Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01-07-20 | Kings +6.5 v. Suns | 114-103 | Win | 100 | 12 h 54 m | Show | |
My selection is on Sacramento plus the points over Phoenix at 9:05 pm et on Tuesday. I'll grab all the points I can get with the underdog Kings as they travel to face the Suns on Tuesday night. We suffered what could only be considered a bad beat fading the Suns on this floor last week against the Knicks but I won't hesitate to go back to the well here, noting that Phoenix has gone just 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games as a favorite. Kings are off a 2-2 homestand and need to build here before returning home for tough matchups with Milwaukee, Orlando and Dallas. Take Sacramento (10*). | |||||||
01-07-20 | Miami-FL +13.5 v. Louisville | Top | 58-74 | Loss | -105 | 10 h 17 m | Show |
CBB ACC Game of the Month. My selection is on Miami plus the points over Louisville at 7 pm et on Tuesday. It's going to be very easy for Miami to get up for this matchup against the Cardinals in Louisville. Keep in mind, these two teams already met in their season opener this season with Louisville rolling to a 13-point victory. The Cardinals aren't exactly in top form right now, having dropped three of their last five games, albeit against tough opposition. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are fresh off a blowout loss at home against Duke following a perfect 5-0 December. We faded the Canes in a road date with Clemson last week and paid the price as Miami showed plenty of resolve in a come-from-behind victory. Here, I believe the price is right to back Miami in what should be a competitive affair. Take Miami (10*). | |||||||
01-06-20 | Miami-OH v. UL-Lafayette UNDER 55.5 | 17-27 | Win | 100 | 11 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Miami-Ohio and Louisiana-Lafayette at 7:30 pm et on Monday. I'll back the 'under' on Monday night as the Redhawks and Ragin' Cajuns meet at the tail-end of Bowl season. Both teams will obviously be well-rested and well-prepared for this one having been idle for over a month. Miami-Ohio does not have an explosive offense by any means and will be best suited to turn this into a slugfest. That may be easier said than done as the Ragin' Cajuns do possess a high-octane offense. With that being said, we've seen the Redhawks rise to the occasion a number of times this season and I'm confident they can do so again here. Louisiana-Lafayette thrived against a number of punchless defenses in the Sun Belt over the course of the season but should find the sledding a little tougher here. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
01-05-20 | Seahawks v. Eagles +1 | Top | 17-9 | Loss | -110 | 19 h 21 m | Show |
NFL Wild Card Game of the Year. My selection is on Philadelphia plus the points over Seattle at 4:40 pm et on Sunday. The Seahawks are clearly in desperation mode having signed RBs Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin prior to last week's narrow loss to the 49ers. While QB Russell Wilson always instills some level of confidence, the rest of the team does not. Seattle is banged-up on both sides of the football and now has to travel across the country to face an Eagles squad that has been surging despite all of their own injuries. Philadelphia's 'next man up' philosophy is nothing new. You of course will remember QB Nick Foles taking over for Carson Wentz and leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory just two years ago. We've seen guys like Boston Scott, Dallas Goedert and Greg Ward step up in a big way in recent weeks, and we should see more of the same here. The Eagles depleted secondary is certainly a concern but I'm not convinced the Seahawks offense can take advantage as Philadelphia's pass rush remains a strength and should have Wilson under duress all afternoon long. They'll be hard-pressed to advance beyond next weekend but I do look for the Eagles to secure a hard-fought victory here. Take Philadelphia (10*). | |||||||
01-05-20 | Vikings v. Saints OVER 49.5 | Top | 26-20 | Loss | -104 | 16 h 8 m | Show |
NFL Wild Card Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and New Orleans at 1:05 pm et on Sunday. This is a shootout waiting to happen as far as I'm concerned and I fully expected to see the total set well into the 50's so we're getting value playing 'over' the current number. The Vikings will likely be in comeback mode for much of the afternoon on Sunday but that should serve their offense well, with QB Kirk Cousins comfortable slinging it around in a dome setting and WRs Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen set to take advantage of a beatable Saints pass defense. While New Orleans has held up well against the run this season, it will undoubtedly have its hands full with a now-healthy Dalvin Cook, who should be a workhorse for the Vikes on Sunday. I don't think Minnesota has much hope of slowing the Saints surging offense, which didn't take its foot off the gas one bit in Week 17. That performance should serve New Orleans well as it rolls into this eruption spot against the Vikings. RB Alvin Kamara re-emerged as a threat both on the ground and in the passing game down the stretch and he should see plenty of usage in this matchup as well. The Vikes don't have anyone that can cover WR Michael Thomas, who is well-positioned to turn in the best performance of any receiver on Wild Card Weekend. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
01-05-20 | Vikings +8 v. Saints | 26-20 | Win | 100 | 16 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on Minnesota plus the points over New Orleans at 1:05 pm et on Sunday. No one is giving the Vikings much of a chance in this game but I actually expect a competitive affair. I'm confident Minnesota can move the football on this inconsistent Saints defense with its full compliment of offensive pieces rested and ready to go following what amounted to a bye in Week 17 with its playoff positioning already decided. On the flip side, I don't see this as an ideal situation for Saints QB Drew Brees - an early start afternoon matchup at the Superdome. I've never been all that high on Vikes QB Kirk Cousins but the stats don't like and he has always performed better in a dome setting, as is the case here. I'm not convinced the Saints will ever pull away in this contest, so I'll grab all the points I can get with the Vikings. Take Minnesota (10*). | |||||||
01-04-20 | Titans v. Patriots UNDER 44.5 | 20-13 | Win | 100 | 22 h 10 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Tennessee and New England at 8:15 pm et on Saturday. This projects to be a low-scoring affair between the Titans and Patriots in Foxborough on Saturday night. We've actually won some money playing the 'over' in games involving the Titans this season but Mike Vrabel's squad is in a tough spot here. We know that Bill Bellichick will do everything he can to take away the Titans best offensive weapon, that being RB Derrick Henry. Of course, Tennessee also has emerging superstar WR A.J. Brown, but he should be handled by Pats CB Stephon Gilmore. Of course, New England's offense has seemingly gotten worse as the season has gone on. QB Tom Brady's elbow obviously isn't right, nor is WR Julian Edelman operating at 100%. I do think we'll see the Pats ground game and short passing game find some success in this matchup, but that should only lead to long, clock-churning scoring drives, helping our cause with the 'under'. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
01-04-20 | Bills +3 v. Texans | 19-22 | Push | 0 | 19 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Buffalo plus the points over Houston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. I'm not too sure the Texans even belong in the playoffs, let alone hosting a game on Wild Card Weekend. DeShaun Watson essentially willed them to just enough wins this season to secure the division title in the AFC South. But we know the Texans have struggled in the playoffs before, and I expect a similar story to unfold here. The Bills bandwagon was all loaded up until they suffered a loss in front of a national audience two weeks ago. We actually won with the Patriots in that contest. Here, Buffalo finds itself in a far more favorable matchup. I don't think the Bills will have much trouble moving the football against a very beatable Texans defense - even as Houston welcomes DE J.J. Watt back to the fold. The Texans have struggled against the pass and struggled against the run this season, and the Bills can take advantage of both weaknesses with QB Josh Allen in line for a big performance. The real kicker here is that I expect to see Sean McDermott coach circles around Bill O'Brien. I'm not sure that advantage is being properly reflected in this pointspread. Take Buffalo (10*). | |||||||
01-04-20 | Bills v. Texans UNDER 44 | 19-22 | Win | 100 | 18 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Buffalo and Houston at 4:35 pm et on Saturday. I'll take a shot with the 'under' in the first of four NFL Wild Card matchups. I don't think anything is going to come easy for Texans QB DeShaun Watson in this game. The Bills defense has been vulnerable against the run at times, but I don't believe the Texans boast a strong enough ground game to really open up the offense here. The blueprint has already been laid out for slowing Watson - even the Bucs were able to keep him in check in a key late season matchup. On the flip side, the Bills offense doesn't have a particularly high ceiling. Even in games where Josh Allen has erupted, the Bills haven't always put up a boatload of points. I actually feel that both of these teams have a fairly low ceiling as far as point production goes in this contest, which obviously sets us up well with the 'under' as this total has crept up as the week has progressed. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
01-03-20 | Knicks +6.5 v. Suns | 112-120 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York plus the points over Phoenix at 9:05 pm et on Friday. The Knicks are doing a couple of things really well right now, they're playing tough defense (fifth in the league in defensive rating last five games) and they're pushing the pace at every opportunity (sixth in pace rating L5). That sets them up well as they head to Phoenix to take on the struggling Suns. New York has actually split its last four matchups here in the desert. It's not as if Phoenix holds any sort of home court advantage, having won just seven times in 16 tries on this floor this season. Take New York (10*). | |||||||
01-03-20 | St. Peter's v. Iona -7.5 | 75-74 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 46 m | Show | |
My selection is on Iona minus the points over St. Peter's at 7 pm et on Friday. I think there is more of a gap between these two MAAC squads than is being reflected in the pointspread. St. Peter's is off to a 3-6 start with its only wins coming against the likes of St. Francis-NY, Fairleigh Dickinson and LIU-Brooklyn. None of those opponents own winning records. Of course, neither does Friday's opponent, Iona, but I do think the Gaels have plenty of upside. Iona hasn't played a home game since the third week of November, going 1-3 over its last four road tilts that included tough stops at UConn, Princeton and Colorado. The Gaels have quite simply faced a brutal schedule to this point this season and will welcome the opportunity to get right in this conference matchup with the Peacocks. Take Iona (10*). | |||||||
01-02-20 | South Alabama v. UL - Lafayette +3 | Top | 60-57 | Push | 0 | 11 h 48 m | Show |
