NBA Expert Picks – Philadelphia 76ers vs. Portland Trail Blazers

NBA Expert Picks – No Answer, No Oden as Blazers Host Sixers

76ers vs. Blazers (-5½)
(O/U) 190½
Monday, December 28 10:00 PM ET

Head-to-Head Trends

• 76ers are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
• Under is 6- 2 in the last 8 meetings.
• 76ers are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Portland.
• Underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

The addition of former franchise icon Allen Iverson hasn’t made much of a difference for the struggling Philadelphia 76ers (7-22 SU, 11-18 ATS, 13-15-1 O/U) this season as they’ve gone just 2-7 since signing ‘The Answer’ just over two weeks ago.

The loss of center Greg Oden hasn’t slowed down the streaking Portland Trail Blazers (20-12 SU, 17-14-1 ATS, 15-17 O/U) one iota as they’ve won four straight and six of seven overall.

Now, with both ballclubs heading in opposite directions, each team will be looking to pick up a win on the court and in the BetOnline NBA sportsbook when they square off at the Rose Garden at 10 PM ET.

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Philadelphia 411

76ers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games.

76ers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. Western Conference.

The Sixers have lost three straight games including a depressing 97-76 loss to the Utah Jazz on Saturday. Philadelphia got a team-high 20 points from athletic forward Thaddeus Young, but was held to just 12 points in the fourth quarter.

The 76ers failed to cover the NBA moneyline as 7.5-point road underdogs and have failed to cover the NBA point spread in three consecutive games while going a bankroll-breaking 3-7 ATS over its last 10 games overall.

Portland 411

Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

Trail Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. win.

The Blazers extended their modest winning streak to four games on Christmas Day, beating the Denver Nuggets 107-96 as all-star shooting guard Brandon Roy scored a game-high 41 points and Steve Blake went 5-for-7 from three-point distance.

Portland cashed in for pro basketball betting enthusiasts as 1-point home favorites to move to 4-0 ATS during its winning streak and a blistering 7-2-1 ATS over its last 10 games overall.

Analysis: The Philadelphia 76ers may be 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings against the Blazers, but I don’t like Philly to improve on their impressive ATS mark tonight against a Portland team that has clearly readjusted to losing Oden (once again).

Despite their stellar 8-3 ATS record in their last 11 road games, the Sixers have struggled against teams from the west, going a dismal 1-5 ATS in their last six games against Western Conference ballclubs.

The Trail Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games following an SU win and apparently like to get their week started off on the right foot, going 8-1 ATS in the last nine Monday games.

Just 2-8 SU in their last 10 games, Philadelphia has struggled to score the ball mightily this season, failing to reach the 100-point plateau in five of their last eight losses.

The Blazers have the deeper, more experienced team and are playing at home against a lesser opponent. Add it all up, and it sounds like a Blazers win and cover.

NBA Expert Picks: Blazers -5½ Points

Independence Bowl Betting – Texas A&M Aggies vs. Georgia Bulldogs

Monday, December 28th – Independence Stadium (Shreveport, LA) – 5:05 PM ET

College Football Spread: Georgia -7 

Texas A&M: The Week That Was 

The Aggies watched rival Texas avoid an upset on the road to the BCS National Championship Game. A&M put up a brave fight, only to fall short in a 49-39 loss to the Longhorns at Kyle Field on Nov. 26. Colt McCoy was the Aggies’ worst enemy, as the Texas star went 24-of-40 for 304 passing yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions, while also collecting 18 carries for 175 yards with a rushing touchdown.  

On the other side of the ball, the Aggies thrived under the leadership of quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who matched McCoy all night. Johnson went 26-of-33 for 342 yards and four touchdowns with an interception, while rushing 14 times for 97 yards. Coach Mike Sherman found a quarterback for 2010. 

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Georgia: The Week That Was 

The Bulldogs struggled for most of the season, but they recovered in time to upset their bitter rivals from Georgia Tech on Nov. 28. Behind 339 rushing yards and an inspired performance from an amped-up offensive line, coach Mark Richt’s team earned a richly satisfying 30-24 triumph. The six-point win avenged last year’s loss to Georgia Tech, a bitter 45-42 setback that prevented UGA from winning 10 games over the course of the 2008 regular season. 

