Here are this weekend's free picks as posted in the weekly Tuley the Tout thread in the VFV Forums. Go there for the latest line moves and how they affect the selections.

But before getting to that, a few reminders that the ViewFromVegas.com Podcast has been moved up to 7 p.m. PST Tuesdays for the live show, which can be accessed along with the archives at http://www.lvrocks.com/details.php?id=149. This week's show was again co-hosted by John Kelly and if you missed it you already missed Dave Tuley's lean on Colorado +17 vs. Oklahoma St. Thursday night (the Buffaloes nearly pulled off the huge upset before losing 31-28 but still easily covering the spread) and guest handicapper "tpking" giving the Dolphins over the Panthers. Download the 11/17/09 podcast to hear more analysis of this weekend's games.

Also of note, you can still enter the ViewFromVegas.com weekly football contests to win your choice of a free month of LIVE ODDS service from vegasinsider.com or dinner with Dave Tuley. This is the last weekend of the college contest but the NFL contest will continue through the end of the regular season with college bowl contests and an NFL playoff contest to come. See the VFV Forums for details.

This week's free selections

By Dave Tuley

        

Here are my picks for the Breeders' Cup Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6-7, plus my college and football picks for this weekend. It also invites everyone to enter a FREE Breeders' Cup handicapping contest in the ViewFromVegas.com Forums as well as football contests being held there every week, too.<< MORE >>

Hey, everyone. I haven't posted on this actual blog in a while -- since I've mostly moved my daily selections to the ViewFromVegas.com Forums since that seems like the preferred method for most people, but I thought it was time to post one of these along with the e-mail blast to "subscribers" of the blog (simply click the SUBSCRIBE button on the page if you found this through some other method).

I'm off to a pretty good start to the football season as I'm 16-11 (59.2%) with all posted college plays and 10-5 (66.7%) in the NFL, though I wrote what I hope was an amusing piece in Saturday's issues of Daily Racing Form about how I'm only 2-4 with my "best bets" in that publication: http://drf.com/news/content/10.html

Here are my plays for this weekend, along with some line analysis for when the best time is to place the wagers. These are the kinds of posts I do every day in my Tuley the Tout posts in the Forums. Please visit every day and join the discussions.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL (16-11 this season for a net profit of 3.9 units)
Buffalo +3 vs. Temple (starting to see some +3.5, wait to make sure you get that)
Central Florida +11 vs. East Carolina (still OK at +10.5)
Fresno St. +16 vs. Cincinnati (actually at +16.5 now)
Army +10 vs. Iowa St. (solid number, not likely to change)
UAB +13.5 vs. Texas A&M (starting to see +14 so make sure you grab that)
Ball St. +32.5 vs. Auburn (also climbing upward, which we like)
Kentucky +21.5 vs. Florida (ditto)
Idaho +16.5 vs. Northern Illinois (ditto, get the +17)
Colorado St. +16.5 vs. BYU (anti-swagger play vs. BYU; also up to +17)
Louisville +14 vs. Utah (ditto on anti-swagger play)
Iowa +10 vs. Penn St. (Penn St.'s soft schedule could haunt them)
New Mexico St. +10 vs. New Mexico (saw my first +11 on this game, so wait)
Washington St. +45.5 vs. USC (anti-swagger, can't pass up all these points)
Arizona +2.5 vs. Oregon St. (looks like it's steaming toward 3, so wait)

NFL FOOTBALL (10-5 this season for a net profit of 4.6 units)
Titans +3 vs. Jets (missed at open, but grab now if can get -120 or -115 on the +3)
Buccaneers +7 vs. Giants (I grabbed +7, so this is official...lots of 6.5 so shop around)
Lions +6.5 vs. Redskins (another play against Skins; didn't see 7; don't need it for official)
Dropped my lean on Seahawks
Bills +6 vs. Saints (hard to jump in front of Saints' train, but took at 6...don't think it's going higher)
Dolphins +? vs. Chargers (currently +6...don't like travel off Monday night...small play for me but not contest play)
Bengals +4 vs. Steelers (grab +4 ASAP, don't get stuck with 3.5)
Cardinals -2 vs. Colts (was hoping for plus-points...layed -2...still playable at -2.5, don't wait to lay -3)