CBB Sun Belt Game of the Month. My selection is on Louisiana-Lafayette plus the points over South Alabama at 8 pm et on Thursday. I love the way this one sets up for the Ragin' Cajuns as a home underdog in-conference. Louisiana-Lafayette has lost five games in a row heading into this one but that shouldn't come as a big surprise as all of those losses were against superior competition and only one result was a true blowout (against Louisiana Tech in Ruston). This is an excellent opportunity for the Ragin' Cajuns to get going with this Sun Belt matchup followed by a date with Troy on Saturday (both on their home floor). South Alabama is fresh off a blowout win, but that came against unheralded Mobile. The Jaguars are a middle of the pack team that I don't believe warrant being favored on the road in this one. Take Louisiana-Lafayette (10*). | |||||||
01-02-20 | Hornets v. Cavs -2 | 109-106 | Loss | -104 | 11 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on Cleveland minus the points over Charlotte at 7:05 pm et on Thursday. The Hornets are really struggling right now and after cashing a fade of them two nights ago, I won't hesitate to go back to the well against them on Thursday. Charlotte checks in a miserable 27th in the league in both offensive and defensive rating over its last five games, not to mention the fact that it sits dead last in pace rating over that same stretch. Meanwhile, the Cavs have shown some signs of life, sitting around the middle of the pack in defensive rating and an impressive top-four (tied with the Bucks) in pace rating over their last five contests. Offensively, they're not going to blow the doors off of anyone but I do see this as a favorable matchup on their home floor. Take Cleveland (10*). | |||||||
01-02-20 | Towson +6.5 v. College of Charleston | 69-81 | Loss | -108 | 10 h 2 m | Show | |
My selection is on Towson plus the points over Charleston at 7 pm et on Thursday. I like the value being offered with Towson here as it enters this game battle-tested and eager to bounce back off a tough home loss to Hofstra last time out. Meanwhile, Charleston rolls in off a season-high three straight wins and is certainly positioned for a letdown against a losing Tigers squad. Towson has faced a tough schedule to this point and has generally played competitive basketball. There's not a lot separating these two squads at all but we're being given a generous cushion with the Tigers due to the setting. Take Towson (10*). | |||||||
01-02-20 | St. Joe's v. Richmond -12.5 | 52-84 | Win | 100 | 10 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on Richmond minus the points over St. Joseph's at 7 pm et on Thursday. This is a blowout waiting to happen as Richmond looks to bounce back from rare consecutive losses against struggling St. Joseph's. The Spiders mini-skid started with a shocking home loss to Radford before falling on the road against Alabama on December 29th. This is a terrific 'get right' spot for Richmond as it hosts 3-9 St. Joe's, which has had a miserable time when stepping up in class early this season. Meanwhile, the Spiders have certainly proven their ability to take care of business with a number of lopsided home wins to their credit. Take Richmond (10*). | |||||||
01-02-20 | Boston College v. Cincinnati UNDER 55.5 | 6-38 | Win | 100 | 18 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Boston College and Cincinnati at 3 pm et on Thursday. I absolutely love the way this one sets up as a lower-scoring game than expected on Thursday afternoon. Boston College will be without elite NFL-ready RB A.J. Dillon in this one, severely hampering its offensive attack. Defensively, we saw the Eagles stiffen up down the stretch. Over their final three games they didn't allow a touchdown until the final five minutes of the first half against Florida State, held Notre Dame out of the end zone until the final three minutes of the first half, and didn't allow a Pitt touchdown until the third quarter. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder has impressed over the course of his Bearcat career but didn't enjoy a banner season in 2019, particularly down the stretch. Whether due to injury or otherwise, Ridder threw multiple touchdown passes just once in his last six games. He also threw for more than 200 yards only once over that stretch. While I do respect the Cincinnati offense, I don't expect to see it go off in this matchup. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
01-01-20 | Suns v. Lakers OVER 226.5 | 107-117 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 59 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Phoenix and Los Angeles at 10:35 pm et on Wednesday. I'll back the 'over' at Staples Center on Wednesday night as both the Suns and Lakers seek their third straight victories. Note that Phoenix checks in sixth in offensive rating over its last five games. The Lakers on the other hand, do sit in the top half of the league in that category (14th) over the same stretch. In terms of defensive rating, the Suns rank a miserable 28th over their last five contests while the Lakers haven't been much better, sitting 22nd. Both teams have been middle of the pack in terms of pushing the pace lately, but that doesn't concern me all that much as I think both can be drawn into an up-and-down affair here. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
01-01-20 | Baylor +5 v. Georgia | 14-26 | Loss | -109 | 24 h 26 m | Show | |
My selection is on Baylor plus the points over Georgia at 8:45 pm et on Wednesday. Baylor has suffered just two losses this season, both coming at the hands of Oklahoma by a combined 10 points. While Georgia certainly has championship pedigree and gets the edge almost by default coming out of the mighty SEC, I believe the Bulldogs will be in for a fight here. Of course, Georgia comes into this game seriously undermanned with a number of key cogs dealing with injuries. Even if the Bulldogs did have all hands on deck I suspect they would have a tough time against the Baylor defense. Georgia QB Jake Fromm didn't look like himself all season, struggling in key situations time after time. Baylor on the other hand seemed to answer the bell at all the key moments and all indications are that they'll have QB Charlie Brewer back after he suffered a concussion in the Big 12 Championship Game. Take Baylor (10*). | |||||||
01-01-20 | Connecticut +2.5 v. Cincinnati | 51-67 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on Connecticut plus the points over Cincinnati at 7 pm et on Wednesday. I'll grab the points with the Huskies as they hit the road to face Cincinnati on Wednesday. Connecticut has reeled off three straight wins since it suffered a narrow three-point loss to Indiana back on December 10th. There's no question the Huskies have had this matchup circled since suffering that most recent loss, noting their last three victories all came at the hands of very beatable opponents. Cincinnati will certainly be up for this one as well as it is fresh off a seven-point setback on the road against Iowa. The Bearcats have actually dropped three of their last four games, cooling off considerably following a hot start to the season. I feel the underdog is the way to go in this showdown. Take Connecticut (10*). | |||||||
01-01-20 | Fresno State +13 v. San Diego State | 52-61 | Win | 100 | 7 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on Fresno State plus the points over San Diego State at 3 pm et on Wednesday. This line makes sense if you're only looking at these two teams' overall records as Fresno State has won just four times in 13 games while San Diego State checks in a perfect 13-0 on the campaign. But a deeper look shows that the Bulldogs have faced a tough schedule to this point, and have generally played competitive basketball. Note that in San Diego State's most recent game it rolled by 16 points but that was against lowly Cal Poly, which has gone 2-11 this season. I see this as a bit of a flat spot for the Aztecs as they get ready to square off with a top-flight Utah State squad on Saturday. Take Fresno State (10*). | |||||||
01-01-20 | Minnesota v. Auburn OVER 53 | Top | 31-24 | Win | 100 | 17 h 52 m | Show |
CFB Bowl Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Minnesota and Auburn at 1 pm et on Wednesday. This game has shootout potential as the upstart Golden Gophers challenge SEC stalwarts Auburn in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Minnesota actually put up some solid defensive numbers during the regular season but was certainly buoyed by a schedule that boasted few offensive juggernauts. There is plenty of reason to be confident in the Golden Gophers offense, however. QB Tanner Morgan threw for at least one touchdown pass in all 12 games this season. While RB Rodney Smith cooled off down the stretch, there's no question the Gophers backfield is capable of busting out here. Auburn took on all comers during the regular season, culminating with a 48-45 win over Alabama on November 30th. QB Bo Nix had his ups and downs and didn't throw multiple touchdown passes in any of his last five games. I do think he can take advantage of a middle of the road Minnesota defense here, however. I've been high on Tigers RB JaTarvious Whitlow all season. He wasn't given a heavy workload but showed flashes of brilliance, most recently running for 114 yards on 16 carries against Alabama. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-31-19 | Texas v. Utah OVER 54 | 38-10 | Loss | -110 | 23 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Texas and Utah at 7:30 pm et on Tuesday. I'm anticipating a back-and-forth shootout between the Longhorns and Utes in the Alamo Bowl on Tuesday night. Even though Texas stumbled down the stretch, losing two of its last three games, QB Sam Ehlinger kept rolling along, throwing for over 800 yards and five touchdowns over that stretch. His exploits should be on full display once again here, even against a stellar Utah defense. The Utes won't back down from a shootout. They got caught flat-footed in the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon (we won with the Ducks in that game) but should be well prepared and well-suited to go toe-to-toe with the Longhorns. QB Tyler Huntley had just two games where he didn't throw a touchdown pass this season. RB Zack Moss had only four games where he didn't run for over 100 yards and scored at least one touchdown in 10 of 12 games he appeared in. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-31-19 | Nuggets v. Rockets OVER 220 | Top | 104-130 | Win | 100 | 10 h 18 m | Show |
NBA Western Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Denver and Houston at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday. This has the makings of a track meet as the Nuggets visit the Rockets on New Year's Eve. Denver ranks tops in the league in offensive rating over its last five games while Houston not surprisingly has impressed in that regard as well, sitting in seventh. Meanwhile, the Rockets are just 20th in defensive rating while the Nuggets have fallen off in that department as well, sitting 19th over the same time frame. We'll see a contrast in styles here with the Rockets always looking to push the pace, and currently ranking ninth in the league in pace rating over their last five contests while the Nuggets sit 25th. I'm anticipating a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair on Tuesday. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-31-19 | Miami-FL v. Clemson -2.5 | 73-68 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 20 m | Show | |
