Vegas veteran Benjamin Eckstein, author of America’s Line, brings three decades of experience to make weekly picks in his “Ecks & Bacon” column.
LAS VEGAS — Football is here, and the CRY BABIES are out. Last night’s Hall of Fame Game provided some tears no matter what side you took. The game opened Ravens -1 or -1.5 over the Bears depending on where you shopped. Chicago was down 17-10 with only a couple of minutes left in the fourth quarter and future Hall of Famer Tyler Bray at QB. Who? Exactly.
If you’re not familiar with Bray, he did his college stint at Tennessee, and WAS NOT DRAFTED in 2013. He signed with the Chiefs, and finally got into a game in Week 17 last year against the Broncos. His first career snap resulted in a failed handoff, which in turn resulted in a fumble return for a touchdown for the Broncos. Later, he had two successful handoffs and one incomplete pass. So, maybe, he AIN’T going to Canton.
Enough about Bray. Back to last night. Da Bears scored a TD making it 17-16. By the way, the OVER/UNDER total was 35. Of course, Chicago went for a two-point conversion. A make and it’s an 18-17 win, with a push on the total. If they fail, it’s still a cover for the Bears, and an UNDER. If you thought that was a mouthful, take a breath, because the STORM is coming.
MLB Picks
Time for some baseball tonight, and gonna roll out to Arizona and use the Diamondbacks over the Giants. The D-backs are fighting the Dodgers and the Rockies for the top spot in the National League West, and could use another stellar outing from Patrick Corbin. Looked back at Corbin’s work against San Francisco this season, and it’s two thumbs up. He has started four times against the Giants, and has a 2-0 record with two no-decisions. But the stat that caught my eye is his work at home against San Fran. How about 15 innings, one earned run and 13 Ks, with a microscopic 0.60 ERA. And my dad once told me that any time you can find a ZERO as the first number of an ERA, it’s a BUY!
And gotta throw down tomorrow on the A’s with Edwin Jackson against the Tigers. Did you know that Jackson was born in Germany? OK, I digress. Not quite sure how, but Oakland is still in the hunt for the American League West title, just five games behind the Astros. And certainly in the wild-card conversation. YUGE props to former GM and now executive VP Billy Beane, who ALWAYS does the most with the least. Jackson ain’t winning the Cy Young, but he has pitched well at home, while Detroit’s Jordan Zimmermann needs some oxygen. Zimmermann has not won a game since July 6 and his last three starts were, my new word, UGLIFIED! How ugly? We’re talking 14 innings of work, 24 hits, 13 earned runs, for a BLOATED 8.36 ERA.
Woods-Mickelson Odds
And if you’re interested, Tiger Woods is now -$140, with Phil Mickelson at +$130 for the showdown that is planned for Thanksgiving.
And PLZ hit me on Twitter over the weekend, @vegasvigorish, ’cause ya never know when we’ll find another gem on the baseball diamond.
Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America’s Line, with the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and over 100 other papers since 1988. You can follow him online at www.americasline.com. He is beloved by most, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. If you wanna piece of Eck, hit his email ... ben@americasline.com.
