11-28-11 |
NY Giants v. New Orleans Saints OVER 50.5 |
Top |
24-49 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 29 m |
Show
|
NY Giants Over (50') for 3 Units ***Giants/Saints 8:30: Strong "over" trends and defensive injuries have me leaning heavily on this play. And with New Orleans at 4-0 O/U following a bye week, value lies on the "over"The Saints are 34-19 O/U in non division play. They're 18-7-1 O/U vs the NFC and 5-2 O/U on MNF. The Ginats are 5-1 O/U against winning teams, 3-1-1 O/U on MNF, 18-7-1 O/U vs NFC teams, and 5-2-1 O/U after scoring less than 15 points previously. The Giants won't have their key LB Boley again and they're paper thin in their secondary; consequently, we'll look for the deep backfield of New Orleans to grind out yardage on the ground against the overly aggressive front of NY; from there, Brees will use his precision passing (70% completions) in an up-tempo mode to wear out NY over the course of this game. Remember, last time NY visited here, NO hung 48 on them.On the other hand, New Orleans has been a middle of the pack defense all season. They too are vulnerable to the pass and Eli Manning is having a great year. Although he doesn't have Bradshaw tonight, he does have Ware, Jacobs (overdue for big game), and Da'rel Scott. New Orleans underrated MLB Vilma is still hobbling on a bad knee and that hurts New Orleans' defense; moreover, Manning's receiving corps is getting healthy with a host of good targets, including Nicks, Cruz, Manningham, TE Ballard. We'll look for plenty of points tonight.
|
11-27-11 |
Chicago Bears +3 v. Oakland Raiders |
Top |
20-25 |
Loss |
-104 |
7 h 50 m |
Show
|
Chicago (+3) for 3 Units ***Bears/Raiders 4:05: Bears have been playing outstanding football and I don't think Jay Cutler's absence will put an end to their winning run. Chicago's reserve QB Caleb Hanie has confidence and prepared. More importantly, he has a good surrounding cast that should rally behind him.The Bears should put Hanie in a good position by having him feed the ball to all purpose back Matt Forte who should dice
|
11-26-11 |
Notre Dame +7.5 v. Stanford |
Top |
14-28 |
Loss |
-110 |
12 h 37 m |
Show
|
|
11-25-11 |
Pittsburgh +7 v. West Virginia |
Top |
20-21 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 12 m |
Show
|
Pittsburgh (+7)
|
11-24-11 |
Green Bay Packers v. Detroit Lions +7 |
Top |
27-15 |
Loss |
-115 |
5 h 57 m |
Show
|
Detroit (+7) for 3 Units ***Green Bay/Detroit 12:30: Both teams have their share of revenge stories for this heating up division rivalry game. The Packers' offensive line wants to make up for last December's 7-3 loss in which Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game. The Lions simply want to break out of their 0-7 funk of getting the stuffing beat out of them on Turkey Day. We'll put more weighting on the latter.To steal a Ric Flair quote, "To be the man you have to beat the man." The Lions have aspirations of winning a championship and to do so will have to knock off the champ. The Lions have been competitive in this series covering the last two, including that outright win last season at home. The home crowd will aid in this today with its fever pitch attempting to distract Rodgers and company. Rodgers has been unstoppable this year and has an incredible supporting cast; however, RB Starks is hobbling and he brings an added dimension to the game not only as a runner but as a valuable receiver out of the backfield and as a pass blocker. GB is not deep in quality running backs. Detroit's defensive strength lies in their front where they've accumulated 27 sacks. We'll look for the deep defensive line of Detroit to disrupt the Packers' offensive game to a certain extent today. Detroit's offense can move the football and GB's defense is yielding. Yes, GB is very respectable defensively in regards to limiting points but Detroit has been effective closing in the red zone and that gives them an edge as a dangerous 7 point dog. Moreover, Kevin Smith has resurrected his career as a finishing runner (strong last week) and Calvin Johnson is a matchup nightmare to any cornerback. Technically, the Lions are 4-1 ATS as a home dog in this spread range. And in November, the Lions control an electric 11-1 ATS mark off a SU/ATS win vs an opponent off a favorite role. Lions the call.
|
11-20-11 |
Philadelphia Eagles +6 v. NY Giants |
Top |
17-10 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 14 m |
Show
|
Philadelphia/New York 8:20: Eagles' HC Reid has been through situations like this before where seemingly the Eagles were down and out and without their starting QB. However, he managed to thrive in those situations and we'll bet on him tonight.Reid and the Eagles are a sweet 18-4 ATS off a SU loss against a conference opponent. They're 15-2 ATS on the road in November with revenge against an opponent off an away game. And throw in the fact that they're 13-1 ATS with division revenge off a double digit ATS loss and we got a play!Sure, Mike Vick is most likely out; however, Vince Young is a capable backup who is also fleet of foot in running the Eagles' offense. It's not always the QB, it's the system that makes the QB successful. And Young fits the Eagles' system well. The Giants have shown vulnerability against the run and should get a heavy dose of the NFC's leading rusher McCoy. Consequently, Young can settle in and work comfortably in and out of the pocket with play action. Defensively, we'll look for the Eagles to contain the Giants' run game, which has stalled without Bradshaw, and force QB Manning into a mistake laden game. The Giants are a sluggish 1-11 ATS at home against a team under .500 on the road and should struggle here.
|
11-19-11 |
USC v. Oregon UNDER 69.5 |
Top |
38-35 |
Loss |
-110 |
12 h 55 m |
Show
|
USC/Oregon 8:00: Oregon's potent no huddle offensive attack in Eugene has been easy "over" money (19-6-1 O/U) but should run into a snag here with inclimate weather in the forecast. Oregon's offensive game relies on speed and agility; however, that will be slowed on the wet Autzen Stadium carpet. And winds exceeding 15 mph should ground the passing game to a certain extent. In addition, Oregon faces a USC defense that is finally playing to its expectations with back to back strong efforts. Moreover, USC's defense allows just 21.5 ppg on the road and plays the run well. The Trojans are 8-18 O/U after a SU win of 20 +, 1-4 O/U in November, and 2-5 O/U on the road. On the other hand, the Oregon defense is tough to score on in Eugene -- allowing a measly 19.4 ppg. Matt Barkley and company will clearly have their work cut out for them. This series is 2-4 O/U and we'll look for a rare "under" in Oregon tonight.
|
11-13-11 |
Detroit Lions +3 v. Chicago Bears |
Top |
13-37 |
Loss |
-120 |
8 h 1 m |
Show
|
Detroit/Chicago 4:15: I've ridden Chicago on their run and I will jump off here. Chicago looked great Monday night, but on a short week of prep and mending injuries, the well rested Lions should roar through the windy city.Detroit, which won the first matchup earlier this season, is 3-0 ATS in this series. They get DT Nick Fairley back to add to the already deep defensive front to severely test the Bears' offensive line, which has improved dramatically but due to cave in here. Cutler is only as good as his offensive line permits and it will be difficult for that banged up offensive front to win the battle today. RB Matt Forte has been outstanding but should also be held in check without a significant push from the Bears' interior. The Lions' defense sports a super 29.4% stoppage rate against opponents on 3rd down (#1 in NFL). Cutler will be hard pressed to bring the 3rd down magic he did Monday.The Lions' QB Stafford is healthy and should find his array of targets, including matchup nightmare Calvin Johnson, against the thinning Bears' secondary. The dog in this series is 17-8 ATS and I won't fight that trend. Detroit the call.
|
11-12-11 |
Nebraska -3 v. Penn State |
Top |
17-14 |
Push |
0 |
4 h 36 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* Nebraska (-3) for 3.5 Units ***'Nebraska/Penn State Noon: The Nittany Lions could go into two directions in the wake of the horrific revelations this week. They could play extremely hard for their fired legendary coach (Paterno) or go into a disarray on account of the distractions. We'll clearly play the latter and jump on Nebraska.With Paterno gone and now assistant McQueary (integral part of offensive prep) put on administrative leave, focus on both sides of the ball for the 'Lions should be cloudy at best; after all, installing a game plan requires complete a great deal of preparation and I feel that was limited because of the coaching shake up. And when uncertainty (current staff knows their time is numbered) trickles down to the on-field players, tentativeness leads to mistakes. As a result, we'll look for the Cornhuskers to capitalize on the Penn State errors. Technically, Penn State is a mere 1-8 ATS against teams above .500. Nebraska, coming off an underachieving effort against N'western should bounce back in this spot; after all, they're 8-2 ATS as a favorite off a SU favorite loss going into a game vs a .500 + opponent. Nebraska the call.