My selection is on Clemson minus the points over Miami at 4 pm et on Tuesday. Miami comes into this matchup sporting the better overall record but I expect Clemson to rise to the occasion on its home floor on New Year's Eve. Miami hasn't lost a game in December, going a perfect 4-0. I see this as a bit of a flat spot for the Canes as they take the floor for the first time since December 21st and ahead of a big showdown at home against Duke on Saturday. Clemson has really cooled off following a strong start, dropping five of its last six games overall. It has faced a tough schedule over the last month, however, and even in its most recent loss - a 54-45 setback against Yale - there was no real cause for alarm as the Bulldogs are a solid Ivy League team that has gone 10-4 so far this season. This is a strong motivational spot for the Tigers in this ACC affair. Take Clemson (10*). | |||||||
12-31-19 | Kansas State +3 v. Navy | 17-20 | Push | 0 | 8 h 31 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kansas State plus the points over Navy at 3:45 pm et on Tuesday. When we last saw Navy play it faced little resistance in a 31-7 rout of Army (we won with the under in that game). I expect a different story to unfold this time around, however. I'm confident that the Wildcats defense can keep the Midshipmen offense in check in this one, at least to some extent. On the flip side, while I'm not all that high on Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson, I do feel the Wildcats are a well-coached team and that the extra preparation time should result in a fine performance from their well-balanced offensive attack against a very beatable Navy defense. I'll grab all the points I can get with Kansas State here. Take Kansas State (10*). | |||||||
12-31-19 | Celtics -6.5 v. Hornets | 109-92 | Win | 100 | 7 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on Boston minus the points over Charlotte at 3:05 pm et on Tuesday. This is a blowout waiting to happen as the Celtics roll into Charlotte to face the struggling Hornets. Boston ranks fourth in offensive rating and seventh in defensive rating over its last five games while Charlotte checks in 25th in both categories over the same stretch. While the Celtics haven't been pushing the pace all that much, sitting 20th in pace rating over their last five, the Hornets pull up the league's rear in that category over the same time frame. Unless the C's absolutely overlook the Hornets on New Year's Eve, this should be a rout. Take Boston (10*). | |||||||
12-31-19 | Northern Iowa v. Illinois State +5.5 | 70-76 | Win | 100 | 5 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Illinois State plus the points over Northern Iowa at 3 pm et on Tuesday. Illinois State is off to a less than impressive 5-7 start this season while Northern Iowa checks in a near-flawless 11-1. With that being said, the Redbirds have faced a sneaky-tough schedule to this point and have a good opportunity for a fresh start here as they open Missouri Valley Conference play against the Panthers. Northern Iowa hasn't lost a game since November but it will be playing for just the third time since December 12th this afternoon at Redbird Arena. I'm anticipating a battle in this one and not convinced we'll see the Panthers win by margin. Take Illinois State (10*). | |||||||
12-31-19 | Kentucky +2.5 v. Virginia Tech | 37-30 | Win | 100 | 15 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on Kentucky plus the points over Virginia Tech at 12 noon et on Tuesday. There's not a lot separating these two teams although they ended their respective regular seasons on much different notes. Kentucky closed with three consecutive wins, culminating with a 45-13 rout of in-state rival Louisville which looks better than it did back in November after the Cardinals got past Mississippi State yesterday (we won with Louisville in that game). Virginia Tech suffered a 39-30 loss against rival Virginia in its regular season finale. I don't have a great deal of confidence in the Hokies offense led by QB Hendon Hooker. On the flip side, the Wildcats offense really got rolling down the stretch with the emergence of dual-threat Lynn Bowden Jr. This is simply a case of Kentucky boasting more upside here in late December. Take Kentucky (10*). | |||||||
12-30-19 | Illinois v. California UNDER 44 | 20-35 | Loss | -109 | 20 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Illinois and California at 4 pm et on Monday. This is a defensive struggle waiting to happen as the Illini face the Golden Bears on Monday afternoon. While we are dealing with a relatively low total, it's warranted in my opinion. These two teams are essentially mirror images of one another with Cal owning the stronger defense statistically. Offensively, both teams were inconsistent over the course of the regular season. While Cal closed things out on a high note, Illinois managed to score just 20 points combined in its final two regular season contests. I'm not convinced we'll see either team open things up on Monday afternoon, knowing that this is a 'first to 20 wins' type of affair. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-30-19 | Mississippi State v. Louisville +5.5 | 28-38 | Win | 100 | 19 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on Louisville plus the points over Mississippi State at 4 pm et on Monday. I'll grab all the points I can get with the Cardinals in this game which really amounts to a toss-up as far as I'm concerned. Mississippi State certainly doesn't boast an overly impressive resume but its SEC pedigree plays a factor in it being favored by more than a field goal here. The Bulldogs got here thanks to winning three of their final four regular season games but come into this one banged up with a number of key injuries. Meanwhile, Louisville came up empty in an ugly 45-13 rout at the hands of Kentucky in its regular season finale but that doesn't change the fact that it was a fine 2019 campaign with the Cardinals winning seven of 12 games overall. While their defense leaves a lot to be desired, their offense has been electric at times and I certainly feel they'll come up big on that side of the football in this game. The Bulldogs are laying too many points. Take Louisville (10*). | |||||||
12-30-19 | Western Michigan +3.5 v. Western Kentucky | Top | 20-23 | Win | 100 | 16 h 7 m | Show |
CFB Bowl Game of the Year. My selection is on Western Michigan plus the points over Western Kentucky at 12:30 pm et on Monday. I've actually been fairly high on the Sun Belt Conference all season but I don't like the way this game sets up for Western Kentucky - a team that has struggled to score points at the best of times this season. The Hilltoppers do draw a favorable matchup against a weak Western Michigan defense but can they take advantage? I'm not so sure. Western Michigan toughened up when it had to down the stretch and a narrow 17-14 loss to Northern Illinois served as its only loss over its final four regular season contests. Broncos QB Jon Wassink didn't perform particularly well down the stretch save for a 322-yard three-touchdown performance against Ohio on November 12th, but his overall numbers were solid and he is certainly capable of keeping this offense on schedule against WKU on Monday. RB LeVante Bellamy is the real story for the Broncos as he gained just shy of 1,500 yards on the ground while finding the end zone on 23 occasions during the regular season. Simply put, I don't believe the Broncos will ever be out of this game with their outstanding offense. Take Western Michigan (10*). | |||||||
12-29-19 | Bears -3 v. Vikings | 21-19 | Loss | -125 | 16 h 38 m | Show | |
My selection is on Chicago minus the points over Minnesota at 1 pm et on Sunday. This is an absolute 'lay down' spot for the Vikings playing on a short week with nothing to gain in the playoff picture. The Bears are expected to play their regular starters and should have plenty of motivation with a number of players looking to show up and show out to secure future jobs at the end of a miserable, disappointing campaign. Week 17 can be an extremely tough handicap but the reeling Bears are favored for a reason here in my opinion. Take Chicago (10*). | |||||||
12-29-19 | Jets +1.5 v. Bills | 13-6 | Win | 100 | 15 h 27 m | Show | |
My selection is on New York over Buffalo at 1 pm et on Sunday. I believe the Jets have some upside in this AFC East showdown on Sunday as the Bills are likely to rest most of their starters in Orchard Park. New York of course has plenty of players essentially auditioning for future roles. This matchup sets up beautifully for Jets RB Le'Veon Bell as he looks to put a disappointing campaign behind him and finish on a high note. Keep in mind, as I noted in my analysis of last week's play on the Patriots over the Bills, Buffalo has struggled against the run all season and with mostly backups on the field on Sunday, will have little chance of slowing Bell should the Jets choose to stick to the run. For the Bills, their focus is on the postseason, not the Jets. Take New York (10*). | |||||||
12-29-19 | Dolphins v. Patriots -16 | 27-24 | Loss | -117 | 15 h 24 m | Show | |
My selection is on New England minus the points over Miami at 1 pm et on Sunday. This is a blowout waiting to happen as the Patriots look to continue to 'get right' prior to the start of the playoffs. Last week's come-from-behind win over the Bills here in Foxborough was a step in the right direction. After facing an 'all hands on deck' Bills squad last week, the Pats should have little trouble brushing aside an undermanned Dolphins team. Miami obviously has nothing to play for but pride at this point and simply doesn't have the pieces or schemes in place on offense to put one over on New England. Look for the Pats to essentially eliminate the Fins passing game and pull away for the win and cover. Take New England (10*). | |||||||
12-28-19 | Clemson -2 v. Ohio State | 29-23 | Win | 100 | 23 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on Clemson minus the points over Ohio State at 8 pm et on Saturday. I was very high on Clemson down the stretch and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the Tigers here as they face a tough challenge in the Ohio State Buckeyes. I don't need to tell you that Clemson is absolutely loaded with talent on both sides of the football. The same goes for Ohio State, but the difference is, I don't believe that the Buckeyes have faced a team even close to the caliber of the Tigers this season. Clemson is obviously highly familiar with playing in the College Football Playoff and that should help its cause here as well. I really don't believe this game is going to be all that close and feel we're being given an extremely favorable line with the superior squad. take Clemson (10*). | |||||||
12-27-19 | USC +3 v. Iowa | 24-49 | Loss | -125 | 12 h 9 m | Show | |
My selection is on USC plus the points over Iowa at 8 pm et on Friday. Iowa got into this Bowl game thanks to winning its final three regular season contests but that wasn't unexpected as it was favored in all three of those games. The Hawkeyes are of course favored again here, but I'm not sure it's warranted. Everyone seems to be sleeping on USC despite the fact that it posted a solid 8-4 SU and 6-5-1 ATS record this season, facing one of the tougher schedules in the entire nation. After almost a month off I'm just not sure we're going to see the Hawkeyes bring the same defensive intensity to the table we've seen from them all season and that could spell trouble as their offense simply isn't capable of shouldering the load. Take USC (10*). | |||||||
12-27-19 | North Carolina -5.5 v. Temple | 55-13 | Win | 100 | 15 h 40 m | Show | |
My selection is on North Carolina minus the points over Temple at 12 noon et on Friday. Temple may enter this game sporting the better overall record but I don't think there's any question that North Carolina brings more upside to the table. Credit the Tar Heels for managing to go 6-6 after a dismal 2018 campaign. They became Bowl eligible with a 41-10 rout of N.C. State in their final regular season game. Temple peaked in a 30-28 win over Memphis way back on October 12th. From that point on the Owls went an even 3-3. I like the advantage the Tar Heels possess at the quarterback position and in the backfield. Look for North Carolina to take care of business and cover the reasonable pointspread here. Take North Carolina (10*). | |||||||
