This is a 10* TOTAL BOOKIEKILLER on the OVER Cubs/Reds.

Both teams have been involved in several lower-scoring games of late, but I expect those trends to end this evening.

Chicago's three-game win streak came to an end in last night's 3-2 loss here. Chicago has seen the total now go UNDER in five straight, but note that the Cubs have seen the total go OVER the number in eight of their last 11 after playing to five or more straight UNDERS in a row.

The Reds have now seen the total go UNDER in six straight. That fact though has only helped in driving this particular total here on Saturday a little lower than it normally would/should be in my opinion.

It sets up well from a situational stand point, so that puts Cubs' starter Javier Assad (3-2, 2.96 ERA) and the Reds' Andrew Abbott (8-4, 3.35) in the wrong place at the wrong time here on Saturday.

The situation combined with the trends point to the OVER as the correct call as far as the total is concerned in this one.

Good luck, NP