|
11-06-11 |
NY Giants +9 v. New England Patriots |
Top |
24-20 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 30 m |
Show
|
NYG/New England 4:15: Good value with a NYG team that has been strong as a road dog covering 4 of its last 5 in that role. Sure, injuries have hit them with RB Bradshaw, WR Nicks and their starting center Bass. However, RB Jacobs has his opportunity to shine once again while Cruz and Manningham are dangerous enough to continue to add to the Patriots' defensive woes. NE's defense is yielding over 400 yards per game and should allow Eli Manning to continue his productive season. And even with the return of LB Mayo for NE, the Giants' TE Ballard can rack up some yardage in the Patriots soft underneath coverage that was exposed against Pittsburgh. Defensively, the Giants lead the NFL in sacks and will not let Brady set into a comfort zone in 5 to 7 step drops. NYG's HC Coughlin has covered both games against NE, including, of course, in February of 2008 -- 17-14 outright Super Bowl win. The Giants are a sweet 6-0 ATS vs .666 or greater opposition seeking revenge. With the Giants at a profitable 16-6 ATS on the road against teams with a .500 or greater record, we'll grab the generous amount of points.
|
11-05-11 |
LSU +5 v. Alabama |
Top |
9-6 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 30 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* LSU (+5) for 3.5 Units ***'LSU/Alabama 8:00: Good value with a dangerously aggressive Tigers' team primed for road play. The Tigers are a highly respectable 5-2 ATS on the road and have had success in Alabama -- covering 4 of the last 5 there. Sure, the 'Tide has numbers that are remarkable and statistically the best defense in the NCAA; however, LSU matches well defensively and capable of limiting Alabama's explosive run game. Where I feel the Tigers have the edge is the depth at QB with the duo of Lee and Jefferson who are extremely difficult to prepare for. On the other hand, Alabama's QB McCarron will face his toughest test tonight and may struggle in his biggest game with the Alabama program. And consider this: the 'Tide is a mere 2-5 ATS off a bye week while the road team in this series has covered 12 of the last 15. Moreover, don't discount Les Miles in prime time where he's led his troops to an amazing 44-4 SU record. Throw in the dynamic Tigers' special teams play and that they're 6-1 ATS following Auburn and we have a dangerous dog to do damage.
|
10-30-11 |
Cleveland Browns v. San Francisco 49ers -8.5 |
Top |
10-20 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 26 m |
Show
|
Browns/49ers 4:15: The 49ers are a legitimate contender in the NFC while Cleveland still unproven. SF has shown good balance on both sides of the ball this season and delivering the money with a 5-0-1 ATS mark. On the other hand, the Browns have three wins over teams with a combined record of 2-16 SU. They control a 1-3-2 ATS mark for the season. Cleveland's offense is stuck in neutral. They have not demonstrated the potent run game from a year ago as RB Hillis battles hamstring injuries and the offensive line suffers through injuries; consequently, QB McCoy is struggling (56% completions) with limited big play skill players to boot. We'll look for the #2 ranked defense in points allowed and fewest rushing yards per game to stymie the Browns' pedestrian offensive attack. As a result, we'll look for favorable field position for SF. SF's QB Alex Smith has a done a solid job managing the game under Harbaugh. He and his solid supporting cast should be put into a position to gradually wear down the respectable Cleveland defense for the win and cover.
|
10-29-11 |
Southern Mississippi v. UTEP OVER 57 |
Top |
31-13 |
Loss |
-110 |
9 h 58 m |
Show
|
S.Miss/UTEP 8:00: Both of these teams can run the football thus creating down field play action opportunities to their big play skill players. SM compiles 209 yards per game on the ground while UTEP accumulates a solid 175. In addition, both QBs have been efficient through the air on account of their productive run games. Austin Davis is completing at a strong 65% while UTEP's Lamaison is hitting at a respectable 59%. And both defenses have their share of weaknesses that should be exploited. SM and UTEP yield around 5 yards per carry in their respective roles they play in today. And SM likes the no huddle offense, which can wear down a defense quickly, especially one like UTEP which doesn't have the high quality depth. On the other hand, UTEP's offense has big play capability and can trade points effectively on this field; after all, they kept pace with the explosive no-huddle Houston Cougars at Sun Bowl Stadium earlier this season in a track meet. UTEP is 15-7 O/U off a SU win and 6-2 O/U against a team with a winning road record. On the other hand SM is 7-1 O/U in October and 8-3 O/U in conference play. Value with the "over".
|
10-23-11 |
San Diego Chargers v. NY Jets |
Top |
21-27 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 11 m |
Show
|
Chargers/Jets 1:00: As anticipated, the Chargers got favorable line (odds) movement on account NY coming off a Monday Night Game (short week prep) and the brash talk by Rex Ryan and company. However, we like the value. NY is a profitable 12-4-1 ATS on Sundays following playing on Monday Night. And for two years the Jets have backed their verbal jabs all the way to the AFC Championship game. SD, on the other hand, like Ryan stated, has the talent to be "ring" worthy, but can't put it together under Norv Turner. The Chargers lack total team balance; in other words, they're consistently deficient in at least one area of team football en route to their underachieving 2-3 ATS mark. Special teams have been Turners' Achilles heal and the run stop unit leaves much to be desired this season -- allowing a generous 4.6 y.p.c. And the Chargers last two trips to the Eastern Time Zone resulted in 0-2 ATS.
Sure, SD had the week off to get Antonio Gates (foot) and Vincent Jackson (hamstring) on the field. But their disturbing 2-12 ATS mark as a .500 or greater team in October against an opponent off a SU/ATS win is a cause for concern.
Rex Ryan should have his men fired up to go 5-1 ATS before their bye.
|
10-22-11 |
North Carolina +11.5 v. Clemson |
Top |
38-59 |
Loss |
-110 |
3 h 4 m |
Show
|
North Carolina/Clemson 12:00: Good value with the Tar Heels here. Clemson, which is coming off a shootout against Maryland, is poised to falter here. The Tigers' defense leaves much to be desired, especially their run stop unit. Clemson allows 179 yards per game / 4.7 yards per carry; consequently, we'll look for North Carolina to ride their horse -- Bernard -- to allow QB Renner to settle in and make plays. Renner leads the league in passer rating (174.1) and completes a strong 75% of his passes. On the other side of the ball, the Tar Heels will give up yardage to the explosive Clemson offense. The Tigers' QB Boyd has a sound supporting cast and surely North Carolina will have its share of problems slowing them down; however, the Tar Heels have shown grit this year under their new HC and have been competitve in every game. We'll look for them to hang around here; after all, they've covered 7 of the last 10 at this location. Technically, the Tar Heels are a dangerous dog at 18-8 ATS; moreover they're 4-0 when given 10' or more points. We'll take the double digits with North Carolina here.
|
10-16-11 |
Minnesota Vikings v. Chicago Bears -1 |
Top |
10-39 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 46 m |
Show
|
|
10-15-11 |
Louisville v. Cincinnati -13 |
Top |
16-25 |
Loss |
-101 |
0 h 22 m |
Show
|
|
10-09-11 |
Green Bay Packers v. Atlanta Falcons OVER 52.5 |
Top |
25-14 |
Loss |
-108 |
16 h 19 m |
Show
|
Green Bay/Atlanta 8:20: Both of these teams' defenses have glaring weaknesses. And it starts with pass defense. The Packers are giving up a generous 336 ypg through the air (next to last in the NFL) while the Falcons' secondary is having its share of problems stopping offenses frequent the end zone. On the other hand, their offenses' are clicking and should expose each others weaknesses. These teams are a combined 24-8 O/U after accumulating 250+ yards in previous game. They're also a combined 21-6 O/U in week 5. The Falcons sport an 11-5 O/U mark as a home dog in this spread range. This series has been high scoring at 5-2 O/U and we will not fight that trend tonight.
|
10-08-11 |
Iowa +4.5 v. Penn State |
Top |
3-13 |
Loss |
-108 |
4 h 11 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* Iowa (+4') for 3.5 Units ***'Iowa/Penn State 3:30: It would be an understatement to say Iowa has been an outstanding competitor under HC Ferentz in recent years; after all, they haven't lost a game by more than a TD over the last three seasons. Today, we feel Iowa has what it takes to be competitive here. Iowa QB Vandenberg is doing a solid job managing the offense -- completing 63% of his passes with a solid 10:1 TD:INT ratio. The Hawkeyes are 6-1 ATS in this series and covered 7 of their last 9
|
10-01-11 |
North Texas v. Tulsa -23 |
Top |
24-41 |
Loss |
-108 |
8 h 48 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* Tulsa (-23) for 3.5 Units ***'North Texas/Tulsa 7:00: Tulsa is a veteran team that has been up against stiff competition (OK, OK State) on the road. Tonight, at home, the Golden Hurricane should lay a knockout punch against a lightweight Mean Green team. G.J. Kinne, who has been mediocre thus far, should get back in 2010 form and light up the NT secondary -- which is a step slower than who Kinne has faced thus far. On the other hand, the NT offense is not productive enough to hang with a respectable Tulsa defense that has been up against very strong offensive talent. Tonight, the Tulsa defense won't face that kind of talent and should stymie the not so Mean Green offense that struggles to put points on the board. Tulsa is 3-0 ATS in this series. NT is a shaky 2-11 ATS off a DD ATS win and 0-5 ATS as a dog of more than 19 points. NT Head Coach -- McCarney has never been a money maker as a double-digit dog (while at Iowa State).
