At 8:05 pm, our selection is on the Houston Astros over the New York Yankees.  In this series, we played on the Astros in Game 2 (win), and then played on the Yankees in Games 3 (lose) and 5 (win).  The Yankees were able to win last night's game, 4-1, to stay alive in the 7-game series.  But now that the ALCS has returned to Minute Maid Park, we'll have no problem taking Houston at home to close out New York.  Indeed, the Astros have gone 64-22 (+18 games on the money line) here, at home, this season.  Even better:  they're 80-43 (+24 games on the money line) after scoring less than two runs in their previous game.  Meanwhile, the Yankees are an ugly 5-20 (minus 14 games on the money line) their last 25 as road underdogs of +150 or less.  Veteran RHP Brad Peacock will get the start for Houston, and his ERA this season vs. New York is 3.00 (2 runs, 6 IP).  But most impressive is that he had 11 strikeouts against 0 walks.  Chad Green will open the game for New York, but he struggled vs. Houston this season (10.13 ERA).  Take the Astros.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

At 3:05 pm, our selection is on the St. Louis Blues over the Montreal Canadiens.  Now that the Blues have won their first Cup in franchise history (50+ years), the question is: What will they do for an encore?  Judging from their off-season moves, the answer is - more of the same.  Not that the Blues had many -- if any -- weaknesses, but they made themselves better.  St. Louis picked up an All Star defenseman in Justin Faulk (Carolina) and, although they gave up Joel Edmundson and some prospects to get him, the Blues are still ahead of the game on that one.  They also avoided arbitration with talented G Jordan Binnington by signing him to a two-year, $8.8 Million contract, ensuring that he'll be happy in a Blues' uniform for at least another couple of seasons.  The success of the Canadiens' season seemed to hinge on whether restricted FA Sebastian Aho would accept their massive offer.  He did, but unfortunately the 'Canes matched it and Montreal lost out.  With Aho, they're a playoff contender; without him, they're not.  The Blues are 6-2 in the last eight meetings and the home team is 7-2 in the last nine.  Take St. Louis.  As always, good luck...Al McMordie.

At 6 pm, our selection is on the Utah Utes minus the points over Arizona State.  After being upset on the road by USC, 30-23, as a 3.5-point favorite, the Utes have righted their ship with back-to-back blowout wins over Washington State (38-13) and Oregon State (52-7).  We played on the Utes last week in their 45-point win over the Beavers.  And we'll come right back with them here, at home, vs. Arizona State, which upset Washington State last week.  Indeed, the Utes fall into a great 'momentum' system of mine.  What we want to do is play on any team which scored 87+ points, combined, in their two previous games, while giving up less than 24 points, combined, in those two games, and is now matched up against an opponent playing away from home off an upset win.  That angle's cashed 77.1% over the past 40 seasons.  The Utes currently have the nation's 2nd-ranked rush defense (2.4 yards per rush; 52.8 yards per game), and 8th-ranked scoring defense (13.1 ppg).  I look for them to shut down Arizona State.  Lay the points.  Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.