!NAME_COMMA!

Got the one pick last night. Two today.

Interested in getting new NHL Hockey Newsletter with free NHL picks? If so, go !NHLOPTIN!.

Good luck today...

*HOUSTON +113 over Atlanta (1:00 Eastern)

Atlanta always makes the playoffs but just can't seem to get very fary. Today I believe they will once again fall short of their ultimate goal. Houston looks to close things out with Brandon Backe who is 10-3 at home this season. Over his last three starts, he's posted a 3.00 ERA. His counterpart, Tim Hudson, lost game one and has a 5.06 ERA over his last three starts. Houston also has a big bullpen advantage (3.05 home ERA vs. Atlanta's 4.67 on the road). Houston is getting 6 runs per game in the playoffs and that, combined with their pitching, makes them very formiddable right now. The Stros are 16-2 at home vs. teams outscoring their opponents by 0.5 or more runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons. Take the Astros for one star to close out the series and advance.

**NY Yankees/ANAHEIM Under 10 Runs (8:15 Eastern)

Shawn Chacon has been amazing for the Yankees since coming over from the Rockies. The guy has posted a ridiculous 0.40 ERA over his last three starts giving up 1 run in 22.7 innings. Sure it's his first postseason appearance but he'll be on. He's 16-8 UNDER this season. Jarrod Washburn goes for the Angels and althoguh he's struggled recently, he has a 2.65 road ERA this season giving up just 32 runs in 105.3 innings. He's 22-8 UNDER vs. good teams (54%+) in the second half of this season. The Yankees bats have cooled of late and they are 17-4 UNDER at home following a game in which 17+ runs were scored over the past three seasons. The Angels are 22-6 UNDER vs. good teams (54%+) since the all-star break this year. Games at 8.5 to 10 with a road team off 2 or more consecutive wins, have gone UNDER 73% of the time (69-25) in October games since 1997. Also, games at 8.5 to 10 with a home team that has lost 3 of their last 4 games have gone UNDER 72% of the time (48-19) in October gaes since 1997. This one goes UNDER and we'll back it for two stars.