MLB Game Preview for August 19, 2010: Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees

The online sports betting surrounding the New York Yankees bid to defend their World Series title is getting interesting. At one point in time, the Yankees had a comfortable lead over their season-long nemesis the Tampa Bay Rays. But as NFL betting and NCAA football betting seasons approach, the Yankees find themselves falling apart and tangled in a dogfight with the Rays.

Right now the Rays and the Yankees have identical 73-46 records. The Yankees probably felt that the best record in baseball was enough to secure the AL East pennant, but they never counted on the Rays matching them game for game. The other problem for the Yankees is that the Rays are on a four-game winning streak and show no signs of letting up.

The Detroit Tigers were a factor in the AL Central most of the season, but in recent weeks the team has fallen off of the divisional pace. The Tigers are 11 games out of first place in the AL Central and they are 15 games out of the AL wild card race as well. The problem for the Tigers all season long was their inability to win on the road as they have racked up a 20-37 road record.

Because the Tigers were a factor in the MLB betting much of the season, it is assumed that the team will spend the rest of this season trying to find out which players can help them win the AL Central pennant next season. There is a lot of good, young talent on the Tigers, but they need to find that mix of veterans and young players that will help them win next year.

The Yankees will put their starting pitching ace Paul Hughes on the mound for this game. There is still some concern over Hughes and his control as the Yankees head towards the playoffs. While Hughes did manage to get his 14th win of the season in his last start against the Kansas City Royals, he gave up nine hits and three runs in the process. In the playoffs, that kind of performance will not be enough to win. Hughes’ ERA is 3.94, and it keeps climbing. The Yankees need Hughes to get straightened out before the playoffs begin.

Detroit will put Rick Porcello on the mound and Porcello’s problems are typical of the problems the entire Tigers’s starting rotation has been having. He has a 5-10 record with a 5.53 ERA, which makes it hard to believe that he started the season so strong. At this point, the Tigers are trying to map out their starting rotation for next season and games like this will help Detroit to see if Porcello should be a part of it.

The Yankees need every win they can get for the rest of the season. Alex Rodriguez is still nursing injuries that are hampering his hitting, and the Yankee bullpen has not been as reliable as it has been in years past. If the Yankees cannot start turning their play around soon, then they will be unable to defend their World Series title.

Pick: New York Yankees 5-1

New England Patriots @ Atlanta Falcons NFL Preseason Game Betting Picks

Some pretty important sports betting news came out of the first New England Patriots preseason game last week against the New Orleans Saints. The Patriots were looking forward to wide receivers Torry Holt and Randy Moss giving quarterback Tom Brady the passing attack needed to push the Patriots to the Super Bowl. The New England passing game, and the Patriots Super Bowl hopes, took a huge hit last week as Torry Holt is out for the season with a knee injury.

The severity of the injury on the NFL betting world is obvious, but the potential effect of the injury on Holt’s career has not been as widely publicized. This knee injury could end Holt’s career at the age of only 34. Holt and the Patriots will know more about the wide receiver’s progress after he starts rehabilitation on his surgically repaired knee. Until then, the Patriots need another receiver in their passing game.

The Patriots are not well-known for betting on college football players to step up in key spots, but now that Terrell Owens has found a home the Pats may have to give third-round pick wide receiver Taylor Price a closer look. Price ran a 4.41 40-yard dash and showed a vertical leap of 37 inches in the combine. He has the skills, he just does not have the experience

The Atlanta Falcons were handed a lot of nice surprises in their opening preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Rookie quarterback John Parker Wilson threw for 80 yards on eight completions in his limited playing time in the third quarter. Corner back Shann Schillinger, a sixth-round pick out of Montana, returned an interception for a touchdown that sealed the game for the Falcons. The Falcons first-team starters also looked excellent in a 20-10 preseason win over the Chiefs.

Preseason games rarely have an effect on the Super Bowl odds for any team, but the Holt injury will lower the odds that the Patriots will win Super Bowl XLV this season. The continued good play of the Falcon’s draft picks, especially on defense, can help the Falcons’ odds for winning the Super Bowl this season.

In this game the Patriots will be taking a long look at their rookie receivers. A lot of mistakes will be made by nervous rookies that know the spotlight is on them. Randy Moss will be on an island again, and it will be difficult to get the ball to him with these hungry rookie defensive backs of Atlanta looking to make the team.

As preseason games go, this one is incredibly important for the Patriots. If they cannot find a replacement for Holt already on their roster, then they will need to go to the free agent market to get one. Now a team may finally be disappointed that Terrell Owens is no longer available on the open market. The other receivers available right now are not up to the quality of a Torry Holt, and that will hurt the Patriots this season.

Gambling Advisor Pick: Atlanta Falcons 21-3