|
09-25-11 |
NY Jets -3 v. Oakland Raiders |
Top |
24-34 |
Loss |
-100 |
6 h 31 m |
Show
|
Jets/Raiders 4:05: Last week, the Raiders made poor halftime adjustments to blow the game. They're likely to see more problems this week. The Jets are gradually gearing up offensively while their defense remains rock solid. Oakland's receiving corps is banged up and that should make life even more miserable for QB Campbell as the Jets will surely unleash a variety of blitzes from all angles to rattle him. The Jets went to Oakland in October of 2009 and blasted them 38-0. Oakland is a poor 1-9 ATS in September at home against a non-division opponent. We'll roll with New York here.
|
09-24-11 |
California v. Washington |
Top |
23-31 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 25 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* Washington (pick) for 3.5 Units ***'California/Washington 3:30: Huskies' HC Sarkisian has the program going in the right direction and Washington should bounce back here after falling at Nebraska. The Huskies are a sweet 4-0 ATS off a double-digit loss against an opponent off back-to-back SU wins. The Huskies have covered four of the last five in this series including the last two years as a SU winner. Defensively, the Huskies need work and should put forth a better effort for their DC Holt. Offensively, Washington's Keith Price is having a productive year (11/3 TD/INT 64% completions) and a solid surrounding cast. California is coming off a big win over lightweight Presbyterian and should continue to struggle against a Huskies' team that is developing a strong home field once again.
|
09-18-11 |
Oakland Raiders v. Buffalo Bills OVER 41 |
Top |
35-38 |
Win
|
100 |
2 h 34 m |
Show
|
Oakland Over (41) for 3 Units ***Oakland/Buffalo 1:00: Raiders' offense continues to be productive and should dent Buffalo's defense that ambushed an unprepared Chief's squad. Oakland's McFadden, who continues to be a productive rusher, should aid QB Jason Campbell's passing game. And Campbell will have TE Kevin Boss -- making his Raiders' debut. Meanwhile, Buffalo also picked up where they left off last season in solid offensive production. QB Fitzpatrick doing a nice job at the helm. Buffalo's offense is a few notches better than Denver, in which Oakland faced last week; consequently, we'll look for the Bills to put some points on the board in their home opener.The Bills are 6-2-1 O/U as a home favorite in this spread range. Oakland, on the other hand, is 11-4 O/U in September and 9-4 O/U as a dog. "Over" it is.
|
09-17-11 |
Buffalo v. Ball State -4.5 |
Top |
25-28 |
Loss |
-110 |
15 h 12 m |
Show
|
|
09-11-11 |
Dallas Cowboys +6.5 v. NY Jets |
Top |
24-27 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 41 m |
Show
|
Dallas/New York 8:20: We look at the Jets as overvalued here based on a few variables, including a sluggish mark of 4-9 as a home favorite of 3' to 10. Cowboys' HC Garrett did a nice job winning or hanging around in defeats (no loss over 3 points) in his 5-3 SU/ATS mark as the interim head coach last year. This year, Garrett has the luxury of starter Tony Romo back and solid off-season moves/acquisitions. Moreover, DC Rob Ryan will add some controlled aggressiveness to his defensive unit against a Jets' ball control offense. Cowboys have covered their last 5 as a dog and we'll look for them to cover here.
|
09-10-11 |
South Carolina v. Georgia +3 |
Top |
45-42 |
Push |
0 |
6 h 56 m |
Show
|
|
09-03-11 |
Minnesota v. USC -24 |
Top |
17-19 |
Loss |
-110 |
12 h 27 m |
Show
|
|
02-06-11 |
Pittsburgh Steelers v. Green Bay Packers -3 |
Top |
25-31 |
Win
|
100 |
15 h 40 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* Green Bay (-2') for 4 Units **** Steelers/Packers 6:30: When the line came out on this game, we initially thought that Pittsburgh would be in the small favorite role; however, after further consideration, we find the number to be justifiable for these reasons: Offensively, any team that had success against Pittsburgh's defense used a formula involving spreading them out and throwing the football. New England comes to mind in their 36-29 demolition of Pittsburgh at Hines Field; a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated because of the late garbage time touchdowns by Pittsburgh after the game was decided. Of course, a strong armed QB with a high football IQ, stable offensive line, and strong receiving corps is needed. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and his supporting cast fit the bill to tire out the Steelers' defense, which is built to beat down run games but vulnerable to finesse passing teams. We'll look for the Packers to occasionally resort to a no-huddle offense and tire them out. On the other hand, the Steelers' offense, which also has big play ability in its more conservative yet effective methodical run and play-action pass game. It's led by a great QB -- Roethlisberger, but missing a key ingredient - Center -- Pouncey (ankle). Sure backup Legursky did a decent job against New York but did make critical mistakes, including botched snap near goal line that resulted in a safety. The Packers have three impact players defensively in CB Woodson, LB Mathews, and DL Raji who have and should continue their success in this game exploiting areas of weakness on the Pittsburgh offensive line. Green Bay the call.
|
01-16-11 |
NY Jets v. New England Patriots -8.5 |
Top |
28-21 |
Loss |
-110 |
13 h 58 m |
Show
|
New England (-9) for 2.5 Units **'New York/New England 4:30: New England finished the regular season as the hottest team in the NFL on a 6-0 SU/5-1 ATS run and history shows the Patriots should maintain their elite status here. NE sports a 45-24 ATS mark off a win against their division. Few coaches can decipher opponent's tendencies and institute a game plan to exploit the weaknesses as well as Belichick. In the last matchup, NE's pass offense torched the Jets' defense over the middle of the field with Welker, Gronkowski and Hernandez. Having two of the best cornerbacks in the NFL won't do a bit of good if you can't cover the middle of the field. Today, the edge of the field may not be that secure for New York with Cromartie (groin) and Revis (hamstring) ailing; moreover, their nickel back --Drew Coleman -- injured his knee in practice Thursday and is questionable; consequently, that's not good against the dangerous passing game of New England. We'll look for another methodical game approach from New England to carve up the Jets here. On the other hand, the Jets' offense can become downright predictable at times and that should cause more New York offensive stall outs here. The Patriots are 13-3 ATS in this spread range at home, and with the home team at 4-0 ATS in this series, we'll stay with New England.
|
01-10-11 |
Oregon +3 v. Auburn |
Top |
19-22 |
Push |
0 |
7 h 23 m |
Show
|
Oregon/Auburn 8:30: We realize that the best player on the field is Cam Newton and he is capable of taking over a game of this magnitude similar to Vince Young's legendary 2006 Rose Bowl in which he lead Texas to the win over USC for the National Championship. And the Auburn defense is no slouch either. The Tigers' Nick Fairley is the most dominant DT this season. Both of the aforementioned stars have a very good supporting cast. We will go with the Ducks for these reasons: Oregon's defense is more gap sound than many of Auburn's opponents this season. The Ducks' linebacker corps plays instinctively well behind a sold front line that can hold its point of attack. And they'll need to against the veteran Auburn offensive line. The Ducks' defense had 35 takeaways (20 INTs / 15 fumble recoveries). They're well balanced at each level of defense. We'll look for the disciplined Ducks' defense to show a level of containment against Newton and company. On the other hand, the Ducks high powered offensive machine has too many weapons to contain over four quarters. Their fast pace (13 seconds or less between plays) and explosive speed at skill positions make it a nightmare for DC's because they can't substitute freely and don't have enough fresh quality bodies to send in over the course of four quarters. The Auburn defense isn't the deepest and has been exposed this season. The Ducks have outscored foes 277 to 77 after half-time and should deliver late. And the special teams edge goes to Oregon with Cliff Harris, who has a 19.5 yard per punt return, can clearly be a major force there and as a defender. Oregon learned its post-season mistake last year against Ohio State; consequently, during their layoff, they worked hard and fast to maintain their superior offensive rhythm. We'll look for Oregon to deliver.
|
01-09-11 |
Green Bay Packers +3 v. Philadelphia Eagles |
Top |
21-16 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 38 m |
Show
|
Green Bay/Philadelphia 4:30: We played the Eagles successfully on a few occasions but will jump off the bandwagon here. Their defense is a mid-range caliber unit and their secondary is thin; moreover, Philly has allowed 31 touchdown passes this season --putting them in the bottom tier of the NFL. We don't believe the inclement weather will stall out Aaron Rodgers and company. And the Packers have a tendency to make corrective action after sluggish offensive outings as their 7-1 ATS mark following scoring less than 15 points in previous game indicates. On the other hand, the Eagles have the explosive offense; however, their red zone struggles continue where they are stuck in the bottom tier of the league. Green Bay's defense gives up yardage but stingy in the red zone and allow just 15 ppg. GB's veteran DC Capers has the formula on how to neutralize Vick and it starts and ends with well disguised blitzes from all angles. The Packers can rush the QB and if sack master Clay Mattews, who goes against the hobbling RT Justice, isn't enough, doses of Charles Woodson off the corner will rattle Vick. And as much as we praised DeSean Jackson this season -- for he truly is one of the best in the NFL, he has a tendency to be quieted this time of year. And with Woodson on him today, we'll look for little noise out of him. Eagles don't play the small home favorite role well at 3-7 ATS. We'll grab Green Bay here.
