, contrary to sharps' belief, I look for the opposite to take place. The Cubs' pitching staff (Lester & Co.) clearly took the night off yesterday when they gave up 12 big runs. This didn't necessarily transmit into a sure loss as Chicago held on for a 14-12 triumph. Mike Montgomery takes to the hill whose been excellent against the patsies. My bottom line says with Atlanta 2-8 the last 10 in Chicago as well as 3-15 against them overall, it's pretty hard to back a team that only plays in spurts. Is it hard to sweep 4 straight in a series? Certainly it is. But Cubbies Manager Joe Maddon (Hazleton, Pa's finest) knows how to approach his team psychologically here. He should be talking about how Milwaukee's schedule is cake the rest of the way right now & that 4 1/2 games can be made up quickly with a month to play. I expect a continuance of home supremacy (the Cubs won 10 of 11 @ home) as we go to historic Wrigley Field to take the CHICAGO CUBS as our 9 Star MLB Focused Pennant Pusher! Saturday, September 02, 2017 Wyoming vs. Iowa (NCAAF) - 12:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: 12.0/-105 Wyoming Pick Title: Saturday 9 Star Under The Radar Play (LOSS) Even though Colorado State won the statistics war last night, they couldn't control keeping costly turnovers to a minimum as we fell short by a TD Friday night. Let's grab a team today that's been excellent @ winning the turnover wars (only lost that category @ Nebraska & @ UNLV last season). I love the fact that these under-the-radar Wyoming Cowboys return 8 defenders back from their 16' campaign when they upset Colorado State 38-17 as 6-point dogs on the road & shocked Boise State 30-28 as 14 1/2-point dogs & San Diego State 34-33 as 9 1/2-point dogs in Laramie. Why do we have an excellent chance here? For starters, I feel that the Iowa program has sank into Big Ten mediocrity since their national championship run of 15' came crashing to the ground late. HC Kirk Ferentz (has covered just 1 of his last 8 lid-lifters) is known for under-achieving versus lesser powers (lost to North Dakota State 23-21 @ home) but playing tough in Iowa City in-conference as they beat both Michigan & Nebraska to close out the regular season. Speaking of North Dakota State, HC Craig Bohl of Wyoming coached them from 2003 thru 2013 & has to his credit 3 FCS national Championships. Bohl knows the coaching philosophy & psyche' to approach a game of this magnitude. He should be on the same page now with 2 solid coordinators under him (both were @ ND State) in OC Brent Vigen & DC/LB coach Scottie Hazleton. Sensational QB in 6'5" Josh Allen is back again for his junior season for the Cowboys. He's definitely a dual threat since he threw for over 3,200 yards & 28 TD's last season while rushing for 755 yards & scoring 7 more TD's. Looking @ some numbers, Allen & Wyoming have responded well to the underdog role covering 8 of their last 9 chances but more importantly 6 in a row. My bottom line says Iowa (4-9 last 13 @ home) cannot be trusted here. The Hawkeyes DO NOT cover well installed as double-digit chalk losing 32 of their last 47 over the long haul. Losing C.J. Beathard (now with 49ers) to graduation has to sting a bit as they'll make the rough transition breaking in sophomore Nathan Stanley (threw 9 passes last season) or the even more green junior QB in Tyler Wiegers. The dagger for us has to be Stanley or Wiegers not proven enough through the air makeing Iowa look too one-dimensional. I feel that Wyoming can seize the day in keeping down turnovers & standing firm in the trench wars. With a game in Ames with intra-state rival Iowa State immediately on-deck, I love our chances. Let's bite the bullet as we travel to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City to play the WYOMING COWBOYS (buying to a key +14 1/2 @ -185) as my Saturday 9 Star Under The Radar Play! Friday, September 01, 2017 Colorado State vs. Colorado (NCAAF) - 8:00 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Point Spread: 3.5/-106 Colorado State Pick Title: 9 Star Our Line Our Time Play (LOSS) This play's title says it all on how we set the tone for the whole CFB season. Before the line comes out, we'll set the line right where WE are confident playing NOT Vegas. That line will certainly be played on the right side of a key number as well. There's a lot to be covered for this intra-state rivalry (91st Rocky Mountain Showdown) than meets the eye. For instance, key Sophomore CB Anthony Julmisse for the Buffaloes was suspended the arrested for robbery. The makings of a thinner secondary will matter in the end since senior QB Nick Stevens (has a 22/4 TD/INT ratio his last 8 contests & passed for 334 last week) showed excellent mobility and accuracy last week when posting up 58 points in a 31-point win over PAC-12 entry Oregon State @ their brand new stadium in Fort Collins. I feel the dismal performance by the Rams last season in this series (Colorado cruised 44-7) was largely due to an excellent secondary & constant up-front pressure by the Buffs' "D". This time around, revenge is KING as QB Stevens (who passed for 63 yards last meeting) will NOT have to face 8 of 11 of those same defenders that held him down in that last game in Denver. HC Bobo (in his 3rd year here) should surpass the 7-win total which he's enjoyed for the past 2 seasons since his best RB in senior Dalyn Dawkins (952 rushing yards @ 5.7 YPC) & senior WR Michael Gallup (76 receptions for 1,272 receiving yards, 16.7 YPC) They should thrive since Colorado will be learning a new defensive scheme under first-year DC/LB Coach D.J. Eliot (their excellent DC the past 2 years in Jim Leavitt bolted for Oregon to join Willie Taggert as the Ducks' DC). My bottom line says I expect a nip-and-tuck affair without much separation for this contest. I feel this Colorado State team is certainly for real as they've averaged 48 PPG over their last 6 games. DC Marty English 3-4 defensive scheme has already produced BIG dividends. With 8 defensive starters returning, the Rams forced 5 turnovers in the opener. Facing the Buffaloes' Sophomore QB Steven Montez (59% completions with a 9/5 TD/INT ratio) will be a challenge (9 starters back) but momentum is all on the other side. Colorado lost 41-10 in the Pac-12 Championship to Washington before Oklahoma State blew them out 38-8 in the Alamo Bowl. The dagger for us points out our side enjoys a current 7-0 ATS regular season run as well as going 5-1 ATS on the road. Let's travel to Denver to take Mike Bobo's Boys, the Colorado State Rams (but buying to + 7 1/2 @ -206 playing it @ our number) as my 9 Star Our Line Our Time Play! Wednesday, August 30, 2017 Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins (MLB) - 8:10 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -225 Minnesota Twins Pick Title: 9 Star Line Mover (WINNER) Look for the Twins bats to capitalize on the arm of Holland which has lost his last 6 road starts & 13 of his last 16 overall. The packed-it-in Pale Hose will falter in the end. Grab the CHICAGO WHITE SOX as my 9 Star Line Mover! NOTES: The CFB season jumped out to an uncharacteristic 0-2 as Colorado State & Wyoming (Mountain West Dogs are usually gold?) both turned in 3 TO days & no covers despite having the advantage in total yards or near it. MLB 10 Star was true to form on yesterday but the Cubs a disappointment @ home. Selectivity will win out in the end as will baseball kick in even better come playoff time. However, caution will be extremely used down the stretch in MLB because our HAMMER is coming! Overall Record Since Late 4/18 ----73-34----68% 2017 MLB Overall Seasonal Record ----53-27----66% 2017 CFB Season Record----0-2----0%
 

Click here to view all of Mike Handzelek 's premium picks.