12-26-19 | Pittsburgh v. Eastern Michigan +13 | 34-30 | Win | 100 | 22 h 26 m | Show | |
My selection is on Eastern Michigan plus the points over Pittsburgh at 8 pm et on Thursday. Just feel that the Eagles are being given too many points in this matchup as I question how motivated Pitt will be for the Quick Lane Bowl. The Panthers Bowl standing was hurt by back-to-back losses at the end of the season. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan gained Bowl eligibility thanks to a couple of late road wins in the MAC before falling in a letdown situation at home against Kent State in its regular season finale. The Eagles haven't had the opportunity to go Bowling very often in recent years. I look for them to give the Panthers a run here. Take Eastern Michigan (10*). | |||||||
12-25-19 | Bucks -3.5 v. 76ers | 109-121 | Loss | -105 | 3 h 9 m | Show | |
My selection is on Milwaukee minus the points over Philadelphia at 2:35 pm et on Wednesday. Full writeups will return on Thursday. The Bucks check in top-four in offensive rating and top-two in defensive rating over their last five games. Solid spot to back the road favorite here. Best of luck today. Take Milwaukee (10*). | |||||||
12-24-19 | BYU v. Hawaii UNDER 64.5 | Top | 34-38 | Loss | -110 | 24 h 52 m | Show |
CFB Bowl Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between BYU and Hawaii at 8 pm et on Monday. When these two teams met a year ago they got into the 70's but I believe we're going to see a lower-scoring affair this time around and we're dealing with a lofty total approaching the mid-60's. BYU QB Zach Wilson appeared in eight games this season and threw more than two touchdowns on only one occasion - that coming against a horrible UMass defense. Meanwhile, Hawaii QB Cole MacDonald is a legend in his own right but had a bit of a tough time once the schedule toughened up this season, failing to throw for 300+ yards since way back on October 20th while throwing more than a single touchdown pass only once over his last six games. BYU is the better defensive team in this matchup but I do think Hawaii can hold its own in that regard here as well, noting that in the Rainbow Warriors most recent game - the MWC Championship - they didn't allow a touchdown until the final two minutes of the first half against Boise State. BYU held all 12 opponents to 27 points or less this season. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-23-19 | Avalanche v. Golden Knights -119 | 7-3 | Loss | -119 | 13 h 45 m | Show | |
My selection is on Vegas over Colorado at 10:05 pm et on Monday. We've been high on the Golden Knights lately, most recently cashing with them in their 3-1 road win over the Sharks last night. I'll go back to the well with them again on Monday as they make the quick trip back home to host the Avalanche before the holiday break. Colorado, of course, has been one of the league's best teams this season but has been dealing with some key injuries lately. Note that the Avs have dropped three of their last four games overall. Look for the Knights to earn a little revenge here after suffering a 6-1 loss to Colorado back in October. Take Vegas (10*). | |||||||
12-23-19 | Packers v. Vikings UNDER 47.5 | 23-10 | Win | 100 | 11 h 33 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Green Bay and Minnesota at 8:15 pm et on Monday. The last time we saw the Vikings on the primetime stage they were involved in a shootout with the Seahawks in Seattle. They also lit up the Chargers for a whopping 39 points in last week's blowout victory. Those two results serve to give us a slightly inflated total here in my opinion. Minnesota is highly unlikely to match last week's production in this late season division game. On the flip side, while the Vikings defense has been inconsistent, I do think they can hold a mediocre Packers offense at bay on Monday night. Since the start of November, Green Bay has scored more than 24 points in a game only once, and that performance came at the hands of an awful Giants defense. I'm anticipating a tightly-contested affair on Monday night in Minnesota. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-23-19 | Bulls +4.5 v. Magic | 95-103 | Loss | -103 | 21 h 21 m | Show | |
My selection is on Chicago plus the points over Orlando at 7:05 pm et on Monday. The Magic just aren't very good right now, losers of six of their last seven games overall, and now they find themselves in a difficult scheduling spot, playing their first game back at home following a 1-3 road trip out west. Meanwhile, the Bulls have won back-to-back games and sport a 4-2 mark over their last six games. They'll look to carry some positive momentum into the short holiday break before returning home to host the Hawks on the 28th of the month. Take Chicago (10*). | |||||||
12-23-19 | Canisius v. Siena -5 | Top | 72-73 | Loss | -110 | 21 h 36 m | Show |
CBB MAAC Game of the Month. My selection is on Siena minus the points over Canisius at 6 pm et on Monday. We're dealing with a fairly small sample size when it comes to the Siena Saints as they've played just eight games to date this season. With that being said, they've essentially won the games they should and lost the games they should. This is a game they should win. We won with Canisius in its most recent game at Buffalo, although we were fortunate to get in early with that one and catch a favorable line as the Golden Griffins collapsed late and nearly blew the cover. Coming off its first win in over a month - a double-digit decision against Bucknell, look for Siena to earn its first conference victory (and cover) of the campaign on Monday. Take Siena (10*). | |||||||
12-23-19 | Long Beach State v. Seattle University -4.5 | 57-79 | Win | 100 | 9 h 32 m | Show | |
My selection is on Seattle minus the points over Long Beach State at 6 pm et on Monday. Long Beach State bounced back with a win over Utah Valley last time out but still owns just four wins in 13 games this season and the 49ers will be in tough against Seattle on Monday. The Redhawks should be highly-motivated following an ugly loss at home against Florida A&M on Saturday. They've faced a pretty tough schedule this season so their 6-7 overall record isn't all that concerning. We missed the mark with Long Beach State in a blowout home loss against Southern Utah last week and I'm not interested in going back to the well with the 49ers here. Take Seattle (10*). | |||||||
12-23-19 | Marshall v. Central Florida OVER 59.5 | 25-48 | Win | 100 | 17 h 16 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Marshall and Central Florida at 2:30 pm et on Monday. Central Florida didn't receive quite as much hype this season than it has in previous years but it was an offensive juggernaut nonetheless, ranking fourth in the nation in total yardage per game and sixth in points scored per game. The Knights are going to get theirs offensively in this matchup. Marshall's good run of defensive play down the stretch had everything to do with a weak slate of opponents. With that being said, the Thundering Herd are a perennial Bowl team - or at least they have been over the last decade. More often than not they're able to generate plenty of offense, scoring 30+ points in three of their last four Bowl appearances. I don't expect them to roll over in this daunting matchup and that should set us up for a relatively high-scoring affair. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-23-19 | Hurricanes +112 v. Maple Leafs | 6-8 | Loss | -100 | 17 h 6 m | Show | |
My selection is on Carolina over Toronto at 2:05 pm et on Monday. This one sets up beautifully for us with the Maple Leafs coming off back-to-back wins on Friday and Saturday night and the Hurricanes dropping a lopsided affair at home to the Panthers on Saturday. That only serves to give us additional value with the Canes in this spot. The Leafs have now won four straight games and six of their last seven overall. Carolina on the other hand has won six of its last eight games overall. There's very little separating these two teams right now. I'll go with the underdog Canes in a strong motivational spot. Take Carolina (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Golden Knights -140 v. Sharks | 3-1 | Win | 100 | 12 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on Vegas over San Jose at 10:05 pm et on Sunday. The Sharks are coming off another collapse on home ice last night as we cashed in with the Blues in a 5-2 victory. I don't see them picking themselves up off the mat here, noting that San Jose is arguably playing the worst hockey of any team in the league right now. Vegas suffered an overtime loss in Vancouver last time out but is well-positioned to bounce back against a familiar opponent here. Given their schedule over the next week or so, I believe the Knights are in great shape to close out 2019 on a positive note but they'll need to get back rolling again here before heading to Colorado to face the Avs tomorrow night. Look for them to rise to the occasion in the Shark Tank. Take Vegas (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Nuggets +7.5 v. Lakers | 128-104 | Win | 100 | 12 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on Denver plus the points over Los Angeles at 9:35 pm et on Sunday. We missed the mark with the Nuggets in the last meeting between these two teams but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with Denver at a more favorable line this time around. The Lakers have cooled off considerably and are coming off back-to-back losses in Indiana and Milwaukee. Note that Denver checks in second in the league in offensive rating over its last five games. Meanwhile, the Lakers dropped to 20th in the NBA in that department over the same stretch. Denver is also top-10 in defensive rating over that time frame. The Lakers may bounce back with a win here, but I'm not convinced they do it by margin. Take Denver (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Hornets v. Celtics UNDER 209.5 | Top | 93-119 | Loss | -101 | 9 h 2 m | Show |
NBA Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Charlotte and Boston at 6:05 pm et on Sunday. I absolutely love the way this total sets up on Sunday evening. The Hornets are coming off another high-scoring affair last night against the Jazz, due in large part to a track meet of a first half before things settled down later in the game. Note that the Hornets surprisingly check in ranked fifth in the league in defensive rating over their last five games. The Celtics are top-10 in the league in that department over that same stretch, sitting in ninth. Meanwhile, Charlotte ranks a miserable 29th in offensive rating over its last five games - despite that big scoring night on Saturday. Serving our purposes well, the Celtics are 25th in pace rating while the Hornets are dead last in the league in the same category over their last five contests. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Cardinals v. Seahawks OVER 50.5 | 27-13 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 8 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Arizona and Seattle at 4:25 pm et on Sunday. We are dealing with a high total in this matchup - one of the highest on the Week 16 board in fact - but I believe it's warranted. The Seahawks may be an elite team but they by no means possess an elite defense. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray should be afforded plenty of time to move the football, both through the air and on the ground. Off last week's confidence-building performance against the Browns this is another positive spot for the Arizona offense as a whole. Meanwhile, the Seahawks enjoyed a bounce-back performance of their own last week in Carolina and should see continued success against a very beatable Cards defense Unless the Seahawks completely overlook the Cards, which I don't see happening, they should be able to score at will throughout this game on Sunday afternoon. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Charlotte -1.5 v. East Carolina | 56-60 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 20 m | Show | |
