Sports Handicapper Big Al McMordie's Picks & Predictions

At 8:30 pm, our selection is on the Tennessee Titans minus the points over Indianapolis.  The Titans were upset in each of their last two games -- 57-14 at Houston, and 16-10, at Miami.  But they now return home to take on the Indianapolis Colts, who upended San Francisco last week, 26-23, as a 1-point underdog.  And one of the things I love to do is take favorites of more than 6 points on Monday Night Football that return home off back to back road games.  These teams have cashed 72% since 1980.  Even worse for the Colts:  they're a poor 35.7% ATS off an upset win vs. foes off an upset loss.  Take Tennessee minus the points.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 8:05 pm, our selection is on the Houston Astros and New York Yankees 'over' the total.  By now, it must be painfully obvious to the New York Yankees that if they're to have a chance in the ALCS against the Astros, they're going to have to play some high-scoring games.  Both of Houston's victories in games one and two have been 2-1 affairs, leading to a 2-0 lead as the series now shifts to the Bronx.  And the good news in that regard for the Yanks is the fact that nobody scored more runs at home this season.  In their 81 games here, the Bombers plated 451 runs and blasted 140 homers, with both of those numbers being tops in the American League.  The other bit of good news for them is that veteran Charlie Morton takes the mound for the 'Stros.  Both of the RHP's career starts against the Yankees have come here in the Bronx where he has posted a 5.68 ERA in just under 13 innings.  The over is 47-28 for the Astros on the road, including 10-2 when the Astros gave up 1 run or less in their previous game.  The over is also 9-0 for the Yankees at home, if they allowed less than 4 runs in each of their three previous games.  Take the 'over.'  ALCS Total of the Year.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 8:05 pm, our selection is on the New York Yankees over the Houston Astros.  Two veteran starters go to the mound tonight in game three as the ALCS shifts to New York.  But although RHP Charlie Morton and LHP CC Sabathia have 27 years and almost 4,400 innings of MLB experience between them, there is a big difference in the amount of post-season time the two have put in.  Morton has pitched in just two playoff games totaling 10 innings coming into tonight and has never appeared in a Championship or World Series.  Contrast that to the 21 post-season games totaling 117 innings that Sabathia has played in -- including four Championship Series and one World Series -- and you can see the true experience gap of the two starters.  Also, Morton has a 5.68 ERA in two career starts at Yankee Stadium, while Sabathia is obviously comfortable pitching at home and owns a career 2-1 record with a 4.15 ERA in three starts vs. Houston.  The Yanks are 13-3 in Sabathia's last 16 home starts.  And, finally, the Astros have burned money this season vs. southpaws, with a 23-24 record (minus 12 games on the moneyline).  Take New York.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.