Munaf Manji and Dave Essler talk betting for Friday.
The Cash That Ticket podcast returns for a stacked Friday edition covering three MLB games from the opening weekend card, two confirmed Elite Eight matchups with live lines, and a pair of best bets to send listeners into the weekend with a plan. Host Munaf Manji and veteran handicapper Uncle Diamond Dave Esler open the show on a high note, with Dave having cashed his Pregame.com dollar best bet the night before on Texas covering against Purdue, a play he held firm on despite the line moving from 7 to 8.5. The MLB conversation starts with the A's visiting Toronto, where Dave makes the case against Kevin Gausman at a steep price point, citing shaky early-season splits and a structural argument against backing home teams on the run line when they might not bat in the ninth. Both hosts like the under 9 on a cold night with the Rogers Centre roof closed, and Munaf takes the plus-money A's given Luis Severino's strong road profile from last season. The Royals and Braves provide the pitching matchup of the night, with Cole Ragans facing Chris Sale in Atlanta. Dave leans into Royals history against Sale, highlights Salvador Perez's success in career at-bats against the veteran lefty, and notes Sale's pattern of allowing three or more earned runs in his first four outings of a season. Both hosts agree on under 7.5 and find value with Kansas City at plus money. The third game sends the Guardians to Seattle for Game 2 of a series Cleveland opened with a 6-4 victory. Dave challenges the assumption that the Mariners automatically bounce back, pointing to taxed bullpens on both sides, George Kirby's history of being managed carefully on innings, and Gavin Williams' quiet effectiveness against Seattle in limited head-to-head history. The Guardians run line in the first five innings is the preferred play. The show then shifts to Saturday's Elite Eight, with Dave and Munaf covering both confirmed games. Iowa gets the points against Illinois, with both handicappers respecting the familiarity factor between Big Ten programs that already played a close game this season, and cautioning against overreacting to Illinois' dominant win over Houston. Arizona gets the stronger endorsement, with Dave breaking down Purdue's difficult tournament path, its free throw-dependent win over Miami, and a late scare from Texas before facing a Wildcats team that dropped 109 on Arkansas and holds a top-three defense nationally. Best bets close the episode, with Dave backing Michigan team total under 91.5 based on the weakness of the Wolverines' previous tournament opponents, and Munaf laying the points with the LA Clippers against the Indiana Pacers behind Kawhi Leonard's recent form and Darius Garland's fit alongside him in the backcourt. Use promo code MVP15 at Pregame.com for fifteen dollars off any picks package, valid through April 6th.
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