MLB UMPIRE TOTALS (123-93-13 on the season and a net profit of 16.85 units)
Phillies-Brewers UNDER 8.5 -105... Brian Knight 22-12 last year, 15-13-1 this year

MLB UNDERDOGS (net loss of 8.65 units)
Reds +115 vs. Astros
Tigers +150 vs. White Sox

ViewFromVegas.com is also the place to go to get the view from the oddsmakers in Las Vegas with the NCAA, NFL and MLB polls from Las Vegas Sports Consultants, the up-to-date future-book odds for sports as well as horse racing's Breeders' Cup and the 2010 Kentucky Derby, plus insights and trends, and the best coverage of the top football handicapping contests in town, including free selections from the top handicappers and consensus plays of all contestants posted each weekend.

        

Today's blog starts with the NBA playoffs moving into the conference championships with the Nuggets-Lakers series starting tonight and the Magic-Cavaliers on Wednesday. It should prove to be two interesting series. The Lakers and Cavaliers have been the favorites to reach the NBA Finals for a long time, but I don't see either as being a lock against the upstart Nuggets and Magic.

Before we get to today's plays, I want to post a reminder to tune into tonight's ViewFromVegas.com Podcast at 8 p.m. Pacific Time at: http://www.lvrocks.com/details.php?id=149 (be sure to click on the Cam & Chat to read/take part in the lively discussion that is often as entertaining as the actual show). We'll be giving the ViewFromVegas of Rachel Alexandra's victory over Mine That Bird in the Preakness, plus an update of our Triple Crown contest, plus a look at the NBA and NHL playoffs and everything else that is going on in the world of sports, including a discussion about Delaware approving sports betting last week. If you miss the live show, you can always catch it afterward or in the coming days in the archive at the above site (but with no live chat or webcam).

And now onto the picks:

NBA PLAYOFFS (11-15 for a net loss of 5.5 units)
Nuggets-Lakers UNDER 215 (slight lean to Nuggets +6.5)
Magic +8 vs. Cavaliers (Wednesday)

NHL PLAYOFFS (11-19 for a net loss of 2.45 units)
Blackhawks +300 series price vs. Red Wings (better than taking +180 in Game 2)

MLB UMPIRE TOTALS (43-31-2 on the season and a net profit of 7.8 units)
No plays Tuesday...the best home-plate ump going on last year's stats was Dale Scott, who is working the Mets-Dodgers game tonight, at 20-13 with the under, but he's 3-5 this year with the under, plus the total is at 8 with Maine vs. Billingsly, so I have to pass.

MLB UNDERDOGS (41-56 for a net profit of 1.34 units)
Pirates +135 vs. Nationals
Giants +135 vs. Padres
Tigers +115 vs. Rangers
Angels +140 vs. Mariners

Good luck, everyone.  And don't forget to check the Forums each day as plays will be posted in the Tuley the Tout thread. Plays also are getting sent more often (and in a more timely fashion) to followers of twitter.com/viewfromvegas and I expect that to become even more common as I can post from my cell phone without having to log on to a computer or laptop. 

        

First off on the Tuley the Tout docket this weekend is my Preakness breakdown that I did for Bodoglife.com. Normally, if I miss out on a longshot, I don't like betting them back the next race as a lot of people get on the bandwagon too late when the value on the horse is long gone (like Win Willy in the Arkansas Derby), but in the case of Mine That Bird, a lot of people aren't giving him his due respect after his Derby upset, so I think there could be value on him in the Preakness. Click here if you want to sign up at the Bodog Racebook and get a 10% Bonus.