|
01-08-11 |
NY Jets +3 v. Indianapolis Colts |
Top |
17-16 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 24 m |
Show
|
Jets/Colts 8:00: The Jets are out to seek revenge from last year's AFC Championship game and have a real good chance of upsetting the Colts here. The Jets come into this game relatively healthy compared to the Colts, which have a number of key injuries on both sides of the ball. The Jets' defense, which racked up 40 sacks on the year, got after the QB down the stretch registering 19 over the final six weeks. The Colts won't have G Thomas (ankle) in and the Indianapolis' offense is all about protecting QB Manning. The Jets have a good weaponry, including specialty teams star Brad Smith who can also be a productive offensive force. Jets are 7-1 ATS as a small road dog while the Colts have struggled as a home favorite at 1-4 ATS. Jets the call.
|
01-06-11 |
Middle Tenn State v. Miami +2.5 |
Top |
21-35 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 43 m |
Show
|
Middle Tenn State/Mia Ohio 8:00: We normally don't like radical change anytime of the year involving key players or coaches; however, in this instance, losing Haywood should not hurt the Redhawks, which are equipped with a very good coaching staff. Guidry (interim coach) should manage the game well enough here. Miami closed the season strong, established a running game in the process --from 3.4 ypc to 5.6 down the stretch--as RB Merriweather found his holes. What we also liked about Miami OH over their last five games is the fact that they not only won on the scoreboard but they won on the stat sheet in rushing, passing and total yards. Reserve QB Boucher did a nice job managing the offense down the stretch. On the other hand, we realize MTSU won their bowl game last year behind QB Dasher; however, his time off (suspension) hurt his rhythm with the offense for the Blue Raiders were turnover laden (33 - tied for worst in nation). We'll look for the aggressive Redhawks' defense, which allowed just 13 ppg over their last 3 games, to continue their strong play and further disrupt Dasher and company. Miami Ohio the call.
|
01-04-11 |
Arkansas v. Ohio State OVER 57 |
Top |
26-31 |
Push |
0 |
3 h 26 m |
Show
|
Arkansas/Ohio State 8:30: Despite the impressive defensive numbers that the Buckeyes put up, they have not faced a team with the high quality of offensive balance that Arkansas has, especially late in the season when the Hogs got their running game cooking with Knile-Davis. Arkansas' QB Mallet has a strong supporting cast, including a veteran offensive line that helped accumulate nearly 500 yards per game and 37 ppg. The OSU defense has not registered as many sacks this year as in recent years and their secondary is thin at a depth standpoint. We'll look for the Hogs to put points on the board; at the same time, the Buckeyes' offense is at full strength, thanks to a delay in the suspensions, and should unload against a suspect Arkansas defense. Arkansas finished 5-1 O/U down the stretch and they're 6- 1 O/U as a dog. OSU is 4-0 O/U in non-conference play and 5-1 O/U as a favorite in this range. "Over" the call.
|
01-02-11 |
Buffalo Bills v. NY Jets -1 |
Top |
7-38 |
Win
|
100 |
10 h 45 m |
Show
|
|
01-01-11 |
TCU v. Wisconsin +3 |
Top |
21-19 |
Win
|
100 |
14 h 7 m |
Show
|
TCU/Wisconsin 5:00: We understand that TCU has better statistical numbers defensively; however, the Horned Frogs played four offensive lightweights in their conference and a Division 1AA cream puff (Tenn Tech). They have not faced a team with this kind of running game all year. We're going to look for Wisconsin's mammoth offensive line to wear the undersized TCU defense down over the course of this game. And Wisconsin's underrated QB Tolzien does a solid job managing the offense and rises to the occasion when needed. On the other hand, TCU's offense is very productive by veteran QB Dalton who is a two way threat with his arm and legs. TCU will get their share of points but Wisconsin's defense has depth and can create turnovers. We'll look for the Badgers to hold on for the win here.
|
12-30-10 |
North Carolina v. Tennessee |
Top |
30-27 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 42 m |
Show
|
North Carolina/Tennessee 6:40: Tennessee made a nice 4-0 stretch run to close out the season and become bowl eligible; however, only 1 of those beaten teams are bowl eligible (Kentucky). The Vol's may be a bit overrated here and we'll jump on North Carolina. The Tar Heels turned in a respectable season despite the multiple suspensions. They even covered against LSU in their opener despite having 11 players suspended. The Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS vs the SEC and, like fellow ACC Bowl team -- NC State, are showing that the ACC is no joke. NC continues to have multiple suspensions in this game but Butch Davis and his staff coached up a young and athletic contingent that should deliver tonight. QB Yates is a seasoned veteran with a still pretty good supporting cast. On the other hand, Vol's freshman QB Bray did a super job leading Tennessee down the stretch, but has not faced a defense as formidable as North Carolina's in the process. He should have his growing pains tonight. Tennessee should remain winless at 0-5 ATS against the ACC after tonight.
|
12-28-10 |
North Carolina State +3 v. West Virginia |
Top |
23-7 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 3 m |
Show
|
NC State/West Virginia 6:30: We jumped on the NC State bandwagon this season riding the Wolpack to an 8-3 ATS mark. We're staying on them here. Few coaches prepare with extra time off well as Tom O'Brien who sports an impressive 7-1 ATS mark in bowls. On the other hand, WV has been dealt with distractions regarding coaching changes after the regular season ended. WV enters this game with a formidable defense but their offense underachieved --considering the talent available; consequently, it cost the Mounties' jobs of the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. NC State's defense is talented and disciplined enough to keep the WV underachieving. On the other hand, we like NC State's QB Russell Wilson who is a double threat to defenses and gamer. His experience and composure should lead to end zone visits with his solid supporting cast. Last year in bowl action, WV took it on the chin against Florida State, and they're just 4-12 ATS vs the ACC. NC State the call.
|
12-26-10 |
New England Patriots -7.5 v. Buffalo Bills |
Top |
34-3 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 47 m |
Show
|
Patriots/Bills 1:00: The Patriots are looking to clinch the AFC East with a win here and should deliver. NE has covered 6 straight in Buffalo and sports a dominant 12-5 ATS mark as a road favorite in this spread range. Bad weather brings out the best in NE for few teams can match them in snowy conditions, as Chicago found out December 12. The Patriots are 6-1 ATS in week 16. Buffalo is a money burning 8-21-2 ATS at home vs a team with a winning road record. NE the call.
|
12-23-10 |
Navy v. San Diego State -3 |
Top |
14-35 |
Win
|
100 |
7 h 16 m |
Show
|
Navy/San Diego State 8:00: San Diego State has a veteran team that was developed well by Hoke over the last two seasons. The SDS' offensive line has done a solid job in protecting QB Lindley by allowing just 9 sacks the entire season in his nearly 400 pass attempts; furthermore, they paved the way for RB Hillman to 1300 yards rushing. We're going to look for the Aztecs' offensive line to win the battle of the line-of-scrimmage against a Navy defense that registered just 9 sacks all season. On the other hand, SDS' DC Rocky Long has a solid history as a defensive coach and prepared many a time against triple option football while HC at New Mexico against Air Force. And in a rain drenched Qualcomm Stadium, which is a grass surface, triple option football speed will be slowed significantly providing the Aztecs stop the FB upstream. We believe they will. SDS the call.
|
12-21-10 |
Louisville -2.5 v. Southern Mississippi |
Top |
31-28 |
Win
|
100 |
6 h 23 m |
Show
|
Louisville/S.Miss 8:00: We believe S.Miss faces the best defense they've seen all year with the exception of South Carolina, which held them to 14 points.
|
12-19-10 |
Houston Texans v. Tennessee Titans -1 |
Top |
17-31 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 15 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* Tennessee (-1) for 4 Units **** Houston/Tennessee 1:00: We believe the life was sucked out of the Texans on Monday night when they battle hard to get back into the game only to fall flat in OT thus killing their playoff hopes. On a short week of prep, it will be difficult to prepare for the vengeful Titans that got whipped pretty good November 28th in Houston 20-0. In that game, third team QB Rusty Smith lived up to his moniker with a pathetic 26.7 passer rating. Today, cagey veteran Kerry Collins should have the Titans back on track. He has some healthy targets, including Randy Moss who has had time to learn the offense. The Texans rank last in the NFL against the pass and won't have super Mario Williams (sports hernia) rushing off the edge or crashing down on backs. We'll look for Titans to have a good offensive balance as Chris Johnson should also have a big game. Tennessee is 7-1 ATS as a division favorite vs a less than .400 opponent off a non division game, and they're 16-7-1 ATS as a small home favorite. The Texans, however, are a money burning 2-9 ATS in the first of back-to-back road games and lost 6 of their last 7 on grass surfaces. Sweet revenge for Tenn.
|
12-18-10 |
Ohio v. Troy State -1.5 |
Top |
21-48 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 49 m |
Show
|
Ohio U/Troy 9:00: We will go with the Troy Trojans based on a few important factors: Troy has a more proficient QB in Corey Robinson (3,320 passing yards with 24 TD passes / 15 INT) who leads an offense ranked 24th in the nation; Ohio U, on the other hand, has uncertainty at the QB spot with starter Boo Jackson not getting the start based on academic issues. Sure, the Bobcats' defense is much better than their counterpart's, but is likely to get winded against the versatile no huddle spread attack of Troy. Ohio U, by contrast relies on a punishing ground game to fuel their offense. Troy's defense is young, especially in the secondary; however, they've matured and got better as the season progressed. We'll look for Troy to keep Ohio U from earning its first ever bowl victory.