While another leaky defensive performance eventually led to the departure of defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, UGA’s offense stood tall in the saddle against Tech. Bulldog running backs Washaun Ealey (183 yards) and Caleb King (166 yards) never allowed the Yellow Jackets’ defense to gain a foothold throughout the night. 

The Week That Is: 

Expect a shootout in the latest Independence Bowl. A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson should have a field day against a Georgia defense that’s in a state of pronounced uncertainty. On the other side of the divide, Georgia should be able to establish a rushing attack and set up play-action for long passes that will exploit the Aggies’ linebackers and safeties. 

The SEC – particularly its East Division – was hardly spectacular in 2009. Georgia’s 7-5 mark made the Bulldogs one of four 7-5 teams from the SEC East (the others are South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky). Yet, with that having been said, Texas A&M and the Big 12 experienced even more wild fluctuations in their week-to-week fortunes.  

On Oct. 17 of this season, Mike Sherman’s squad lost at Kansas State, 62-14. The very next week – on Oct. 24 – A&M stunned Texas Tech on the road and cruised to a lopsided 52-30 victory. No one knows which Texas A&M team will show up in a given game, and that’s why this contest is shrouded in mystery. Ultimately, take the devil you know over the devil you don’t know. Georgia – with a more reliable running game – should be able to survive the Aggies. 

College Football Spread Pick: Georgia -7

NFL Monday Night Football – Bears Host Vikings with Playoff Implications

Vikings vs. Bears (+7½)
(O/U) 41
Monday, December 28 – 8:30 PM ET

Head-to-Head Trends

• Home team is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
• Over is 5-2-1 in the last 8 meetings.
• Vikings are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Chicago.

After getting off to a fantastic 10-0 start this season, Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings (11-3 SU, 8-5-1 ATS, 6-8 O/U) had the look of a team poised for the postseason success many predicted prior to the start of the regular season.

Now, after dropping two of its last three games – while dealing with some more drama – the Vikings are desperate to get their Super Bowl train back on track.

Minnesota will square off against a Chicago Bears (5-9 SU, 4-10 ATS, 4-10 O/U) team that will also be looking to get back in the win column after dropping two consecutive games and six of its last seven overall.

Minnesota 411
Vikings are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC North.
Vikings are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. loss.

The Vikings lost to Carolina 26-7 in Week 15, failing to cover the NFL moneyline as an 8.5-point road favorite as Adrian Peterson was held to 35 rushing yards on just 12 carries and the Vikings committed two turnovers to none for Carolina.

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Brett Favre passed for 224 yards but threw one interception while wideout Sidney Rice also lost a fumble in the loss that caused Favre and head coach Brad Childress to get into a dispute over play-calling and whether the quarterback should have been pulled in last week’s loss or not.

"I think we’re both on the same page," Childress told reporters this week. "It hasn’t been a distraction or divisive… I’m always animated when I speak.

“I think it’s all resolved,” Favre said on Wednesday. “He (Childress) and I have talked.”

Chicago 411
Bears are 3-12-1 ATS in their last 16 vs. NFC.
Bears are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.

The Bears lost their second consecutive game in Week 15, falling to the Baltimore Ravens 31-7 while failing to cover the NFL moneyline as a 10.5-point road underdog.

Jay Cutler threw three interceptions in the spanking to raise his season total to a league-leading 25.

Chicago has failed to cash in for pro football betting enthusiasts in seven consecutive games while going a pitiful 1-9 ATS over its last 10 games overall.

Analysis: The Minnesota Vikings are facing the right team to help them cure their recent woes, but don’t expect them to take pity on the lowly Bears.

The Vikings have already clinched the NFC North division title, but they will be coming with their ‘A’ game tonight as they try to secure a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs.

The Bears (5-9, 4-10 ATS) are mathematically eliminated from postseason contention and have nothing to play for except pride at this point.

Minnesota obliterated the Bears just one month ago, winning 36-10 in the Metrodome on Nov. 29 – and I expect more of the same tonight although the score may not be quite as high because of the expected freezing temperatures tonight.

Minnesota has shown a surprising ability to bounce back from a loss positively, going an incendiary 7-1 ATS in its last eight games following an SU loss while generally providing pro football gamblers a payday when they play within their division.

Minnesota has gone an encouraging 4-1 ATS in their last five games against NFC North opponents and an identical 4-1-1 ATS against teams with losing records.

