Sunday was a pretty fun day as there were plenty of sports to watch, and I also went swimming with the family and grilled some burgers and hot dogs for dinner while also making french fries and tater tots in my air fryers.
There was only one NFL preseason game, and unfortunately I lost my Best Bet on the Vikings + 5 as they lost 26-20. The Vikings fell behind 10-0, but rallied to get within the spread at 10-6. Then, they fell behind 16-6 and got within 16-13, so I was happy with Kellen Mond (2 TD passes), but the Vikings couldn’t hold off Nick Mullens and the Raiders’ offense.
At least I won both of my 1st 5 Inning MLB plays as the Rangers + 100 led the Mariners 3-2 and the Diamondbacks + 100 led the Rockies 6-0 after the first 5 innings.
Let’s recap the rest of Sunday’s (full-game) betting results in MLB and the NFL preseason and look for more plays on Monday.
Sunday’s recaps
NFL preseason: Raiders beat Vikings 26-20 on Sunday afternoon to wrap up Preseason Week 1. The Raiders also covered after closing as 5-point home favorites (went Over the betting total of 38.5 points as Overs continue to dominate the early preseason games).
More NFL preseason: Dogs finished 8-7 SU and 9-6 ATS in Preseason Week 1 with 1 pick-'em (Dolphins-Buccaneers). Home/road teams split 8-8 SU with home teams leading 9-7 ATS. Overs went 13-3. Including neutral-site HOF Game the week before, faves/dogs are tied 8-8 SU overall with 1 PK but dogs lead 9-7 ATS. Overs lead 14-3.
MLB: Faves went 8-7 Sunday with the biggest upset by the Royals (+ 200 vs. Dodgers, snapping their 12-game winning streak), Reds (+ 132 at Cubs) and Guardians (+ 130 at Blue Jays). Also, the Red Sox (+ 113) beat the Yankees 3-0 on Sunday Night Baseball. Home teams went 11-4. Unders went 8-6-1 with the push in the White Sox’s 5-3 win vs. the Tigers with a betting total of 8 runs.
More MLB: Faves lead 1,022-671 SU (60.4 percent) on the season with 26 pick-'ems (faves usually win around 59 percent; still ahead of pace; gap had been narrowing but now back over 60 percent). Home teams lead 911-807 (53 percent, usually closer to 54 percent but on the rise). Unders lead 841-786-89 (51.7 percent).
Monday’s Takes
Brewers 1st 5 + 135 and + 157 game ML vs. Dodgers: I gave this out on “The Lookahead” (shameless plug to listen to my segment each Sunday night at 10:15 p.m. ET/7:15 p.m. PT, or 15 minutes into the archive). This is an anti-swagger play as the Dodgers just had their 12-game winning streak snapped Sunday by the Royals, so they’re in a letdown spot. Obviously, the Dodgers are a tough fade no matter what lineup they put out there plus Julio Urias is starting, but the Brewers counter with Freddy Peralta (4-2, 4.37 ERA, 1.14 WHOP) and he’s good enough to keep the Brew Crew in the game early, though I’m also betting them the whole game.
Other 1st 5 inning plays: I also said I liked the Marlins/Sandy Alcantara + 120 vs. the Padres, though Scott Seidelberg mentioned how much the Marlins’ offense has been struggling this month, so we’re also looking at 1st 5 Under 4.5 EVEN with Joe Musgrove going for the Padres. Other live dogs for Monday are the Mets/Carrasco 1st 5 + 130 at the Braves and the Rays (line TBD) at the Yankees, who are coming off playing on Sunday Night Baseball.
Good luck today (and every day!).