|
12-16-10 |
San Francisco 49ers v. San Diego Chargers -9 |
Top |
7-34 |
Win
|
100 |
17 h 59 m |
Show
|
|
12-12-10 |
St. Louis Rams v. New Orleans Saints OVER 47 |
Top |
13-31 |
Loss |
-110 |
5 h 50 m |
Show
|
Rams/Saints 4:05: This series is 6-1 O/U and we'll stay "over" here. Last year, the Saints won at St. Louis 28-23. The Saints' dynamic offensive attack has gotten healthier and should give the Rams' secondary trouble; after all, the Rams' top corner -- Bartell -- is out and Spagnuolo will be forced to use either Quincy Butler or Bradley Fletcher -- players with limited NFL time. The Saints are 7-1 O/U off a SU win and 19-9-1 O/U at home. The Saints, which are 11-4 O/u in December, have experienced late game defensive lapses over the last 3 weeks; consequently, we'll look for the much improved Rams' offense to get in the end zone. The Rams' defense, on the other hand, will have its hands full against a Saints' offense that has produced 4 consecutive games with 30 points or more. The Rams, which clamped down on Arizona last week, holding the quarterback lacking Cardinals' offense to just 6 points, should have trouble with the versatile and explosive Saints' offense. The Rams are 19-7 O/U after allowing less than 15 points in previous game. "Over" the call.
|
12-05-10 |
Denver Broncos v. Kansas City Chiefs -8 |
Top |
6-10 |
Loss |
-110 |
9 h 23 m |
Show
|
Broncos/Chiefs 1:00: It's a bitter cold day in KC and gives the Chiefs the advantage. KC has the run game (179 yards per game) to work over a Denver defense that wears down over a course of a game. And the prolific KC run game should keep QB Matt Cassel successful with play-action. The Broncos' offense, which averages just 79 yards per game on the ground, has been reliant on the pass for most of the season. However, teams have schemed accordingly against the one dimensional Broncos' offense and now Denver is struggling and should continue those struggles in these bone chilling months when running the football is imperative for success. KC does a nice job defensively and should be able to contain the Broncos' offense this time around. As you recall, KC HC Haley didn't take lightly his counterpart --McDaniels -- keeping his foot on the gas late in the game November 14th. Surely the Chiefs have revenge in mind. KC is 10-2 ATS at home with revenge off a SU win. In December, the Chiefs are a sweet 14-1 ATS vs an opponent off a non-division game and back-to-back SU losses. KC the call.
|
12-04-10 |
Auburn v. South Carolina +6 |
Top |
56-17 |
Loss |
-115 |
12 h 28 m |
Show
|
Auburn/South Carolina 4:00: The Gamecocks were in the first matchup and had it not be for lost fumbles on consecutive possessions by SC, this game wouldn't be as meaningful to Auburn as it is now. We'll look for more focus from a South Carolina team that upset then #1 Alabama on October 9th. QB Garcia has matured immensely from a year ago and actually had a solid game against Auburn this season (15 of 21 for 235 yards and 3 TD passes), minus the dual fumbles. We'll bank on the Gamecocks attacking the bubbles of Auburn's defense with doses of RB Lattimore, who's regaining his health. Defensively, the Gamecocks' quality defense had time to dissect film on this year's best player -- Cam Newton. Containment and filling holes will be imperative. And the Gamecocks' secondary will have to be more disciplined. The Gamecocks have had a solid "red zone" defense all year and we like that quality when getting points. SC has covered 5 of the last 7 as a dog in this spread range and we'll roll with them here.
|
11-28-10 |
Philadelphia Eagles v. Chicago Bears +4 |
Top |
26-31 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 21 m |
Show
|
Eagles/Bears 4:15: Eagles are looking like World beaters now with QB Vick playing at a stratospheric level with an explosive supporting cast of skill players surrounding him. However, if there is a defense made to counter the Eagles' speed, it is Chicago's. They're physical and fast and we'll look for them to limit the Eagles' production here. On the other hand, the Bears' QB Cutler is having trouble with 5 to 7 step drop passes. He may have to "check down" or go with screens and quick passes to his dependable targets to counter the blitz happy Eagles' defense. The Bears were beaten by the Eagles in Chicago last year 24-20 which sets up a nice play on the Bears here: Lovie Smith is a sweet 9-1 ATS with revenge vs an opponent off a division game. And in November, the Bears are 11-0 ATS with revenge against a non division opponent off a SU win. The dog in this series has covered 6 of 8 times. With the Bears extra prep time to stew in a revenge mode, we'll grab the points here.
|
11-28-10 |
St Louis Rams +4 v. Denver Broncos |
Top |
36-33 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 20 m |
Show
|
Rams/Broncos 4:15: Rams still haven't won on the road but they've been coming close. They're 4-0 ATS as a road dog in this spread range and sport a 6-2 ATS mark on the road against opponents under .500. Sure, they got blasted at Detroit but ran into a revenge wall coming off a big home win against Seattle. The Rams are 6-1 ATS off a SU loss of 14+ points and should be quite competitive here against a Denver team on a short prep week. Denver is 5-11 ATS off a SU loss and punch-less as a home favorite in this spread range at 3-13 ATS. The Rams have the run game going with Steven Jackson and QB Bradford has been outstanding over the last 5 games with 8 TD to 1 INT and good accuracy (65.3%). The Broncos have difficulty rushing the passer with an NFL low of 14 sacks. They consistently leave their secondary hanging out to dry. And the Broncos have yet to establish a run game this season. We'll look for defensive minded Spagnuolo to dial up a good defensive scheme against the pass happy Broncos as Orton continues to take a few steps back in production. Rams the call.
|
11-27-10 |
Cincinnati v. Connecticut -2 |
Top |
17-38 |
Win
|
100 |
9 h 35 m |
Show
|
|
11-26-10 |
Northern Illinois -24 v. Eastern Michigan |
Top |
71-3 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 23 m |
Show
|
N.Illinois/E.Michigan Noon: N. Illinois is the class of the MAC and the polar opposite of bottom feeding E. Michigan. The Huskies have a potent offense with a solid field general in Harnish (15 TD / 5 INT / 66% comp), good skill players -- including 1000+ yard rusher Chad Spann downhill thrashing behind a seasoned offensive line. Hard to imagine an E. Mich defense, which allows 42 ppg and 5.3 yards per carry, stopping the Huskies juggernaut. As a matter of fact, over the last two games combined in this series, the Huskies outscored the Eagles by an 87-6 margin. And this year's disparity in talent and execution on both sides of the ball has further widened. The Eagles are coming off an ATS win vs MAC lightweight -- Buffalo but should revert back to ineptitude here: EM is 6-18 ATS at home and 4-10 ATS off an ATS win. Furthermore, the Eagles are 1-5 ATS in their last home game of the season. We'll roll with the Huskies who can close as a double-digit favorite at 4-0 ATS.
|
11-25-10 |
Cincinnati Bengals v. NY Jets -9 |
Top |
10-26 |
Win
|
100 |
17 h 48 m |
Show
|
Bengals/Jets 8:20: The Jets haven't been a dominating team ATS and barely squeaking by teams in OT. We do like the way the Jets' defense was pissed off after allowing Houston back in the game in the 4th quarter. They take pride in their unit and should play better tonight. On the other hand, the underachieving Bengals --on a 1-6 ATS slide -- have given up points easily lately (nearly 30 ppg last 3 weeks) and should struggle more tonight; after all, their secondary is ravaged by injuries and the organization was forced to bring in a few defensive backs to see immediate field action. For DC Mike Zimmer, that is a nightmare to integrate new secondary talent into his system at this stage of the season. We'll look for NY to capitalize on it and finally deliver a decisive win. The Bengals are playing with revenge from last year's early playoff exit; however, they're in no shape to avenge anything. They're 3-9 ATS following a double-digit loss at home and 3-10 ATS after allowing 350+ yards the previous week. We'll jump on the Jets that are 5-1 ATS at home vs a non-division opponent playing with revenge
|
11-18-10 |
Chicago Bears +2.5 v. Miami Dolphins |
Top |
16-0 |
Win
|
100 |
3 h 29 m |
Show
|
Bears/Dolphins 8:20: Under Lovie Smith, the Bears have been shaky off a division game vs a winning team (2-10 ATS); however, what we do like about Chicago and the reasons why we'll override that is this: they're 7-1 ATS on the road off a double-digit SU win; covered 4 of last 5 as a dog, and sport a 5-2- 1 ATS mark as a small road dog. Moreover, we like teams with strong defenses and specialty teams playing on the road, which fits Chicago. They're allowing just 16 ppg defensively, and they are in the top echelon in kickoff returns and punt returns. Consequently, that will pose problems for an opponent that has to prepare their 3rd string QB (Thigpen) on a short week and whom struggle in kickoff coverage (30th in league). Miami has been a money burner as a home favorite (6-25 ATS), and they're just 1-7 ATS as a non-division favorite. We'll look for Bears' QB Cutler to limit mistakes this time and for the Bears to win this one on establishing good field position and creating turnovers. Bears the call.
