http://stevejanus.com Sports Picks Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:09:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en After a strong finish to the 2007 season, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons open up the 2008 season ranked #23 in the nation. Their opener Thursday against the Baylor Bears will be a good litmus test for a team that appears to be on the verge of becoming a serious threat ... http://stevejanus.com/wake-forest-baylor-college-football-preview-8-28-08/ One of the best rivalries in all of sports, Yankees versus Red Sox might be lacking in terms of post-season implications compared to the last few seasons, but that doesn't mean this isn't an important series, particularly for the Boston Red Sox.   The Red Sox are currently holding on by a ... http://stevejanus.com/yankees-vs-red-sox-mlb-free-pick-and-preview-8-27-08/ This two-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers will have serious impact on the NL Wildcard race.   Milwaukee is currently the front-runner in the Wildcard standings, with St. Louis trailing them by 3.5 games.  The Brewers have the tougher schedule ahead, so they really need to extend ... http://stevejanus.com/43/ The Cubs are doing everything that a pennant winner needs to do.  They are cleaning up on their most recent road trips, going 10-1 in their last 11 road games overall.  The Cubbies have also won 20 of their last 26 games, keeping pace with the Milwaukee Brewers, who have ... http://stevejanus.com/cubs-at-pirates-mlb-free-pick-and-preview-8-25-08/ The Giants and Padres meet Sunday in San Francisco.  It's a match up between two of the worst teams in baseball this year.  The good news?  Somebody gets to walk away with a win!   The Giants were expected to have a bad season, and they have, but you could make the ... http://stevejanus.com/padres-at-giants-mlb-preview-and-free-pick-8-24-08/ You won't find the Rays as underdogs very often; even more, you will almost never find the Rays as underdogs when Scott Kazmir is starting. Kazmir is a great young talent that brings some major stability to the rotation. He puts up some great numbers, this is true, but he's ... http://stevejanus.com/rays-at-white-sox-mlb-preview-and-free-pick-8-23-08/ What a story the Tama Bay Rays are this year.  Everyone was so busy waiting around for them to collapse to the Red Sox or the Yankees that it doesn't seem like anyone noticed that they are one of the best stories in recent baseball history.  Tampa finished 2007 at ... http://stevejanus.com/angels-at-rays-mlb-free-pick-and-preview-8-20-08/ Tuesday we look at an AL East match up that won't have any playoff implications, but one that should provide us with a solid winner against the sliding Yankees.   New York isn't yet statistically out of the playoff race, but it would take more than one miracle for them to earn ... http://stevejanus.com/37/ The Twins are a clear choice on Monday to pick up yet another home win.  Minnesota is currently locked in a first-place tie with the Chicago White Sox for the American League Central pennant.  This should be enough motivation in itself to get them past the A's, but there's plenty ... http://stevejanus.com/as-at-twins-free-mlb-pick-and-preview/ We are going to revisit the Cardinals again on Saturday after a nice winner on Friday over the Reds.  The same rules apply.  The Cardinals are trying to run down the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Wildcard spot, and they are well within striking distance.  The question is really who ... http://stevejanus.com/mlb-free-pick-and-preview-cardinals-vs-reds-8-16-08/