My selection is on Charlotte minus the points over East Carolina at 4 pm et on Sunday. I like the way this spot sets up for Charlotte as it travels to face an East Carolina squad that is coming off a blowout win over lowly Maryland-Eastern Shore. Charlotte has reeled off three straight wins - all by double-digit margins. Despite facing a sneaky-tough schedule to this point, the 49ers check in with a solid 6-4 overall mark. East Carolina hasn't been particularly good save for a blowout home win over Evansville earlier in the season. The Pirates are coming off back-to-back home wins but also began this homestand with a 10-point loss to 4-9 Coppin State. Charlotte took the last meeting between these two teams last December. Take Charlotte (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Chicago State +26.5 v. Indiana State | 64-85 | Win | 100 | 5 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on Chicago State plus the points over Indiana State at 2 pm et on Sunday. I'll grab the generous helping of points with Chicago State on Sunday afternoon. The Cougars have undoubtedly turned in some truly awful performances this season but that's certainly been baked into this lofty pointspread. Despite coming off three straight losses, the Cougars have been playing a little better lately. In their most recent road game they fell by just six points against a quality Tennessee State squad. Indiana State has reeled off six straight wins since opening the campaign with four straight losses. This may be a 'name your winning margin' type of game for them but I'm not sure they're looking for any style points. This is their final game before the holiday break and I believe they'll simply be looking to win and move on. Take Chicago State (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Maryland-Eastern Shore +20.5 v. Old Dominion | Top | 52-76 | Loss | -108 | 4 h 28 m | Show |
CBB Underdog Game of the Month. My selection is on Maryland-Eastern Shore plus the points over Old Dominion at 2 pm et on Sunday. This is a big spot for Maryland-Eastern Shore as it checks in sporting an ugly 1-12 record but has faced a brutal schedule to this point. Old Dominion has recorded only three wins in 12 games and has dropped eight in a row entering Sunday's contest. While the Monarchs should certainly bounce back with a win here, doing so by a considerable margin is no easy task. Keep in mind, ODU won't play again until January 2nd after this one. They've managed to score 60+ points just once in their last seven contests. Coming off back-to-back double-digit losses at East Carolina and Charlotte look for Maryland-Eastern Shore to come to play in this one. Take Maryland-Eastern Shore (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Saints v. Titans OVER 50 | 38-28 | Win | 100 | 16 h 13 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between New Orleans and Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday. The common line of thinking here is that the Saints offense is in for a rough afternoon in Tennessee, playing on a short week off Monday's blowout win over the Colts. I actually believe we're going to see a shootout here. The Titans are missing both of their starting cornerbacks, which spells trouble as they try to contain all-world WR Michael Thomas, who is coming off another stellar performance. The Saints defense is dealing with some key injurys as well, most notably Rankins and Davenport up front. Of course, the Titans offense has come around since QB Ryan Tannehill took over the reins. He's in for a fine bounce-back performance against a Saints defense that wasn't really tested in their Monday night win over the hapless Colts. UPDATE: Titans RB Derrick Henry is not expected to play due to a hamstring injury. Still confident in the over as I believe the Saints banged up defense can be run on and Tannehill can find success in potential catch-up mode. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-22-19 | Ravens v. Browns +10.5 | Top | 31-15 | Loss | -115 | 7 h 58 m | Show |
NFL Underdog Game of the Year. My selection is on Cleveland plus the points over Baltimore at 1 pm et on Sunday. The Browns bandwagon cleared months ago but if there were any stragglers left on board, they surely jumped ship after last week's ugly loss in Arizona. I actually believe that sets us up with considerable line value as they return home to lick their wounds and host the rival Ravens on Sunday afternoon. There was plenty of drama created by last week's loss, with talk of certain players, WR Jarvis Landry included, telling the Cardinals to 'come get me'. Here, I think we'll see the Browns attempt to force-feed Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., even as they face a tough challenge in that of the Ravens. The real key to this game may be Browns RB Nick Chubb. I'm confident he'll have a monster performance against a very beatable Baltimore run defense. Let's not lose sight of the fact that Cleveland has already defeated Baltimore once this season - on the road no less. As much as the Ravens would like to get back at the Browns, as I've said before revenge is a dish best served at home. Baltimore and Lamar Jackson in particular look unstoppable right now, but it is laying an awful lot of points in a divisional road game in late December. Look for the Browns to pull up their socks and show some pride for one week - this is essentially their Super Bowl for 2019. Take Cleveland (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Penguins +105 v. Canucks | 1-4 | Loss | -100 | 15 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on Pittsburgh over Vancouver at 10:05 pm et on Saturday. We won with the Penguins in Edmonton last night and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with them again as they conclude their western Canadian road swing in Vancouver on Saturday night. Of course, Pittsburgh is red hot right now, having won four in a row and seven of its last eight overall. Meanwhile, the Canucks bounced back with a home win over Vegas two nights ago but that only served to snap a three-game losing streak. The Pens have really come together during their current road trip and have had previous success here in this rink, taking three of the last four meetings in Vancouver. Take Pittsburgh (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | UAB v. Appalachian State UNDER 48 | Top | 17-31 | Push | 0 | 23 h 26 m | Show |
CFB Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between UAB and Appalachian State at 9 pm et on Saturday. My first look is usually to the 'over' in the New Orleans Bowl as we've seen plenty of shootouts on the fast track of the Superdome over the years. However, in this case, I believe we'll see a lower-scoring game than the oddsmakers are calling for. UAB topped out at 38 points this season, and generally struggled offensively with some lackluster talent at the skill positions on offense. Keep in mind, the Blazers benefited from facing the likes of Akron, Rice and UTEP during the regular season - arguably three of the weakest teams in the nation. Here, they'll be facing a stiff challenge in Appalachian State. The Mountaineers could be forgiven for not being all that interested in this Bowl game. After all their head coach has bolted, and they just played in this same Bowl game a year ago, winning in a walk. Just not sure we're going to see a great deal of offensive fireworks in this one. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Bucks v. Knicks OVER 227 | 123-102 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 44 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Milwaukee and New York at 7:35 pm et on Saturday. I like the chances of this one developing into a track meet as the Bucks travel to Manhattan to face the Knicks. Of course, New York got its doors blown off in last night's rout at the hands of the Heat in Miami. Still, the Knicks check in tops in the league in offensive rating over their last five games. Who sits right behind them? The Bucks of course. On the flip side, we've seen Milwaukee lag a bit defensively of late, dropping from a perennial top three spot in defensive rating to 14th over its last five contests. The Knicks are defensive doormats, ranking 28th in defensive rating over their last five games. I'm confident we'll see the Bucks push the pace in this one. They're fifth in the league in pace rating over their last five games. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Flyers -135 v. Senators | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 7 h 42 m | Show | |
My selection is on Philadelphia over Ottawa at 7:05 pm et on Saturday. Marcus Hogberg will start in goal for the Senators on Saturday, making his third appearance in the last five nights, having allowed eight goals on 77 shots over his last two. This one sets up well for the Flyers, who are looking for their third straight win after skating past the Ducks and Sabres by a combined 10-2 score earlier this week. Ottawa has played a lot of hockey lately, with four of its last five games needing overtime to decide. The Sens haven't posted a regulation time victory since back on December 9th against Boston. Take Philadelphia (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Florida International v. Arkansas State UNDER 60.5 | 26-34 | Win | 100 | 19 h 15 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Florida International and Arkansas State at 5:30 pm et on Saturday. This one will be pegged as a shootout and while it may develop into just that, I'm not sure it will eclipse the lofty posted total. I actually think the two defenses in this matchup can make the opposing offenses rather one-dimensional. I have a lot of respect for the Arkansas State offense led by QB Layne Hatcher but while he's capable of bombing away, they're also going to need to move the football on the ground, which could be a tall task with RB Marcel Murray nursing a bad ankle. Meanwhile, the FIU offense has been inconsistent at best, coming up big for stretches but not able to really sustain anything for much of the campaign. Arkansas State actually faced some explosive offenses in the Sun Belt Conference this season and will be better for it in this matchup with the Panthers. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Jazz v. Hornets UNDER 210 | 114-107 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Utah and Charlotte at 5:05 pm et on Saturday. This is a relatively low posted total but it's warranted in my opinion. Charlotte checks in sporting the league's second worst (relatively speaking) pace rating over its last five games. At the same time, it ranks an impressive fifth in the NBA in defensive rating over that stretch. Utah doesn't figure to break through as it sits in the bottom half in offensive rating over its last five contests. Like the Hornets, the Jazz have also been playing better defensive ball of late, checking in top 10 in defensive rating over that same time frame. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Bills v. Patriots -6.5 | Top | 17-24 | Win | 100 | 27 h 37 m | Show |