On Friday, I lost with my lone MLB umpire total as I had the Orioles-Royals UNDER 8.5 and the Royals won 8-1 (so close but yet so far); however, I made up for that with 2 MLB underdogs pulling the upset with the Dodgers +120 vs. the Marlins and the Mets +155 vs. the Giants


MLB UMPIRE TOTALS (42-28-1 on the season and a net profit of 9.9 units)

Phillies-Nationals UNDER ???...they were rained out Friday and the scheduled umpire for Saturday was supposed to be Chuck Meriwether (21-12 with the under last year and 5-3 this year), so I want to bet the game he is behind the plate...I'll update this play Saturday in the ViewFromVegas.com Forums and to followers of twitter.com/viewfromvegas
Twins-Yankees UNDER 10...Marty Foster was 22-10-2 with the under last year, 4-2 this year
Royals-Orioles OVER 10 EV...Jerry Meals was 22-12 with the over last year, 5-1 this year


MLB UNDERDOGS (38-53 for a net loss of 0.11 units)

Diamondbacks +115 vs. Braves
Indians +150 vs. Rays


NBA PLAYOFFS (11-15 for a net loss of 5.5 units)

Magic-Celtics UNDER 186 points (Sunday)
Rockets +13 vs. Celtics (Sunday)


NHL PLAYOFFS (11-17 for a net loss of 0.45 units)

Blackhawks +170 vs. Red Wings (Sunday)
Hurricanes +180 vs. Penguins (Monday)

        

This post has a preview of this weekend's sporting action with plays on MLB baseball and the NBA & NHL playoffs . . .<< MORE >>

It's Derby Weekend, but there's a lot more going on with the NBA & NHL playoffs as well as a full slate of Major League Baseball plus the Hatton-Pacquiao fight on Saturday night. I'll be posting my picks in this thread thread throughout the weekend, starting with my Kentucky Derby breakdown that I did for Bodoglife.com along with Steve Davidowitz: http://www.bodoglife.com/horse-betting/expert-face-off/ . . .<< MORE >>

First, things first, don't miss the ViewFromVegas Podcast at 8 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday night at lvrocks.com (including what should be a lively chat room), or at least catch the archive, which will be available shortly after 9 p.m. and through the week. Crick from our ViewFromVegas Forums will be our special guest to go over the Kentucky Derby field and offer his opinions on the race. We'll also have other guests on, plus discuss the NBA and NHL playoffs and baseball as well. It should be an information-packed show.

Now to the touting. I didn't have any official MLB umpire totals plays yesterday as all but one series was starting anew (note: I did offer up one play to those who Twitter -- the hot, new popular instant messaging website that uses text messages to send people fast updates. The play lost, so this isn't the greatest endorsement, but those who want me to send them last-minute suggested plays can sign up at twitter.com and agree to follow twitter.com/viewfromvegas or go through the link on the ViewFromVegas.com home page).

Otherwise, I had a profitable day on Monday. I split my 4 baseball underdog plays but showed a profit of 0.3 units as the Cardinals +130 and Red Sox EVEN won. In the NHL, I won with both the Blackhawks +120 and the Ducks +110 as they closed out their respective series, and added a win in the NBA with the Nuggets +2.5 as they routed the Hornets 121-63.

TUESDAY'S PLAY

MLB umpire totals (23-10-1 for a net profit of 10.8 units)

Nationals-Phillies UNDER 9.5 -120...Dana DeMuth was 20-13 with unders last year, though 2-3 this year
Marlins-Mets OVER 9.5...Jerry Meals was 22-12 with the over last year, 2-1 this year
Pirates-Brewers UNDER 8.5...Wally Bell was 19-11-6 with unders last year, 2-1 this year
Rays-Twins UNDER 8...Bill Hohn was 16-10 with the under last year, 2-1 this year

MLB underdogs (26-28 but still a profit of 5.26 units)

Pirates +135 vs. Brewers
A's +135 vs. Rangers

NHL playoffs (6-7 for a net profit of 2.3 units thanks to the power of plus-money)

No plays...just going to enjoy the Game 7 drama...plus totals are shaded the right way with Rangers-Caps over and Canes-Devils under

NBA playoffs (6-4 for a net profit of 1.6 units)

Good luck, everyone...and be sure to check the ViewFromVegas.com Forums for my Tuley the Tout threads every day.

        

It's Saturday, and the NFL Draft is about to start, but there's lots of other sporting action going on today. Inside, I have MLB, NHL and NBA picks . . .<< MORE >>

I had a near perfect day on Thursday (5-0 in MLB and 1-1 in NHL with a +190 winner) and hope to continue it this weekend with two plays apiece in MLB, NHL and the NBA . . .<< MORE >>