The Advisory Board: Weekly Prescription
by Doc's Advisory Board - 08/07/2007
There's been some big moving and shaking here at Doc's over the past week. First, the continued baseball domination by the Advisory Board is still that much more accessible as the price of a full season package is a miniscule $395! That's three months' worth of selections, including the playoffs and World Series, from the handicapper of your choice for under $400 - which is over $300 less than what those same picks would cost if you bought individual monthly packages.
Next, we've rolled out Early Bird Special for a full season's worth of football selections for just $695. This is an amazing value - with savings of over $250 off the regular price - and with the season coming sooner than you think it would be wise to lock up your investment at the best possible price. That full season's worth of football picks takes you from opening night - of both college and pro football - through Bowl Season, the NFL Playoffs, and the Super Bowl. We've got you covered from late August to early February, for the bargain price of less than $140 per month and AN AMAZINGLY LOW $30 PER WEEK!!!
Here's the inside scoop into the betting world from the Advisory Board at Doc's Sports:
DOC'S SPORTS
The NFL season got underway with the boring game on Sunday night between the Saints and the Steelers. Someone forgot to tell the Saints' first stringers what time the game started and I have to wonder how many people turned the game off at 9 p.m. for a rerun of "Desperate Housewives" on ABC. I was one of those people and after a dominating 20 minutes by the Steelers the game hit a lull with the reserves taking center stage. Ugh.
It appeared the game would be an easy cash with the over, but the reserves did not turn the ball over much and, thus, neither team could sustain a long drive. This is a key ingredient is playing totals during the preseason. The 'under' will collect most of games during the month of August unless teams beat themselves with costly turnovers deep in their own territory. Oh well, it will get better and look for Doc's to attack some weak numbers in the upcoming weeks.
Indianapolis at Dallas (8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 9)
The Cowboys enter this game as a huge favorite of 4.5 points. Anything over a field goal is almost unheard of during the preseason. Many experts must still believe Bill Parcells is coaching this team, but he retired and now Wade Phillips leads the Boys. Dallas dominated last year in the preseason, going 3-0-1 straight-up and 3-1 ATS, but Phillips has already shown is softer side, allowing many of the veterans to relax during practice and he is certainly not the hard disciplinarian that this team has been accustomed too.
We are all aware that the Colts live and die with Peyton Manning and many don't even know who the Colts backup quarterback is. Well, right now you have your choice between Jim Sorgi, John Navarre and Josh Betts, all of whom will likely see action on Thursday. Doc's will have a selection on this game and wants you aboard.
Now is the time to join Doc's Sports, which currently has three sports available. WNBA and MLB are starting to wind down and be sure to check out our late season specials that will take you through the postseason. Football is starting so sign-up for our Early Bird Package that will give you every single selection that we make through the Pro Bowl in February. Best of luck this week and together lets have an outstanding week.
Check out our Insider's Page for daily updates.
ROBERT FERRINGO
I have to say that neither notching my 14th winning week of the MLB season nor starting off the NFL season on the right foot with a Hall of Fame Game winner was the highlight of my week. Nope, my biggest victory over the last seven days was realizing that my wife is pregnant with our first child. This was a completely unexpected - yet incredibly welcomed - development and I'm both amazed, humbled, excited and scared about the prospect of being a father. I've always said that the Ferringos are hell-bent on World Domination. Creating an heir is just the next step. World, be warned!
And don't think for one second that I'm going to go soft on you as a capper. I'm still on point and now even more focused than ever (understanding that I have a child to support based on how well I do is quite the motivation!) to produce a high level of winners on an even more consistent basis. I've shown a profit in 22 of the 31 weeks I've been capping in 2007 (71 PERCENT!) and I don't plan on slowing down.
Here are a few games I'll be monitoring this week in the search for profit and glory. Baby needs a new pair of shoes:
Atlanta Braves at New York Mets (Tuesday-Thursday)
Is there another series going on in the National League this week? These two archrivals will go at it in Shea Stadium in a critical NL East showdown. The Braves have to be bursting to show off their new and improved offense. However, there are some injury concerns. Chipper has a sore wrist, Edgar Renteria is on the D.L., and both Andruw Jones and Willie Harris have smaller bumps and bruises. But, other than Renteria, all will suit up. The same can't be said for the Mets, who will continue to play without Carlos Beltran and Pedro Martinez.
