Art Aronson Handicapper at AAA Sports

This is a 9* play on the YANKEES (RUN LINE)

It's do or die for the Yankees Friday night as they now face a 3-1 series deficit. After winning Game 1 by a score of 7-0, it's been all downhill. But they do get one more home game. With everyone pretty much writing their chances off at this point, we think it's a good time to "double down" and take them on the run line as they should at least keep Game 5 close, if not win it. James Paxton is starting tonight. He had won 10 straight decisions before getting a quick hook in Game 2. The final score of that game was 3-2, so you can see why the run line could be a good idea tonight. Beating Justin Verlander is not easy, but the Rays did it at home in Game 4 of the ALDS. We think the Yankees can do the same here as they are in the situation the Rays were, that being facing elimination in a home game. The Yankees are 5-2 this season after losing their last three games. Getting the Yankees this offense with a +1.5 at home isn't something that happens very often. It's a shockingly low price too. Paxton has been a "stopper" this year with a 6-0 TSR the last six times he's started off a Yankees loss. The team is also 6-0 in his last six starts at home. Play the YANKEES on the RUN LINE (+1.5)

AAA

This is a 6* play on WASHINGTON 

Great spot to play the Capitals tonight, in our opinion. They're rested while the Rangers are in the second night of a back to back. The Rangers lost 5-2 in New Jersey last night. That's a Devils team that had been winless in its first six games. Washington has been one of the Rangers least favorite opponents the last few years. They lost all four times to them in 2018-19 and are 1-4-5 SU the L10 meetings. The Capitals come in fresh here after beating Toronto 4-3 Wednesday night. Scoring goals hasn't been an issue the last four games for Washington as they've found the back of the net 16 times. They have had their issues at the other end, but shouldn't here. The Rangers have only three goals in their last two games and went 0 for 6 on the power play last night. The schedule has been odd for the Rangers so far as they've played only four games. This kind of rest is good later in the season, but the amount of inaction this early leaves them rusty and they're not about to fix their issues in a game with no rest. Washington was already the superior team and seemingly has every edge that they'd need to get the two points here. Play on WASHINGTON

AAA

This is an 8* play on SYRACUSE

Syracuse seems to have taken a bit of a step back this year. The Orange are 3-3, so unless they win out, they're going to end up with a worse record than last season. A horrible showing against Maryland will probably haunt them the rest of the season, but there was no shame in losing to either Clemson or at North Carolina State. We actually faded the Orange in last Thursday's trip to Raleigh. They only lost 16-10 though despite allowing eight sacks and rushing 37 times for only 41 yards. The NC State defense is pretty special, which is something we're not sure we can say about Pitt's. The Panthers have allowed at least 30 points in half their games this year. They did hold Penn State in check, but this is a team that's had to hit the road only one other time and that was two weeks ago when they beat Duke by a field goal. Pitt has won three in a row, but those three wins have been by seven total points. Against Duke, they blew a 23-point lead and needed a last minute touchdown for the 33-30 win. The Blue Devils certainly helped by turning the ball over six times. Remember that Syracuse started the year ranked in the top 25. QB DeVito has 9 TDs vs. 1 INT the L3 games, so he's played well despite being under constant pressure. The Orange lost this game last year, in overtime, 44-37 as a three-point road favorite. Time for them to turn the tide.  Play on SYRACUSE

AAA