|
11-16-10 |
Ohio v. Temple -7.5 |
Top |
31-23 |
Loss |
-110 |
18 h 52 m |
Show
|
Ohio/Temple 8:00: Temple's defense has been outstanding this season and a main reason why we like the Owls here. The Owls are averaging just 15.4 ppg at home and especially stingy against the run (allow 95.6 ypg) ; consequently, we'll look for the Owls to load the box and force the one-dimensional Bobcats to do what they're not comfortable doing -- going to the air. And the more accurate passing QB and better runner -- QB Boo Jackson (concussion)-- will have to give way to backup -- Philip Bates, who has completed less than 50% of his passes. We'll look for Temple to take control of this game with their stellar defensive play and potent run game with the two headed monster backfield of Pierce and Brown. Temple is a solid 3-1-1 ATS as a home favorite in this spread range and playing to avenge last year's 35-17 loss. Temple the call.
|
11-14-10 |
New England Patriots +5 v. Pittsburgh Steelers |
Top |
39-26 |
Win
|
100 |
18 h 58 m |
Show
|
Patriots/Steelers 8:20: The Patriots are a dangerous team off a SU/ATS loss on the road against a winning team as their 10-1 ATS mark in that role indicates. Moreover, they're 13-5 ATS after allowing 30+ points in their previous game. We're going to look for the Patriots' resiliency under Belichick to emerge once again tonight. NE has covered 7 of the last 9 in this series. They're catching the Steelers coming off a short prep week. Pittsburgh has dropped 5 of their last 7 ATS playing on Sunday following a Monday game. We're going to look for NE's Brady to work the overly aggressive Steelers' defense that is 24th in the league vs the pass. And we should see a more physical and disciplined NE defense limiting Pittsburgh's offense.
|
11-13-10 |
So Mississippi Golden Eagles v. Central Florida -10 |
Top |
31-21 |
Loss |
-110 |
9 h 31 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet * Central Florida (-10) for 3.5 Units ***'Southern Miss/C.Fla Noon: CF is looking for its 8th straight cover and we'll look for them to deliver as they seek revenge from last year's 26-19 loss at Hattiesburg. The Knights are catching an inconsistent S. Miss team off a win at Conference USA lightweight -- Tulane. Southern Miss has not been thoroughly tested on the road since their blowout loss at South Carolina. CF has a well disciplined and deep defensive unit to handle the speed and no-huddle offense that the Eagles have; after all, the Knights' defense had plenty of experience and success against speed and no-huddle offenses; after all, they whipped explosive
|
11-11-10 |
Pittsburgh v. Connecticut +6.5 |
Top |
28-30 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 11 m |
Show
|
Pittsburgh/U Conn 7:30: Pittsburgh appears to have taken command of the Big East but should run into trouble in this spot. The Panthers can't be trusted in November under Wannstedt with a 7-14 ATS mark. And this is not a good spot for Pittsburgh at 0-4 ATS on the road off back-to-back home homes vs an opponent off a SU dog win. Furthermore, the Panthers are just 3-8 ATS off a bye-week and 1-4-1 ATS on Thursdays. On the other hand, U Conn sports an impressive 6-1 ATS mark off a bye-week, 7-1 ATS as a home dog, including 6-0 ATS in this spread range. In addition, beleaguered QB Zach Frazier, who is coming off a solid job against WV, should keep his confidence level high with the return of explosive KR/WR Nick Williams (sat out vs WV) and, of course, the hard nosed running of RB Todman behind the veteran Huskies' offensive line. With revenge in mind from last year's 24-21 loss at Pittsburgh, we like the Huskies at +6 on this strong home field.
|
11-08-10 |
Pittsburgh Steelers v. Cincinnati Bengals +7 |
Top |
27-21 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 0 m |
Show
|
Steelers/Bengals 8:30: Up until last week, the Steelers were considered the hottest team in the league. Tonight, public perception is that the Steelers are in a pissy mood coming off a loss and in a double revenge state of mind. Moreover, all the talk is Tomblin is 5-0 SU on MNF and Roethlisberger is 6-1 SU in Cincinnati. That kind of speculation has driven up the line to nearly a TD from an opening of -3'. A closer look reveals that Tomblin is a mere 8-9 ATS following a loss and just 7-9-1 ATS with revenge. Furthermore, the Steelers are a money burning 1-5 ATS as road chalk on MNF. What bettors should know is that Cincinnati is in a desperation mode needing this game to save their season and that they're 5-1 ATS in their last 6 as a home dog -- a dangerous combination for a MNF home dog. The Bengals have talent and it should favorably materialize tonight in this spot. The Steelers' defense, which is 25th in the league defending the pass, was exposed last week in New Orleans with Brees effectively finding seems in the Steelers' secondary. Carson Palmer has the quick release and talented receivers to counter the Steelers' chaotic blitz packages. On the other hand, Pittsburgh's offensive line has had trouble protecting Roethlisberger on 5 to 7 step drop passes, which is why the Steelers are 29th in the league in pass yards per game. Bengals' DC Mike Zimmer should have a solid defensive scheme ready..
|
11-07-10 |
San Diego Chargers -3 v. Houston Texans |
Top |
29-23 |
Win
|
105 |
2 h 21 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* San Diego (-3) for 3.5 Units ***'San Diego/Houston 1:00: We faded the Chargers early in the season but will jump on them now on account of their yo-yo seasonal history under Norv Turner.
|
11-06-10 |
Louisville Cardinals v. Syracuse Orangemen -6.5 |
Top |
28-20 |
Loss |
-110 |
1 h 10 m |
Show
|
L'ville/Syracuse Noon: The Orangemen have covered 5 straight in this series and looking to avenge last year's 1 point loss. Syracuse is 10-1 ATS as favorites of 2+ with revenge vs an opponent coming off a SU loss. Moreover, Louisville is 0-6 in the second of back-to-back road games. Syracuse has been successful on account of a veteran defense that's been quite impressive, including in helping the Orange achieve back-to-back road victories over West Virginia and Cincinnati. They'll bring the heat on a Louisville offense that should be without their starting QB Froman (leg). A backup QB vs this newly revitalized 'Cuse defense in an reinvigorated Carrier Dome should be troublesome. We also like the productivity offensively as QB Ryan Nassib does a nice job as the field general guiding an offense that is productive. We'll look for 'Cuse HC Marrone to continue his mastery in leading the Orange.
|
11-03-10 |
Rutgers Scarlet Knights v. South Florida Bulls UNDER 44 |
Top |
27-28 |
Loss |
-110 |
2 h 56 m |
Show
|
Rutgers/S.Florida 7:00: South Florida has gone 1-5 O/U in their last 6 home games and we see value with the "under" here. South Florida's defense is giving up just 10.5 ppg at home and face another sluggish offensive team. The Rutgers' offense has not produced on account of a weak offensive line that has not protected their QB (Savage and Dodd) well nor opened holes for its RBs. Rutgers averages a paltry 2.9 ypc on the ground thus making it increasingly difficult to establish any kind of passing game. On the other hand, Rutgers remains solid defensively and should be able to contain B.J. Daniels and company -- that looked good on the road at Cincinnati. But defensive minded Schiano (HC Rutgers) had extra prep time to work an effective strategy to keep turnover prone Daniels from leading the Bulls on long sustainable scoring drives. We'll look for the Rutgers' defense to bend but not give up the big play. We'll take the value with the "under" here.
|
11-02-10 |
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders v. Arkansas State Red Wolves +2 |
Top |
24-51 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 36 m |
Show
|
Middle Tenn State/Ark State 7:00: The home team has covered 5 of the last 6 in this series and we're going with the home dog tonight. Ark State, which is on a 5-1 ATS roll, has a veteran team that's been in every game this season, including a cover at #2 Auburn. QB Ryan Aplin is making sound decisions running the offense. He also gives the Red Wolves the running dimension in which he has gained nearly 300 yards with 7 TDs this season. On the other hand, Dwight Dasher and Logan Kilgore, who have split duty do to ineffectiveness at the QB position, have a combined 5 TD / 11 INT margin. Defensively, the Blue Raiders have a slight edge but not meaningful enough to warrant laying points on the road in this series, especially walking into revenge. MTSU, which won 38-14 at home last season, is just 1-5 ATS vs an opponent with revenge. Moreover, they're also just 1-5 ATS as a favorite of less than 12 points off a double-digit SU win vs a sub .500 opponent. Good situation for Ark State her under veteran HC Roberts who is 31-11 ATS at ASU Stadium.
