Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Vikings and their new quarterback play host to the Chiefs, and the Red Sox and Yankees begin a series at Fenway Park.
Poor Blue Jays pitcher Brett Cecil as his boner continues to go viral on YouTube. The Solheim Cup is underway. Usain Bolt shattered the 200-meter world record at 19.19 seconds.
Colliding on the gridiron . . .
Falcons-Rams, Titans-Cowboys, and Chiefs-Vikings official betting previews are up.
There are three NFL preseason games on tap for Friday, with Atlanta (-3) at St. Louis, Tennessee at Dallas (-2.5), and Kansas City at Minnesota (-3.5). The Titans/Cowboys matchup will be the first game at Dallas' brand new stadium, but that will still be overshadowed by Brett Favre's debut in a Vikings uniform as they host the Chiefs. Favre put an end to the speculation by finally signing with Minnesota mid-week, and he's been pegged as the team's starter for Friday night.
As well, the Canadian Football League offers up a pair of games on Friday night, with Saskatchewan at Montreal and Winnipeg at British Columbia. The Alouettes are the toast of the league so far this season, as they're at 6-1 straight-up and 5-2 against-the-spread. The Roughriders are 4-3 both SU and ATS, and they're 12.5-point underdogs for Friday. Out west the 3-4 SU and ATS Lions are 7.5-point home favorites against the Bombers; Winnipeg sits at 2-5 SU and 4-3 ATS.
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Meeting up on the diamond . . .
The Yankees and Red Sox launch yet another series on Friday night as Andy Pettitte (9-6, 4.09 ERA) takes on Brad Penny (7-7, 5.22 ERA) in Boston. The Yankees are 3-0 in Pettitte's last three trips to the mound; the lefthander held the Red Sox scoreless over seven innings in his start on August 9, but had to settle for a no-decision. Righthander Penny hasn't won since July 24, and he was tagged with a loss by the Rangers last time out (four runs over his 5 2-3 innings).
Also on the American League schedule for Friday: Seattle at Cleveland, the Angels at Toronto, Minnesota at Kansas City, Baltimore at the White Sox, Detroit at Oakland, and Texas at Tampa Bay. Dustin Nippert (4-1, 3.52 ERA) is slated to start for the Rangers on Friday; the righthander is coming off a win over the Red Sox (two runs in six innings pitched). The Rays counter with Scott Kazmir (7-7, 6.36 ERA); the lefthander was defeated by the Rangers in a start back on July 3.
Cole Hamels (7-7, 4.69 ERA) will be up against Mike Pelfrey (8-8, 4.75 ERA) as the Phillies begin a series in New York against the Mets on Friday night. Philadelphia is 0-3 in Hamels' last three trips to the mound; the lefthander took a no-decision vs. the Braves last time out, allowing two runs over six innings. Righthander Pelfrey was also stuck with a no-decision in his most recent start, as he allowed two runs on five hits in 7 1-3 innings in an outing against the Giants.
Rounding out the NL schedule for Friday: Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, Milwaukee at Washington, Florida at Atlanta, Arizona at Houston, San Francisco at Colorado, St. Louis at San Diego, and the Cubs at the Dodgers. Randy Wells (9-5, 3.01 ERA) will take on Randy Wolf (7-6, 3.43 ERA) in that last matchup. Righthander Wells beat the Pirates in his last start (two runs over six innings), while lefthander Wolf is coming off a win over the Diamondbacks (three runs over 7 2-3 innings).
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
Finally, the WNBA serves up three games on Friday night, with Connecticut at New York, Los Angeles at San Antonio, and Washington at Phoenix. The Mystics (12-13 SU, 13-11-1 ATS) were beaten 72-69 on the road by Los Angeles last time out, despite Lindsey Harding's 19 points and six rebounds. The Mercury, on the other hand, knocked off Chicago 106-99 in their last contest, getting a game-high 27 points from Diana Taurasi. Phoenix is 18-8 both SU and ATS on the year.
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