NFL AFC East Game of the Month. My selection is on New England minus the points over Buffalo at 4:30 pm et on Saturday. We won with the Patriots in last Sunday's rout of the Bengals and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with them again here, as they return home to host the Bills in a big AFC East showdown. New England's offense remains somewhat broken, or so it appears. I do think we'll see Patriots OC Josh McDaniels scheme his way to some success against the Bills stout defense in this matchup, however. Note that while Buffalo's secondary has been rock solid, it has been vulnerable against the run, giving up 4.5 yards per rush this season. The Pats have no shortage of capable backs that could be in for breakout spots here. Buffalo escaped with a win in primetime in Pittsburgh last week but let's face it, QB Josh Allen didn't look good, and the Pats have had no trouble limiting him in previous matchups. There's absolutely no reason for the Pats to fear the Bills offense in this one, noting that they've held Buffalo to 16 points or less in four straight and six of the last seven meetings in this series. Take New England (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | North Carolina -4 v. UCLA | 74-64 | Win | 100 | 7 h 49 m | Show | |
My selection is on North Carolina minus the points over UCLA at 3 pm et on Saturday. We settled for a 'push' with North Carolina in its rather lopsided loss on the road against Gonzaga earlier this week. I did like the way the Tar Heels stayed within arm's reach for much of that game before the Zags ultimately proved too much. There's no question Roy Williams' squad is undermanned right now, but this is a solid 'get right' spot against an up and down UCLA team. The Bruins are coming off a 14-point road loss against Notre Dame and check in just 3-4 ATS over their last seven contests. Their only three SU wins over that stretch came against Chaminade, San Jose State and Denver. Look for North Carolina to push the tempo in this one and ultimately outlast the Bruins. Take North Carolina (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Texans v. Bucs OVER 50 | Top | 23-20 | Loss | -109 | 23 h 24 m | Show |
NFL Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Tampa Bay at 1 pm et on Saturday. I probably don't need to tell you that this is a shootout waiting to happen on Saturday afternoon in Tampa. The Texans were expected to get involved in a shootout in Tennessee last Sunday but that matchup fizzled somewhat, with Houston ultimately securing a much-needed 24-21 win. Here, I don't think there's any chance of the offenses wilting as both groups are in tremendous position to light it up all afternoon long. Of course, Tampa Bay is missing its top two wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin but that only serves to give us a lower total to work with here. QB Jameis Winston will continue to bomb away on his march toward the pass yardage title for 2019. Meanwhile, the Bucs ground game has the potential to also go off against a Texans run defense that is really struggling, giving up north of 4.6 yards per rush. Tampa Bay should be able to effectively limit the Texans ground game but I have full confidence in DeShaun Watson to do enough through the air (and with his legs) to help get this one 'over' the total. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Texans v. Bucs +3.5 | 23-20 | Win | 100 | 23 h 17 m | Show | |
My selection is on Tampa Bay plus the points over Houston at 1 pm et on Saturday. I like the Bucs plus the points in this Saturday afternoon matchup. The Texans obviously need this one more than the Bucs, who are simply playing out the string, but to be quite honest, I'm not all that high on Houston. Yes, the Texans were able to pull out a big win in Tennessee last Sunday but now they have to stay on the road and play on a short week against a non-conference opponent that simply won't draw the same level of motivation. The Bucs are without their top two wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin but don't think for a second that QB Jameis Winston won't continue to air it out. Not only that but the Bucs draw a favorable ground game matchup against a Texans defense that gives up over 4.6 yards per rush. I don't think Tampa Bay will ever be out of this one. Take Tampa Bay (10*). | |||||||
12-21-19 | Texas State v. Georgia State -2.5 | 69-81 | Win | 100 | 5 h 2 m | Show | |
My selection is on Georgia State minus the points over Texas State at 1 pm et on Saturday. We successfully faded Texas State two nights ago as it fell in a tightly-contested affair against Georgia Southern. Now it stays in the state of Georgia to face the Panthers on Saturday afternoon and I look for it to fall short once again. Keep in mind, the Bobcats solid overall record was boosted by some real layups earlier in the season. Georgia State will offer a tougher challenge, noting that it has won six straight games and sitting at 7-2 ATS in lined contests is one of the best bets in the nation, having already given the likes of Duke and Georgetown serious tests, on the road no less. Take Georgia State (10*). | |||||||
12-20-19 | Magic +3.5 v. Blazers | 103-118 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 38 m | Show | |
My selection is on Orlando plus the points over Portland at 10:05 pm et on Friday. I'll take a flyer on the Magic on Friday night as they get out of the dreaded back-to-back set in the high altitude of Salt Lake City and Denver and head to Portland to challenge the Trail Blazers. Orlando has dropped five of its last six games overall so motivation will certainly be high for this one. While the Magic haven't had much success in this series, it hasn't been for lack of trying as four of the Blazers last five wins over Orlando have come by single-digit margins. These two teams haven't faced one another in over a year. Portland checks in off back-to-back wins but let's not get too excited about that as the first victory came by a single point in Phoenix and the second came at home against the injury-plagued and disinterested Warriors. The Blazers have won more than two games in a row just once this season and they failed to cover the spread in the final win during that streak. Take Orlando (10*). | |||||||
12-20-19 | Penguins -126 v. Oilers | 5-2 | Win | 100 | 13 h 56 m | Show | |
My selection is on Pittsburgh over Edmonton at 9:05 pm et on Friday. The Penguins are rolling right now, winners of six of their last seven games overall, including a 4-1 victory over the then-surging Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. This is a terrific opportunity for them to really build some team chemistry during a pre-Christmas trip to western Canada (you may have seen photos of them practicing outdoors earlier this week). I look for them to keep the positive vibes building as they stop in Edmonton on Friday night. The Oilers have gone back in the tank, dropping six of their last eight games overall. Their offense is relying far too heavily on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to produce right now and as a result they've scored just four goals combined during their last three games. Take Pittsburgh (10*). | |||||||
12-20-19 | Kent State v. Utah State OVER 67.5 | 51-41 | Win | 100 | 22 h 19 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Kent State and Utah State at 7:30 pm et on Friday. Utah State should absolutely have its way with the Kent State defense in this game. As I've said on numerous occasions this season, I really do believe the Golden Flashes have one of the worst defenses in the country. With Aggies QB Jordan Love and RB Gerold Bright cleared to play, they should absolutely shred an overmatched Kent State defense. The pointspread does say a lot in this particular matchup, however. I think Utah State is a relatively short favorite for a reason. Kent State seemed to get stronger and more consistent offensively as the season went on, and it should find plenty of success against a beatable Utah State defense that has allowed 30+ points in four of its last six games. This total is high but it's warranted in my opinion. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-20-19 | Kent State v. Utah State -6.5 | 51-41 | Loss | -105 | 22 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on Utah State minus the points over Kent State at 7:30 pm et on Friday. Just think there's a major class difference that isn't being properly accounted for in this pointspread. If you've followed my plays regularly this season, you know I'm not very high on Kent State, particularly on the defensive side of the football, where I feel they're among the worst teams in the nation. With that being said, this is an awfully tough matchup against a dynamic Utah State offense led by NFL prospect QB Jordan Love. There was talk of several Aggies offensive playmakers, including Love, being suspended due to a marijuana possession offence, but that isn't going to be the case. Unless Utah State completely overlooks Kent State or is disinterested in the Frisco Bowl altogether, which is always a possibility, I expect the Aggies to roll. Take Utah State (10*). | |||||||
12-20-19 | Capitals -178 v. Devils | 6-3 | Win | 100 | 13 h 0 m | Show | |
My selection is on Washington over New Jersey at 7:05 pm et on Friday. This may seem like a high price but I believe it could be even higher. There's really not a lot to take away from the Devils 3-1 win over the struggling Ducks two nights ago in their first game since trading Taylor Hall. I still believe they're going to struggle to generate offensive production following Hall's departure. Note that the Caps have won three straight meetings in this series. The Capitals will be in a foul mood after having their two-game winning streak snapped by the Blue Jackets (in shutout fashion) on Tuesday. In fact, Washington has lost only two games over its last 10 and both came at the hands of the Jackets. Take Washington (9*). | |||||||
12-20-19 | Lipscomb +11 v. Vermont | 63-86 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 14 m | Show | |
My selection is on Lipscomb plus the points over Vermont at 7 pm et on Thursday. Lipscomb has won four of six games since starting the season with four losses in its first five. During their rough start, the Bison suffered two losses as double-digit underdogs, and the other two came by a combined four points so it wasn't really as bad as it seemed. Meanwhile, Vermont started its campaign with four straight wins but has gone just 3-5 since. The Catamounts should win this game - I'm just not convinced they do it by margin. Take Lipscomb (10*). | |||||||
12-20-19 | Buffalo -6.5 v. Charlotte | 31-9 | Win | 100 | 17 h 34 m | Show | |
My selection is on Buffalo minus the points over Charlotte at 2 pm et on Friday. Credit Charlotte for rallying late in the season to reach a Bowl game for the first time in program history. However, I believe we'll see the 49ers run end here. Buffalo possesses a three-headed rushing attack that should have little trouble moving the chains against a Charlotte defense that allows five yards per rush. On the flip side, the 49ers offense is led by QB Chris Reynolds who hasn't thrown for more than two touchdowns in a game since October. He was turnover-prone all season and faces a Buffalo defense that puts a ton of pressure on opposing quarterbacks, racking up 38 sacks during the regular season to tie a school record. I simply feel it's only a matter of time before the Bulls put this one away for good and eventually win by margin. Take Buffalo (10*). | |||||||
12-19-19 | Southern Utah v. Long Beach State +1.5 | 84-63 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 3 m | Show | |