The pitching match-ups are pretty equal - with the one exception being Oliver Perez (who owns Atlanta) going up against journeyman Buddy Carlysle in Game 1. I hate to admit it, but I see the Braves taking two out of three in this one to continue to chip away at the Amazins' lead.
Seattle at San Diego (8 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 12)
The Seahawks are underdogs in this one, and I think there's some great value on them in this game. The Chargers have one of the best starting lineups in the league on both sides of the ball. But I have questions about their depth. The Seahawks also have the benefit of two backup quarterbacks that are very familiar with the Seattle system. The Chargers are 1-5 ATS in their opening preseason game lately and Seattle is 23-15-1 ATS as a dog since 1990.
VEGAS SPORTS INFORMER
Finally it's done. Not Barry Bonds' home run chase. Not A-Rod hitting 500 HRs. And not even Tom Glavine winning 300 wins for his career. I'm talking about me finally moving out of my mother-in-law's house! Yes, I have been living with my mother-in-law for over 12 weeks. That was 86 days, 5,040 hours, and 302,400 seconds too long! But I have to say that living there while my new house was being finished didn't hurt my handicapping because the month of July we hit +53 Units in baseball. And August has been the same, cashing four out of our last five days including two sweeps. This week is also the first full week of Preseason NFL football and we will have plays on some preseason games.
Here are some games that I have my eye on this week:
Milwaukee at Colorado (Monday-Wednesday)
The struggling Brewers continue to compete with the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central division lead. The Brew Crew is a MLB-best 39-20 at home, BUT they are only 21-32 away from Miller Park. Milwaukee went 2-6 on its most recent swing through Cincinnati and St. Louis and the Brewers will play 28 of their final 50 games on the road. Milwaukee lost two of three at Coors Field last season after winning its two previous series there.
Sacramento at San Antonio (7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 9)
Big game in the Western Conference Thursday night as No. 1 seed San Antonio will face No. 3 seed Sacramento. San Antonio holds a one-game lead for the top spot in the West over Sacramento. There are three teams fighting for the top spot in the West - these two plus Phoenix. I will play San Antonio if this number comes out right. Both teams have spilt on their home court this season.
Check out my Insider Page Here for notes, updates, and free plays.
STRIKE POINTS SPORTS
Don't look now but our Arizona Diamondbacks are in a full sprint to the finish for an NL West Title. Yeah, I may be a Cubs fan, but when I sat here in April and said the Baby Backs would occupy first place in August, not to mention cash as one of our teams in 2007, then it's okay to adopt them as one of your teams-to-be. I'll admit that sweeping the Dodgers in Los Angeles was a feat not even I saw coming, but with Brandon Webb as an ace and a young core of proven hitters that now includes the outfield duo of rookies Chris B. Young and Justin Upton, watch out National League!
Here are several match-ups we'll be eyeing this week:
Chicago at Houston (Monday-Wednesday)
The Cubs lost much more than just their weekend series with the Mets. Alfonso Soriano is now out for 2-4 weeks after pulling up lame with a quad strain. That's not good, but then again Chicago has the depth to keep close to the Brewers, and if their starting pitching stays as one of the best in the NL they still might take the Central.
Tampa Bay at Detroit
Under .500 since the All-Star break, the Tigers are in trouble. Not only is their bullpen a mess but they aren't hitting either. Fortunately for Detroit, the Indians can't find the win column either. Nonetheless, if the losses continue to pile up expect them to see the backs of the Yankees as the Bombers pass them for the Wild Card lead in the next week or two.Los Angeles at St. Louis (Friday-Sunday)
The Dodgers are another team that is fading fast. Now five games back in the NL West, they get a break by facing Cincinnati and St. Louis this week. But both series have them in the Midwest, needing a big-time week to get back some confidence and games they let slip away last week.