baker pie

Las Vegas - When the Browns/Broncos line opened late Sunday night, Cleveland was listed as a 5-point favorite. Yesterday, we found out that Baker Mayfield is out and the line immediately plummeted to -2. Obviously, we woulda loved Teddy Bridgewater at plus five, so plus a deuce is not exactly best bet material. Both teams have injury lists longer than my arm, which is why they're struggling. Speaking of struggles, the Browns will have to rely on Case Keenum who has not started a game in TWO YEARS! And guess who Keenum will NOT have on the field. BOTH starting RBs, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. So it'll be D'Ernest Johnson carrying the mail. If you're not familiar with D'Ernest, he has had three carries this season for a total of ELEVEN yards, yea, YO ELEVEN, and his career consists of 40 carries for 198 yards. The Brownies could also be without Odell Beckham Jr. and offensive tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin. And that's just the offense. The defense has been shredded for 84 points the last two games, and giving up over 40 points per ain't the route to the winner's circle. However, Denver has its own set of problems. Teddy Bridge has a foot issue and could go, but if he sits, it's probably Drew Lock or Brett Rypien. Neither one thrills me. The Broncs have massive problems in the linebacking corps, including the loss of star LB Alexander Johnson who is GONE for the year. Interesting trend that you might like. Denver has been a money-making beast on Thursday nights, covering 11 of the last 14. Of course, these trends go back years and should be taken with a few grains of salt. After digesting all that, the only conclusion is, keep your wallet in your pocket.

On the baseball board, like Atlanta's Max Fried in game five, but do have some conditions. If the Braves won last night, they did, then we would probably pass. If Mad Max Scherzer starts, we would probably pass. The Dodgers still have not named the starter. If the series is locked up at 2-2, it's not, and L.A. does a bullpen thing, then we're gonna FRY with Fried! NONE of my conditions were met, so, guess it's another hard pass.

------------------------------------------------------------------