Ricky Dimon
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Good morning bettors! Welcome to the third edition of Wise n’ Shine, your one-stop shop for everything you need to know to bet better each day. A busy week of NFL preseason action continues on Saturday and we also have a full slate of Major League Baseball action. Moreover, the first weekend of the 2020-21 English Premier League campaign is in full flight.
Here we go.
About Last Night
NFL preseason: You play to win the game
It’s true that the NFL preseason isn’t particularly fun…unless you bet on it! Teams obviously have much less interest in winning that they do doing the regular season (except the ones that are already tanking for the No. 1 draft pick, of course!). The main goals are to stay healthy and determine final roster spots. Luckily for us at Pickswise, however, the Arizona Cardinals did try to win on Friday night. After the Dallas Cowboys tied things up at 16-16 with just 51 seconds left, Arizona raced down the field and set up a 40-yard field goal by Matt Prater as time expired. That’s a win for Cardinals ML and Under 39.5!
.@MattPrater_5 already making game-winning kicks for the @AZCardinals!
Good night! #DALvsAZ pic.twitter.com/MKfXIv9KLD
— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2021
Pickswise handicappers go 9-4 on MLB sides
In 13 MLB games on Friday, we went 9-4 on money line and run line picks. That included a Texas Rangers upset of the Oakland Athletics at +150. In his major-league debut, Yohel Pozo hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the sixth inning for the Rangers–who held on the rest of the way. Let’s keep the MLB train rolling on Saturday, and this time we have an even bigger upset pick with the Baltimore Orioles (+240) to beat the Boston Red Sox. Here is our Baltimore-Boston preview.
Today’s Slate
NFL preseason weekend continues with 10 games
Friday’s nightcap between the Cardinals and Cowboys was fun, and there should be a lot more where that came from on Saturday. Preseason action is heating up with 10 games, starting at 1:00 pm ET with the Miami Dolphins vs Chicago Bears and wrapping up with a 10:00 pm ET kickoff between the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams. Both of those contests are televised on NFL Network, as are games featuring the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings (4:00 pm ET) and the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Full 15-game MLB schedule
The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees resume their three-game series on Saturday following Thursday night’s epic Field of Dreams Game, won by Chicago via a 9-8 decision. They had off day to travel from the corn fields of Iowa to Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago while the rest of the 28 MLB teams played on Friday (aside from one postponement). Now we have a full slate of competition (plus one double-header) on the menu today, which also includes another showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
A total of 14 matches in MLS and the EPL
Don’t let NFL and MLB action make you forget about soccer! The most popular sport worldwide has plenty of momentum following the Euro Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and Copa America. Now it continues with another English Premier League season, which began on Friday with Brentford’s stunning 2-0 upset of Arsenal and continues on Saturday with 7 matches. There are also 7 matches on the MLS docket. NBC is airing Liverpool vs Norwich City at 12:30 pm ET.
Best Bet of the Day
Leicester City (-160) ML over Wolverhampton
10:00 am ET, NBCSN
Given a huge soccer schedule to work with, that is the direction in which we will go for our Best Bet of the Day. Leicester City is the reigning FA Cup champion and it will get its 2021-22 English Premier League campaign underway on Saturday by hosting Wolverhampton. Wolves may look lost at King Power Stadium, where the Foxes will showcase offseason signings Ryan Bertrand, Boubakary Soumare, and Patson Daka. Leicester was fifth in the EPL last season and could be even better this time around. Check out our full match preview for picks on the side and total.
MATCHDAY WITH THE MANAGER 👔
🔹 Confidence from #CommunityShield win
🔹 Premier League teams have strengthened
🔹 Assessing today's opponents
🔹 Exciting new season aheadBrendan Rodgers' pre-#LeiWol preview on https://t.co/bGvI1ZbpKx ⤵️
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 14, 2021
Stat of the Day
The Atlanta Braves have surged up the standings to pass the New York Mets and tie the Philadelphia Phillies atop the NL East heading into Saturday. You have to like the Braves’ chances of staying hot, mainly because they are facing Patrick Corbin and a Washington Nationals team that sold at the trade deadline. In 2 starts against Atlanta this season, Corbin has allowed 9 runs on 11 hits (3 homers) in 11.1 innings. The Nats lost both of those games and they have lost each of Corbin’s last 5 starts. Read our full Braves vs Nationals preview here.
Must-read article
Before you bet on this weekend’s NFL preseason action, make sure you check out our article highlighting the 5 things you need to know about betting on NFL preseason, and how it’s important to remember that not every team wants to win.
Headline
deGrom’s shutdown continues for at least two more weeks
It was announced on Friday that Mets ace Jacob deGrom will have his shutdown extended for at least two more weeks. The right-hander has not pitched since July 7 because of inflammation in his right elbow. After two more weeks of not throwing a baseball, deGrom will be evaluated again at the end of August. The Mets are currently a +1000 fifth choice to win the NL Pennant.
Boost of the day
Any EPL player to score 3+ goals
Boosted to +350 with DraftKings Sportsbook
Get any player in the English Premier League at +350 to score three goals (boosted from +310 at DraftKings Sportsbook!). There are seven matches on Saturday, so you have plenty of options!
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