My selection is on Long Beach State plus the points over Southern Utah at 10 pm et on Thursday. At 3-8 on the season, but with a really brutal schedule behind them, this is a very strong motivational spot for the Long Beach State 49ers as they host the Southern Utah Jaguars on Thursday night. The 49ers enter this game losers of four games in a row with all four of those games being decided by double-digit margins. Southern Utah on the other hand is coming off back-to-back one-point victories that obviously could have gone either way. The Jaguars are playing with house money in this one, which is generally a favorable mentality for teams at this stage of the season but I'm just not convinced they'll be able to match LBSU's intensity in this, their last game before the Christmas break (Southern Utah won't play again until December 30th at Portland while LBSU plays Utah Valley State on Saturday). Take Long Beach State (10*). | |||||||
12-19-19 | Nets v. Spurs UNDER 219 | 105-118 | Loss | -102 | 14 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Brooklyn and San Antonio at 8:35 pm et on Thursday. The Spurs continue to play up-tempo but their offense is lagging at the moment as they check in a dismal 29th in the league in offensive rating over their last five games. The Nets haven't been much better, sitting 25th in that department over the same stretch. On the flip side, the Brooklyn defense has been sneaky-good lately as it rates third in the NBA in defensive rating over its last five contests. That puts it in excellent position to contain the Spurs aggressive offense in this matchup. Note that San Antonio has also turned things around defensively, ranking sixth in the league in defensive rating over its last five games. It should be able to handle a Brooklyn squad that is missing Kyrie Irving and ranks smack in the middle of the Association in pace rating over its last five games. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-19-19 | Lakers v. Bucks -4.5 | Top | 104-111 | Win | 100 | 14 h 32 m | Show |
NBA TV Game of the Month. My selection is on Milwaukee minus the points over Los Angeles at 8:05 pm et on Thursday. I absolutely love the way this one sets up for the Bucks, much like the fade of the Mavs set up last night. Of course, earlier this week we saw the Luka Doncic-less Mavs stun the Bucks here in Milwaukee. They were in for a letdown against the Celtics last night as a result, and ultimately lost by six points. Now the Bucks are back to rebound off that ugly loss to the Mavs and they'll have no shortage of motivation against Lebron and the Lakers on Thursday night. I really do think the Bucks will be able to run the Lakers out of the gym in this one. Milwaukee remains number one in the league in offensive rating over its last five games. Meanwhile, the Lakers have tailed off a bit in that department, ranking 11th. The key here is the pace the Bucks play at, ranking fifth in the league in pace rating over their last five contests while the Lakers sit 19th over that same time frame. Look for Milwaukee to make a statement here. Take Milwaukee (10*). | |||||||
12-19-19 | Jazz v. Hawks OVER 224.5 | Top | 111-106 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 11 m | Show |
NBA Non-Conference Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Utah and Atlanta at 7:35 pm et on Thursday. We're getting a relatively low total to work with here (at least by Hawks standards) largely due to Atlanta's recent struggles offensively. However, the pace is still absolutely there as the Hawks check in fourth in the league in pace rating over their last five games, and here they catch a favorable matchup against a Jazz squad that isn't playing at the same level of defensive intensity as it was earlier this season. Note that Utah currently sits in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating over its last five contests. On the flip side, the Jazz's offense has come on lately, ranking seventh in the league in offensive rating over that same stretch and they should certainly be able to keep it rolling against one of the worst defensive teams in the league in Atlanta. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-19-19 | Texas State v. Georgia Southern -2 | 64-67 | Win | 100 | 12 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on Georgia Southern minus the points over Texas State at 7 pm et on Thursday. I'll lay the short number with Georgia Southern on Thursday night as it looks to continue its strong play at home this season. The Eagles check in a perfect 4-0 at home this season while Texas State has just one win in four tries away from home, that coming against a struggling UNLV squad that has won just four of 12 games to date. The Bobcats did snap a brief two-game skid with a dominant 117-65 win last time out but that came against little-known Bethany (KS). Georgia Southern will obviously be up for this Sun Belt matchup after getting crushed 81-51 on the road against Bradley last time out. Take Georgia Southern (10*). | |||||||
12-18-19 | Celtics -1.5 v. Mavs | 109-103 | Win | 100 | 24 h 4 m | Show | |
My selection is on Boston minus the points over Dallas at 9:35 pm et on Wednesday. This is a no-brainer fading the Luca Doncic-less Mavs off their big win over the Bucks in Milwaukee on Monday night. The Celtics check in playing excellent basketball, ranking third in offensive rating over their last five games while also sitting in the top half of the league in defensive rating. The Mavs have been as good as it gets offensively over that same stretch but there's no question they're going to miss Doncic. I'm sure the Celtics learned a thing or two watching the Bucks get caught flat-footed against the Mavs on Monday. Look for Boston to answer the bell on Wednesday night. Take Boston (10*). | |||||||
12-18-19 | North Carolina +13 v. Gonzaga | 81-94 | Push | 0 | 12 h 39 m | Show | |
My selection is on North Carolina plus the points over Gonzaga at 9 pm et on Wednesday. Key injuries or not, the Tar Heels are still the Tar Heels and I expect them to be just fine as the season progresses. This is obviously a huge motivational spot for them after getting upset at home against Wofford last time out. That's not to say this isn't a big spot for the Zags as well. They'll be looking to avenge their loss to the Tar Heels in the 2017 national championship game. I'm not sure that really weighs all that heavily on the current players' minds, however. They'll simply be looking to win this game with little concern for what the final margin of victory is. Most are quick to write off the Tar Heels due to their injuries, but I expect them to hold their own tonight. Take North Carolina (10*). | |||||||
12-18-19 | Pelicans v. Wolves OVER 231.5 | 107-99 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 30 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between New Orleans and Minnesota at 8:05 pm et on Wednesday. I fully expect to see a track meet between these two 'defense optional' opponents on Wednesday night. The T'Wolves check in dead last in the NBA in defensive rating over their last five games and it's not really all that close. The Pelicans aren't much better in that regard, sitting 25th in the league in that category over the same stretch. While New Orleans continues to lag offensively in the absence of Zion Williamson, the T'Wolves have been lighting it up, sitting top-five in the league in offensive rating over their last five contests. Both teams check in top-11 in the NBA in pace rating over that same time frame. This is a high posted total but it's warranted in my opinion. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-18-19 | Hornets v. Cavs UNDER 213.5 | 98-100 | Win | 100 | 11 h 36 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Charlotte and Cleveland at 7:05 pm et on Wednesday. This one sets up well as a relatively low-scoring affair by today's NBA standards. The Hornets are playing the second of back-to-back nights after pulling away for a win over the Kings at home last night. Even with that 110-point effort they still sit just 23rd in the league in offensive rating over their last five games. I don't really consider them a good defensive team by any means but the numbers support it lately as they're top-eight in the league in defensive rating over that same stretch. Neither of these teams have been pushing the pace, both checking in bottom-seven in the league in pace rating over their last five contests. The Cavs are 17th in offensive rating over that time frame but remain one of the league's weakest offensive squads overall. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-18-19 | Canisius +9.5 v. Buffalo | 73-82 | Win | 100 | 10 h 57 m | Show | |
My selection is on Canisius plus the points over Buffalo at 7 pm et on Wednesday. The Canisius Golden Griffins have gotten off to a sneaky-good 5-4 start this season and I look for them to give the Bulls a run in Buffalo on Wednesday night. Canisius snapped a brief two-game skid with an 80-72 victory over Holy Cross last time out. Keep in mind, its last two losses came by a combined 10 points on the road against Hofstra and Florida Atlantic. Those are the Golden Griffins only two losses going back to November 16th. Buffalo is coming off a stunning double-digit loss as a double-digit favorite at home against Army last time out. While the Bulls will be highly-motivated, and 'should' rebound with a victory here, I don't expect it to come by margin. Take Canisius (10*). | |||||||
12-17-19 | Coyotes v. Sharks -108 | Top | 3-2 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 40 m | Show |
NHL Western Conference Game of the Month. My selection is on San Jose over Arizona at 10:35 pm et on Tuesday. Now is the time to buy low with the Sharks, just as we did on Saturday night as they skated past the Canucks on home ice. The Coyotes are front and center in hockey news after acquiring Taylor Hall from the Devils in exchange for prospects and picks yesterday. Arizona has exceeded expectations to this point this season but I'm not convinced their impressive play is sustainable and they'll run into a highly-motivated Sharks squad that is looking to make up for lost time with their new coaching staff. I like the upside with San Jose at a discounted price here. Take San Jose (10*). | |||||||
12-17-19 | Nets -2 v. Pelicans | 108-101 | Win | 100 | 11 h 15 m | Show | |
My selection is on Brooklyn minus the points over New Orleans at 8:05 pm et on Tuesday. The Pelicans continue to struggle defensively, ranking 28th in the league in defensive rating over their last five games and I don't believe this is the matchup that will fix their problems. New Orleans has been pushing the tempo, sitting top-10 in the league in pace rating over its last five contests but I'm not sure that will serve it particularly well in this matchup with the Nets starting to come together defensively, ranking an impressive seventh in the league in defensive rating over that same period. Note that the Nets sit just five spots back of the Pelicans in terms of pace rating over their last five, at the edge of the league's top half. Take Brooklyn (10*). | |||||||
12-17-19 | Kings v. Hornets UNDER 208 | 102-110 | Loss | -114 | 10 h 20 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Sacramento and Charlotte at 7:05 pm et on Tuesday. This is a low total by today's NBA standards but I believe the number is warranted. Keep in mind, both the Kings and Hornets check in bottom-four in the league in pace rating over their last five games. That's not to mention the fact that Charlotte sits 24th in offensive rating over that same stretch. The Kings come in playing well, winners of four of their last five, but the Hornets have held their own defensively of late, ranking in the top half of the league in defensive rating over their last five contests and should keep Sacramento in check relatively speaking. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-16-19 | Blazers v. Suns OVER 228 | 111-110 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 5 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Portland and Phoenix at 9:05 pm et on Monday. I love the way this one sets up as a track meet in the desert on Monday night. The Blazers are coming off three straight games against relatively slow-paced opponents that find themselves in the bottom-seven of the league in pace rating over their last five games. Here, they'll go up against a Suns squad that ranks second in pace rating over that same stretch. Note that while the Blazers sit a disappointing 26th in the league in defensive rating over their last five games, they sit in the top half of the league in offensive rating over that time frame. Look for a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair between these two Western Conference foes. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-16-19 | Colts v. Saints -8.5 | Top | 7-34 | Win | 100 | 47 h 13 m | Show |