|
11-01-10 |
Houston Texans +6 v. Indianapolis Colts |
Top |
17-30 |
Loss |
-115 |
4 h 7 m |
Show
|
Houston/Indianapolis 8:30: Houston has played this series tough covering in 3 of the last 4 games, including week #1 in a 34-24 triumph at home. Indy has not played the home favorite same season revenge role well at a money burning 1-11 ATS. Tonight, we don't like a team that depends so much on the passing game yet has a depleted receiving corps. Even the great Peyton Manning needs more than a few weeks to get in rhythm with his seldom used receiving corps and 3rd team RB Hart. Houston's defense is poor at the bottom of the league; however, Mario Williams is healthy and versatile LB Cushing can make big plays. Moreover, the Texans can score! There are few weaknesses to their offensive game, which is well balanced. They're averaging nearly 31 ppg on the road and that makes them a dangerous team. Houston is 7-1 ATS as a road dog and covered 6 of their last 8 in week #8. Houston the call.
|
10-31-10 |
Minnesota Vikings v. New England Patriots -5.5 |
Top |
18-28 |
Win
|
100 |
11 h 30 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* New England (-5') for 3.5 Units ***'Minnesota/New England 4:15: We don't see the Vikings' offense producing against the improving NE defense. Favre has a weight bearing injury that will undoubtedly make it difficult to execute. His injury has surely been a distraction for the week and the limited prep time didn't help. And surely the Vikings' backup QB Jackson -- who has gotten very little reps in practice all season except this week -- isn't the answer. We'll look for Belichick to dial up another good defensive plan to keep the Vikings' offense sputtering. On the other hand, the Patriots TEs Hernandez and Gronkowski have fit into the system well offering great support to Welker and Branch, who is looking like he did the first time around in New England. The Vikings' defense is tough, but without the support of their offense, we think Vikings will fade down the stretch here. NE can close with a 6-1 mark as a home favorite of 3' to 10, and they're strong in October at 24-7-2 ATS .
|
10-30-10 |
Houston Cougars -14 v. Memphis Tigers |
Top |
56-17 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 5 m |
Show
|
Houston/Memphis 7:00: Memphis sorely lacks athletes and poorly coached in some ways. The Tigers' offense does not have a running game (2.7 ypc) and ultimately struggle in the 5 to 7 step drop pass game because of it. Consequently, we don't believe they will be able to trade points with the functional offense of the Cougars -- even with third string freshman QB Piland who showed poise at SMU last week with 233 yards passing. He should find more seams in the Tigers' secondary on a defense that has allowed a staggering 48.3 ppg over its last 3 games. There is little bite left in this Tigers' team; they're 3-9 ATS in their last 12 after allowing 40+ points previously, and 3-10 ATS off a loss of 20+ points. Houston has shown the ability to cover as a favorite of 10'+ at 6-1 ATS. And we see little advantage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium where the Tigers have lost 4 of their last 5 ATS as a big home dog.
|
10-28-10 |
Florida State v. North Carolina State +4.5 |
Top |
24-28 |
Win
|
100 |
3 h 59 m |
Show
|
Fla State/ NC State 7:45: Lot of action going on rested Fla State on account of QB Ponder, a strong run game, and strong defensive play. We'll gladly go the other way with NC State coming off a loss and, also, off a bye-week. The Wolfpack sports a 4-1 ATS mark following a SU loss, and they're 13-3 ATS following a bye-week. The Seminoles, which are just 1-4-1 ATS on Thursday games, will have to go into a fired up Carter-Finley Stadium, where the Wolfpack pounded Cincinnati earlier this season on prime time Thursday. NC State controls a significant edge in this series at 8-0-1 ATS and has the value tonight as a vengeful home dog -- keeping in mind last year's 45-42 loss in Tallahassee. And Fla State will not have RG Spurlock protecting Ponder and paving the way for Fla State's prolific run game; instead, a freshman -- Bryan Stork will have the task. We like the NC State overall defensive aggressiveness, especially their veteran linebacker corps. Offensively, we'll look for Russell Wilson to correct his mistakes in this spot and get back on his game with his talented skill player teammates. NC State the call.
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10-25-10 |
NY Giants +3.5 v. Dallas Cowboys |
Top |
41-35 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 48 m |
Show
|
Giants/Cowboys 8:30: As we've seen, the Cowboys have been killing themselves with turnovers and penalties. We know they're a dangerous team and a sleeping giant with immense talent at skill positions; however, an area they lack is on the offensive line which hasn't opened holes for the Cowboys' backs nor have they protected Romo well. Tonight, that o-line faces a solid NYG front that gets after the QB yet maintains a level of discipline vs the run. And the NYG secondary has done a good job over the last three weeks and should be up for the challenge to contest the talented Cowboys' receiving corps. The Giants, which are 4-1 ATS in this series, have established a level of consistency the last three weeks and shouldn't get complacent. Eli Manning is the best October QB in terms of wins and losses at 19-4 SU as a starter and he is on the same page now with Steve Smith and company. Moreover, the NYG run game is fueled by Bradshaw behind another solid year by the NYG offensive line. Technically, the Giants are 7-0 ATS on the road off back-to-back SU wins vs a division opponent off a SU loss. The Cowboys, which have lost 4 of their last 5 ATS on MNF are a desperate team to turn around their season and we believe that desperation will be the reason for their loss again tonight.
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10-24-10 |
Buffalo Bills v. Baltimore Ravens -12.5 |
Top |
34-37 |
Loss |
-110 |
2 h 14 m |
Show
|
|
10-23-10 |
North Carolina Tar Heels +6.5 v. Miami Florida Hurricanes |
Top |
10-33 |
Loss |
-110 |
15 h 11 m |
Show
|
|
10-17-10 |
Dallas Cowboys +2 v. Minnesota Vikings |
Top |
21-24 |
Loss |
-110 |
4 h 20 m |
Show
|
Dallas/Minnesota 4:15: Cowboys should do well in this spot after falling to Tennessee. Dallas is a healthy 12-3 ATS after allowing more than 30 points in previous game. Dallas has a revenge incentive to add to salvaging their season; after all, the 1-3 Cowpokes remember getting throttled in the NFC Semi-Finals (34-3) last year. Today, they should come out firing. Minnesota's Favre is dealing with tendonitis, which is a lingering injury that should keep him from physically doing what he mentally wants to do. The Vikings are 1-4 ATS as a small favorite and just 2-5 ATS in October. We'll look for the Cowboys to snap out of their funk here.
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10-16-10 |
Texas-El Paso Miners v. Alabama-Birmingham Blazers -2.5 |
Top |
6-21 |
Win
|
100 |
12 h 59 m |
Show
|
UTEP/UAB 4:00: UTEP has an inflated 5-1 mark on account of playing four Division 1A cream puffs with a combined 3 21 record and a Div 1AA lightweight -- Ark Pine Bluff. They were thoroughly beaten at Houston and UAB offers them a stiff challenge here. UAB, which is coming off a blowout loss at Central Florida last Wednesday, should deliver in this spot; after all, the Blazers have demonstrated resilience with marks of 5-0 ATS with rest off a double-digit SU loss, 4-1 ATS after allowing 40+ points, and 8-2-1 ATS after scoring less than 20 points. Blazers' QB Bryan Ellis has shown promise and should flourish vs a much weaker defense than he's faced over the last 4 weeks. The Miners are just 2-5 ATS on the road and 1-6 ATS following an ATS win. We'll roll with Alabama Birmingham.
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10-14-10 |
South Florida Bulls +10.5 v. West Virginia Mountaineers |
Top |
6-20 |
Loss |
-110 |
3 h 39 m |
Show
|
|
10-13-10 |
Central Florida -4 v. Marshall |
Top |
35-14 |
Win
|
100 |
3 h 19 m |
Show
|
CF/Marshall 8:00: At first glance, we lean towards Marshall on account of their strong home field and demonstrated ability to cover as a home dog throughout three different coaching staffs, including 1-0 ATS in that role under Holliday this season vs West Virginia. However, that was only the second game of the season and WV had little time to diagnose the 'Herds' schemes and personnel. CF, on the other hand, had adequate time to scout and prep their division counterpart and should deliver. CF has covered 9 of their last 10 on the road and sport a 4-0 ATS mark in their last 4 visits to Huntington. The 'Knights' defense is what distinguishes the strength of them over Marshall. CF ranks 8th nationally in points allowed (14 per game). Marshall doesn't pose a meaningful threat on the ground at just 101 yards per game and 3.8 ypc. Furthermore, the 'Herds' QB Anderson is not that mobile. Marshall does have a vertical threat but CF has a fierce pass rush and a fast and well disciplined secondary to limit big plays. On the other hand, CF has a strong run game and QB Godfrey is a duel threat on the ground and through the air. Marshall is a mere 1-3-1 ATS following a bye week, 1-4 ATS off a SU loss of 20+, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 conference games. The road team has taken 6 of the last 8 in this series and we'll jump on CF.
