86% Western Conference Game of the Month I find this game to be very similar to the Detroit/Orlando game from last night and the result could be very similar as well. Being down two games to none, the Spurs got a game back on Thursday thanks to a late run where they were able to pull away late. We always hear the talk about home court advantage in the NBA and how important it is especially during the latter rounds of the playoffs. The Pistons put a halt to the 11-0 ATS run that home teams had in the Conference Semifinals and the Hornets add to it tonight.

San Antonio did have one of the stronger home courts this season which is the case most every year but New Orleans was certainly not intimidated by it. The Hornets handed the Spurs one of their seven home losses and the 24-point setback was their biggest home loss of the season. Many feel that San Antonio is still the team to beat despite trailing in the series. The argument can be made that the championship comes through San Antonio but let’s not forget that New Orleans went 26-15 on the road, fourth best in the NBA.

The Spurs were able to take Game Three despite getting outshot by New Orleans. The difference was long range shooting as the Spurs went 11-25 for 44 percent while the Hornets went just 2-11 for 18.2 percent. This was obviously an aberration as New Orleans finished the regular season third best in the league in three-point shooting. Even with that dismal performance on Thursday, the Hornets are hitting 45.2 from behind the arc over their last five games. We will see a big improvement tonight.

The one thing that New Orleans has been successful at this season is rebounding from big losses and I expect more of the same here. Coming off a road loss by double-digits this season, the Hornets are a perfect 9-0 ATS next time out. This includes straight up wins in all nine games and by an average of 10.6 ppg and also including one in the playoffs, defeating Dallas by 13 after losing the first game by 10 points. Add to that, New Orleans is 16-4 ATS revenging a loss where opponent scored 100 or more points. Play New Orleans Hornets 3 Units

**MLB BEST BET** Underdog Play of the Day Detroit went to Yankee Stadium at the start of last week and took all three games and then took the first game of this series making it six straight wins over the Yankees dating back to last season. New York halted that skid last night and now is 10-10 on the road this season but 8-6 in its last 14 away from home. Pitching has picked up some of the slack as the unit has allowed three runs or fewer in six of the last eight games. The offense is picking it up as well, scoring five runs or more over the last three games.

Just when you thought the Tigers were emerging once again following a very slow start, they are once again struggling. After starting the year a miserable 2-10, Detroit reeled off 12 wins in its next 17 games, including that sweep in New York. Since then however, the Tigers have lost seven of their last nine games including four of six at home during this homestand. Unlike the Yankees, pitching is a real issue as it has allowed five runs or more in seven straight games and four runs or more in 14 of the last 15 games.

At least Nate Robertson is consistent this season. He has allowed at least four runs in all seven of his starts including two outings where five runs were given up. He has been bad both at home and on the road so the venue matters none. He faced the Yankees in New York and actually picked up the win despite a poor outing. It was a rarity as his track record against the Yankees is dreadful as he is 2-5 with a 5302 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in eight career starts.

Andy Pettitte has been up and down this season but the good news here is that his ups have come on the road. He is 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA in three home starts but he is 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA in four road outings. Three of those were quality starts. He went against Detroit last week and it was his worst outing of the season which did come as a surprise. He had tossed six straight quality starts against the Tigers prior to that and he is once again in a good spot to rebound from that poor outing the first time around. Play New York Yankees 2 Units

I’m perplexed by this line. Florida is starting to heat up once again as it has now won six straight games to move back into first place in the National League East. The Marlins took the first two games of this series which makes it seven wins in the first eight meetings this season. So the fact that Florida remains an underdog here makes no sense especially when the pitching matchup favors it as well. The Marlins are now 10-5 away from home which is the best road record in baseball.

While the Marlins are surging, the Nationals are slumping. It has been a season of streaks for the Nationals and they are once again in the middle of one, this time on the down side. Washington has dropped four of its last five games after winning eight of 10 prior to that. The offense is once again not producing and the bats are hitting only .238 on the season which is 2nd to last in the National League, ahead of San Diego only. The slugging percentage of .352 is also second worst.

Scott Olsen is coming off the best outing of his career as he allowed just two hits in 8.2 innings against the Brewers. It was his fifth quality outing in his last six starts and that already includes two over Washington this season. He is 2-0 against the Nationals this season, giving up five runs in 14 innings for a 2.45 ERA while also posting a solid 0.89 WHIP. The Marlins are 6-1 in his seven starts including a perfect 2-0 mark on the road where Olsen has posted a 1.80 ERA.

The Nationals counter with Shawn Hill who has looked decent but certainly not spectacular in his four starts this season. He has one quality start and while he has allowed more than three runs only once, that is mostly due to his inability to do a long distance. Three of his four outings has seen him out before the end of the sixth inning including his last outing where he tossed 107 pitches but only lasted 5.1 innings. Opponents are hitting .283 on the season. Play Florida Marlins 1.5 Units

Matt Fargo is coming off a Premium setback with the Angles last night but now is the time to get it going once again! The Sunday afternoon card is a full one and there is one Underdog that stands out from the bunch! Everything falls into place to bring this easy Winner home! Fargo has netted 69 Units in baseball over the last 21 months and continues the run today!