2011 ALCS Game 1 Betting Lines: Tigers vs Rangers Free Pick

After 2,430 regular season games, along with the thrilling League Divisional Playoffs, we are left with four teams battling for the MLB World Series Championship.

The American League Championship Series gets the second round of the MLB 2011 Playoffs underway tonight as the Texas Rangers host the Detroit Tigers. First pitch for this playoff baseball betting action is slated for 8:05 PM ET on Saturday, October 8, 2011, from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.

>>> Bet On The 2011 MLB ALCS At JustBet <<<

MLB 2011 ALCS: Tigers @ Rangers Game 1 Preview

Let’s get our series prediction out of the way – right out of the gates. We see two evenly matched hitting teams, with the Tigers having the better starting and bullpen pitching. Home field advantage means little to nothing in the 2011 ALCS.

Detroit (+120 @ Bodog) to capture the ALCS – in six games, is our call for this series.

Speaking of pitching, the 2011 AL Cy Young Award winner (who should also be the MLB MVP), Justin Verlander (24-5 2.40 ERA) gets the call for the Tigers tonight. Texas will counter with LHP C.J. Wilson (16-7 2.94 ERA) who owns a 1-3 record, with a 4.91 ERA, in his five career playoff starts.

Detroit topped Texas,by a 6-3 count and a 45-36 combined score, in the 2011 regular season series. Neither team had trouble scoring in the three games played in Texas. The Tigers won two games (13-7 and 8-1) while the Rangers avoided a sweep with a 7-3 win in the series finale.

EDITOR UPDATE: 5:15 PM ET October 8, 2011.

Tigers slugger Delmon Young left has been left off Detroit’s playoff roster and will not play in the ALCS due to an oblique strain. Detroit will turn to Ryan Raburn in his place. While this is a blow to the Tigers batting order, Rayburn did go 2-5 in the ALDS and he was a serviceable .256 (14 homers 49 RBIs) in 121 regular season games.

ALCS Game 1 Betting Lines: Rangers vs Tiger Free Pick

With the Vaporizer on the bump for the Tigers, the betting lines for Game One of the ALCS are watered down considerably. We found the Money Line at close to even at most of our top recommended sportsbooks. Meanwhile, the Tigers have to give runs, on the road, with the Point Spread at every online wagering website. Yikes!

Anytime you see a side giving runs, as a road team in the playoffs, you know that something is up. That something is Justin Verlander and we aren’t about to read anything into his 2-0 loss (complete game – six hitter) to the Rangers back in April.

Prior to that, the Tigers crushed the Rangers by a 47-16 combined score in six starts by the Vaporizer. Also, Verlander has a career 2.31 ERA against the Rangers – his lowest ERA against any AL team. On the other side of the coin, Wilson’s career 5.56 ERA, against the Tigers, is his highest ERA against any AL opponent.

We are torn between what we see as the “safe” route – Tigers on the Money Line, and a healthy +155 payday on the Run Line. Since the Rangers timing may be a little rusty, after a four day break, and because the Vaporizer is pitching on his normal rest we will……

>>> Take DET over TEX at -1.5 (+155) on the JustBet Run Line <<<