NFL MNF Game of the Year. My selection is on New Orleans minus the points over Indianapolis at 8:15 pm et on Monday. This is an absolute smash spot for the Saints at home in primetime against the reeling Colts. This is precisely the type of spotlight game where Saints QB Drew Brees goes off. The Colts defense has become suddenly non-existent against the pass as they enter this game on the heels of three straight losses. Indianapolis has shown some semblance of a run defense but the Saints offense is more than versatile enough to negate that advantage. Meanwhile the Colts offense has become quite one-dimensional in the absence of WR T.Y. Hilton. While Hilton may return for this game it's difficult to predict how effective he can be after an extended absence. RB Marlon Mack returned last week but was limited and I would suggest that will probably be the case again this week. Look for a monster performance from WR Michael Thomas to pace the Saints offense and we might even see RB Alvin Kamara finally get back on track with a big game catching passes out of the backfield. Take New Orleans (10*). | |||||||
12-16-19 | Capitals -153 v. Blue Jackets | 0-3 | Loss | -153 | 9 h 60 m | Show | |
My selection is on Washington over Columbus at 7:05 pm et on Monday. The Blue Jackets are not surprisingly mired in a disappointing campaign and I don't expect to see them turn things around against arguably the league's most complete team in the Capitals on Monday night. Columbus has now dropped six of its last seven games overall following a 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon. There's just not a lot of upside to talk about when it comes to John Tortorella's team right now and this one-off at home before heading to Detroit to face the lowly Red Wings isn't likely to cure its ills. Meanwhile, the Caps have notched back-to-back wins and have suffered just one loss since November 23rd - that coming against these same Blue JAckets on home ice one week ago tonight. A little revenge should be in order here. Take Washington (10*). | |||||||
12-15-19 | Patriots -10 v. Bengals | 34-13 | Win | 100 | 17 h 35 m | Show | |
My selection is on New England minus the points over Cincinnati at 1 pm et on Sunday. This is a true 'get right' spot for the Patriots and I fully expect to see them blow the doors off the Bengals. Cincinnati couldn't follow up its first win of the season, falling to the Browns in Cleveland last Sunday. The Bengals have been playing better lately, thanks in large part to the re-emergence of RB Joe Mixon. I simply feel that we'll see the Pats take Mixon out of the equation in this one which should cripple the Bengals offense. The Brady-haters are out in full force these days but I do think Tom will turn in a solid performance here. That's not to mention the Pats ground game, which should shred the Bengals non-existent run defense. It's only a matter of time before New England puts this one away for good. Take New England (10*). | |||||||
12-15-19 | Texans v. Titans OVER 51 | Top | 24-21 | Loss | -110 | 16 h 21 m | Show |
NFL AFC South Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between Houston and Tennessee at 1 pm et on Sunday. Who would have thought we'd see a game between these two AFC South rivals feature a total north of 50? This is a series that generally features totals in the low-40s. Keep in mind, this will be the first of two matchups between the Texans and Titans in the next three weeks. Both defenses are shells of their former selves, largely due to a number of key injuries. Texans QB DeShaun Watson should have a field day against the Titans suddenly leaky, injury-plagued secondary, even if WR Will Fuller can't go. Meanwhile, QB Ryan Tannehill has earned a new lease on his football life in Tennessee and is set up nicely to tear apart a struggling Texans defense. Of course, RB Derrick Henry, who was plagued by a hamstring injury last week but still put up gawdy numbers, should be able to run wild against a Houston defense that has been particularly bad in recent weeks. It all sets up for a back and forth shootout in Nashville on Sunday afternoon. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-14-19 | Canucks v. Sharks -118 | 2-4 | Win | 100 | 15 h 44 m | Show | |
My selection is on San Jose over Vancouver at 10:05 pm et on Saturday. The Sharks are in free fall mode right now and we missed the mark backing them last time out as they blew a third period lead, ultimately losing in blowout fashion against the Rangers. Their motivation level should be even higher on Saturday as they try to earn their first win for their new coaching staff. We're actually getting a better price to back San Jose here and I'm confident it will pick up a much-needed victory in the Shark Tank. Take San Jose (10*). | |||||||
12-14-19 | Heat v. Mavs UNDER 216.5 | 122-118 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 23 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Miami and Dallas at 8:35 pm et on Saturday. I'll back the 'under' on Saturday night as the Heat look to bounce back from last night's loss to the Lakers. Keep in mind, Miami has been playing an awful lot of basketball lately, with three of its last six games needing overtime to decide. Note that the Heat and the Mavs sit bottom nine in pace rating over their last five games, with Miami playing particularly slow, ranking 28th in the league. Both teams have been performing well offensively with Dallas actually leading the league in offensive rating over its last five contests but I'm not sure that it will draw the Heat into a real high-scoring affair here. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-14-19 | Army v. Navy UNDER 40.5 | 7-31 | Win | 100 | 18 h 50 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'under' between Army and Navy at 3 pm et on Saturday. Another year, another Army-Navy 'under'. We've been in on virtually all of the 'unders' during the current streak in this series and there's no reason to jump ship here. Yes, Navy put up some gawdy offensive numbers this season but that was largely schedule-based. Army showed flashes of brilliance at times, but really struggled when stepping up in class, as is the case here. These two teams couldn't be any more familiar with one another and that familiarity leads to low-scoring results every year. If anything things are getting tighter, with each of the last five meetings totaling 38 points or less and all five of those games being decided by a touchdown or less. Take the under (10*). | |||||||
12-13-19 | Warriors v. Jazz OVER 210.5 | 106-114 | Win | 100 | 10 h 6 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between Golden State and Utah at 9:05 pm et on Friday. Both of these offenses got loose last time out and I expect to see some progression from those performances here as the Warriors and Jazz do battle in Utah. Keep in mind, the last five meetings in this series have all eclipsed the total we're dealing with here. There's little reason to believe the Warriors will be able to do anything to slow down a Jazz offense that averages close to 110 points per game at home. While Utah has held its own defensively this season it is still allowing north of 105 ppg on its home floor. Take the over (10*). | |||||||
12-12-19 | Rangers v. Sharks -151 | 6-3 | Loss | -151 | 25 h 30 m | Show | |
My selection is on San Jose over New York at 10:35 pm et on Thursday. I'm not a big proponent of backing a team following a head coach firing but in this particular situation, I do think the Sharks are in excellent position to start turning things around. The talent is there, there's no question about that. Things simply haven't gone San Jose's way this season but perhaps the firing of Pete DeBoer will be the wake-up call they need. This is a fine matchup for them to exploit, facing a young Rangers squad playing on the other side of the country. The Rangers have been inconsistent at best lately, going 3-4 over their last seven games. Meanwhile, for as bad as the Sharks have been this season, they still own a winning record on home ice. Take San Jose (10*). | |||||||
12-12-19 | Cavs v. Spurs -11 | 117-109 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 28 m | Show | |
My selection is on San Antonio minus the points over Cleveland at 8:35 pm et on Thursday. We won with the Cavs last night but I won't hesitate to fade them as they hit the road to face the Spurs on Thursday. San Antonio has been a general disappointment this season but finds itself in an absolutely gorgeous spot against the lowly Cavs playing on no rest. The Spurs have been playing better lately, winners of three of their last four games, including a 2-0 mark on their current homestand. Playing their third straight at the AT&T Center, they're in excellent shape to keep their good fortune on Thursday night. Take San Antonio (10*). | |||||||
12-12-19 | Jets v. Ravens -15.5 | 21-42 | Win | 100 | 24 h 35 m | Show | |
My selection is on Baltimore minus the points over New York at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. I don't need to tell you that this is an absolutely amazing spot for the Ravens offense as they should shred a hapless Jets defense that is likely going to be without a pair of key cogs in Jamal Adams and Quinnen Williams. Even with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson dealing with an injured quad, there's no chance that the Jets slow him down here. Look for Jackson to run wild, while also feeding Hollywood Brown in what amounts to a blowout in the making. I do think the Jets will find some success offensively, simply due to the fact that the Ravens can't stop the run, but playing in catch-up mode, look for QB Sam Darnold to make enough mistakes to ultimately put this game out of reach for Gang Green. Take Baltimore (10*). | |||||||
12-12-19 | Jets v. Ravens OVER 44.5 | 21-42 | Win | 100 | 24 h 32 m | Show | |
My selection is on the 'over' between New York and Baltimore at 8:20 pm et on Thursday. Everyone seems to be assuming the Jets aren't going to be able to score much at all in this game but I'm not sure that will be the case at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night. The Ravens are allowing just shy of five yards per rush this season which opens the door for Jets RB Le'Veon Bell, who should have the backfield all to himself with Bilal Powell expected to miss. Meanwhile, the Ravens should score at will in this mismatch. The Jets defense is undermanned and quite simply banged up, likely missing both Jamal Adams and Quinnen Williams for this one. That opens the door for another monster performance from QB Lamar Jackson. Also look for a re-introduction to WR Hollywood Brown on Thursday night as the Ravens run up the score on the Jets. Take the over (10*). |
Service | Profit |
---|---|
Ricky Tran | $756 |
ProSportsPicks | $632 |
Joseph D'Amico | $510 |
Joey Tron | $450 |
Tom Macrina | $399 |
Nick Parsons | $344 |
Sean Murphy | $306 |
Jack Jones | $303 |
William Burns | $233 |
Dan Kaiser | $220 |