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10-11-10 |
Minnesota Vikings v. New York Jets OVER 38 |
Top |
20-29 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 14 m |
Show
|
Vikings/Jets 8:30: With the newly added weapons to each club, we find value with the "over". Santonio Holmes will surely add a vertical dimension to the Jets' passing game. QB Sanchez has made good decisions thus far (8 TD / 0 INT) and should be able to distribute the ball effectively with his many weapons. On the other hand, Randy Moss gives Favre his vertical big-play weapon he sorely missed after Sidney Rice was lost. The Vikings are 4-0 O/U on MNF and 10-1 O/U in week #5. Minnesota has yet to break out -- offensively -- and it should come here despite the strength in the NY defense. The Jets are 5-2 O/U on MNF and 5-2 O/U off a SU win. NY is also 5-1 O/U after allowing less than 15 ppg in their last game. "Over" it is.
|
10-10-10 |
St. Louis Rams +3 v. Detroit Lions |
Top |
6-44 |
Loss |
-105 |
1 h 13 m |
Show
|
|
10-09-10 |
East Carolina Pirates v. So Mississippi Golden Eagles -8 |
Top |
44-43 |
Loss |
-110 |
7 h 29 m |
Show
|
*Best Bet* Southern Miss (-8) for 4 Units **** East Carolina/Southern Miss 7:30: Defensive superiority should be the determining factor in this game. The Eagles' veteran defensive unit, which allows just 18 ppg. should shut down the EC offense, which is in its first year in a new system, that snuck up on its opponents the first few games. However, the well disciplined Golden Eagles' defense, ranked 16th nationally, has had plenty of film to watch and will be well prepared here. On the other hand, we don't believe the Pirates' pathetic defense, which allows a generous 42 ppg, will fold on the road at this strong venue. The 'Eagles are 4-1 ATS as a home favorite in this spread range. The Pirates have not covered in 4 of their last 5 road dog attempts. And throw in the revenge factor -- as EC eliminated SM in the Conference USA Championship last year and the 'Eagles still have a bad taste in their mouth from that. SM should roll.
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10-08-10 |
Connecticut Huskies v. Rutgers Scarlet Knights UNDER 44 |
Top |
24-27 |
Loss |
-105 |
3 h 41 m |
Show
|
U Conn/Rutgers 7:30: The Rutgers' offense should take a conservative style approach with true freshman Dodd at the helm. And the offensive line of Rutgers has not helped injured QB Savage gain confidence. Therefore, we should see RB Sanu carry a good share of the load in a ball controlled offense and utilizing their solid TE in the process. On the other hand, U Conn shouldn't run rampant over the Rutgers' defense, which remains the strength of the team. Rutgers is 3-7 O/U at home, 2-9 O/U after allowing less than 20 ppg, and 3-11 O/U after allowing less than 100 rushing yards in previous game. U Conn won't be as potent on the road as at home and should see limited time in the end zone. U Conn is 1-5 O/U on Fridays. "Under" the call.
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10-07-10 |
Nebraska v. Kansas State OVER 48 |
Top |
48-13 |
Win
|
100 |
3 h 25 m |
Show
|
Nebraska/K State 7:45: We see a few points of value here for an "over". Nebraska's offense is potent this year with plenty of speed at the skill positions, including QB Taylor Martinez who is a major threat in their spread option attack. They'll be attacking the K State' run-stop-unit which has given up nearly 200 ypg thus far. And despite the extra time to prepare, the K-State' scout offense is unable to simulate the Nebraska offensive speed and rhythm that is exhibited in the game; consequently, the K-State' defense, which has been shoddy vs less productive offensive opponents this season should allow Nebraska to frequent the end zone. As for the extra prep time, both of these teams are a combined 8-1 O/U with extra rest. We do realize Nebraska has a rock solid defense but not impenetrable. K-State has a seasoned offensive line, a pretty good decision making QB in Coffman, and a major NFL prospect RB in Daniel Thomas. We'll look for them to mount scoring drives vs a Nebraska defense that is thin at LB with Compton (foot) and Fisher (leg) out. K-State is 6-2 O/U as a home dog and 6-1 O/U in their last 7 conference tilts. This series has gone 10-2 O/U in its last 12 meetings. "Over" the call.
|
10-04-10 |
New England Patriots v. Miami Dolphins OVER 44 |
Top |
41-14 |
Win
|
100 |
4 h 38 m |
Show
|
Patriots/Dolphins 8:30: We project a significant amount of offense tonight based on the matchups involved. The Patriots' offense is in a nice rhythm and Miami's secondary is young and prone to mistakes --as exhibited last week vs New York. The Patriots should go after Miami's most vulnerable corner -- Jason Allen, who has struggled in pass coverage this season. And with the addition of TE Aaron Hernandez, a revitalized Wes Welker, and speedy Edelman, Brady has plenty of weapons to rely on if Miami's best corner --Vontae Davis does a nice job on Moss. And when NE gets their offense rolling, they're hard to stop. They're 4-1 O/U in their last 5 games after accumulating 350+ in previous game. On the other hand, the Patirots' defense may be under the guidance of Belichick, but the youth of the talent is not yet ready to grasp his complex schemes. Belichick no longer has that veteran on-field leadership of yesteryear with Rodney Harrison or Tedy Bruschi. As a result, miscommunication and mistakes have yielded 27 ppg this season. Miami's offense is well diversified with their version of the wildcat and quality skill players, including Brandon Marshall, to wreak havoc. Miami is 7-1-1 O/U at home, 12-5-1 O/U off a SU loss, and 5-1 O/U in October. "Over" the call.
|
10-03-10 |
Houston Texans -3 v. Oakland Raiders |
Top |
31-24 |
Win
|
100 |
13 h 34 m |
Show
|
|
10-02-10 |
Marshall v. Southern Mississippi -9.5 |
Top |
16-41 |
Win
|
100 |
8 h 27 m |
Show
|
|
09-26-10 |
San Diego Chargers v. Seattle Seahawks +5.5 |
Top |
20-27 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 55 m |
Show
|
San Diego/Seattle 4:15: Seattle won't be an easy out for teams at Qwest Field. Seattle is 6-1-1 ATS as a home dog and 12-2 ATS at home vs non-conference opponents. Carroll has the run stop unit playing well and San Diego is struggling to find a featured RB. Ryan Mathews is running on a tender ankle and little used Tolbert is likely to get playing time. Without an effective run game, the Chargers should fall victim to the aggressive defensive schemes Carroll will employ. On the other hand, Seattle should get their offense on-track back at home with veteran signal caller - Hasselbeck. Technically, the Chargers are just 2-6 ATS as a road favorite and 1-6 ATS off a game allowing less than 15 points. We'll take the home cooking here.
|
09-19-10 |
Houston Texans v. Washington Redskins +3 |
Top |
30-27 |
Push |
0 |
5 h 19 m |
Show
|
Texans/Redskins 4:15: Not ready to jump on the Texans bandwagon yet. We believe last week's overblown result is the deterioration of a Colts' program, especially defensively, than the superiority of a Houston program. Houston has struggled on the road off a SU home dog win at 0-9 ATS; therefore, laying points at a noisy stadium against a re-energized program doesn't sit well with us. Last week, Washington's defense was solid for most of the game and won't let an undrafted free agent RB run all over them. And McNabb should find his groove here after a sluggish outing. We'll look for the Redskins' run game behind Portis and Johnson to open up the pass for the 'Skins. Washington is 5-1 ATS as a non-division home dog. And remember this, the Texans are a money burning 2-10 ATS as a small favorite in September and just 2-7 ATS vs a non division opponent in September. Washington the call.
|
09-18-10 |
Fresno State Bulldogs v. Utah State Aggies +3.5 |
Top |
41-24 |
Loss |
-110 |
15 h 9 m |
Show
|
Fresno State/Utah State 8:00: The Aggies should no longer be the doormat of the WAC. They made strides last year under 1st year HC Andersen and have looked good this year, including against Big 12 power Oklahoma. QB Diondre Borel is the real deal and he has an experienced offensive line and good skill players supporting him . Defensively, they're a veteran group that is showing improvement. Fresno State, whom we picked on the 4th in a big win over Cincinnati, had extended rest and could be sluggish here; after all, they're 2-8 ATS as a favorite of more than 2 points with rest. Utah State has played Fresno tough with 5 straight covers, including an outright win in 2006. We're jumping on the Aggies here.
|
09-17-10 |
California v. Nevada OVER 65 |
Top |
31-52 |
Win
|
100 |
5 h 56 m |
Show
|
California/Nevada 10:00: Both of these offenses are explosive and the jury is not out on the defenses. Yes, California's defense has scored more TDs than they allowed but UC Davis and Colorado do not nearly exhibit the offensive strength that Nevada does. The Wolf Pack offense is a veteran unit that is at full strength early, unlike last season. Nevada's versatile QB Kaepernick runs Ault's Pistol offense to perfection and California's defense will thoroughly be tested after ravaging two lightweight offensive teams. On the other hand, the Golden Bears' offense is also a veteran unit running a pro style offense with a handful of play-makers. And QB Riley makes very good decisions and has an accurate arm (7 TDs / 0 INTs). Nevada's defense under 1st year DC Buh will be in for a long night. California is 19-7 O/U after allowing less than 20 points in previous game. Nevada is 5-1 O/U after allowing less than 20 points in previous game. We'll look for the scoreboard to light up tonight.
|
09-12-10 |
Miami Dolphins -3 v. Buffalo Bills |
Top |
15-10 |
Win
|
100 |
2 h 46 m |
Show
|
|