The home team in this long rivalry has gone a scorching 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings between the two teams, but I just don’t see the offensively-challenged Bears covering the spread no matter how you look at it.

The Bears are 3-12-1 ATS in their last sixteen games against the NFC and a pitiful 1-7 ATS in their last eight against the NFC North. Chicago is also 0-4 in its last four home games and 1-11 ATS in its last 12 games as an underdog.

In addition to playing the Vikings to win this game going away, I also like the Under in this matchup. The under has gone a perfect 6-0 in each teams’ last six games.

NFL Expert Picks: Vikings -7½ Points/Under 41 Total Points

English Premier League – Weekend Recap

Weekend English Premier League (EPL) action was a jam-packed affair with ten fixtures on the menu. Soccer bettors were spoilt for choice indeed. The choice fixtures – although all held appeal with the league going into the New Year – had to be Chelsea FC vs. Birmingham City, Fulham vs. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and Arsenal vs. Aston Villa and Manchester United vs. Hull City on Sunday.

Birmingham City vs. Chelsea FC  0:0

Chelsea needed to take all three points against Birmingham City to put distance in the table between them and Manchester United.  Meanwhile, Birmingham City were flying high on a nine-match undefeated run. The Blues have been patchy of late with draws against teams they really should have been beating. Alas, their questionable form continued against Birmingham City as they settled on a scoreless draw and a point for their efforts. They finished the week at the top of the table with 42 points.

Fulham vs. Tottenham Hotspur 0:0

Tottenham Hotspur settled on a scoreless draw with high-flying Fulham on Saturday. Fulham were after drumming Man U 3:0 so the home side were poised for another potential upset. Bookies had Fulham tipped only marginally long to the slightly favoured Tottenham Hotspur. All signs pointed to a possible stalemate and it was so as they shared in the spoils.

Liverpool FC vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2:0

Liverpool were desperate going into this match after succumbing to Portsmouth (of all sides they could have lost to this was not one most saw coming) 2:0. Nevertheless, Liverpool were heavily favoured to win outright against the Wanderers at Anfield Stadium on Boxing Day. The draw looked like a good selection in this match for soccer bettors, considering the patchy state of the Reds form of late and things going from bad to worse in their camp. In the end, the Reds did come through on their favourite odds (-375 at BetOnline Sportsbook) and soccer bettors who took the recommended Under 3 goals at -135 enjoyed an additional payout.

Arsenal vs. Aston Villa 3:0

Arsenal continued their imperious form against Aston Villa beating the visitors emphatically, 3:0. Can’t say there was a whole lot of doubt going into this match as Arsenal were heavily favoured for the win. Arsenal punched at their weight class, coming through on the recommended -140 odds to win outright as well on the Over 2.5 goals at -135

Hull City vs. Manchester United 3:1

Man U recovered from their embarrassing account against Fulham with a convincing performance against Hull City. Man U beat the home side 3:1 to move with two points of Chelsea in the table at the close of weekend action. Soccer bettors who took the recommended plays Man U at -250 and the Over 2.5 at -125 should have tucked away a good payout.

Other results

West Ham United 2:0 Portsmouth

Burnley 1:1 Bolton Wanderers

Manchester City 2:0 Stoke City

Sunderland 1:1 Everton

Wigan Athletic 1:1 Blackburn Rovers

Weekend College Hoops – Michigan Wolverines at Kansas Jayhawks

The Week That Was: Michigan

The Wolverines played only one game over the past seven days, as coach John Beilein’s bunch defeated the Detroit Titans, 75-64, at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

It’s been a rough start to the 2009-10 campaign for a Michigan program that reached the second round of last season’s NCAA Tournament. A veteran club with returning stars Manny Harris and DeShawn Sims figured to thump opponents in the non-conference portion of its schedule. However, UM could only muster a 4-4 record in its first eight games. Bad losses to Alabama, Boston College and Utah put the Maize and Blue under considerable pressure in game number nine against Detroit.

Fortunately, the Harris-Sims combo delivered the goods.

After trailing by three points (36-33) at halftime, Michigan surged in the second half behind its prime-time pair. Sims and Harris combined to produce 15 of UM’s first 17 points after halftime, and the dynamic duo later teamed up to score seven of Michigan’s final nine points against Detroit. Harris – a guard – finished with 27 points and six assists, while Sims – the team’s foremost post player – ended up with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

The Week That Was: Kansas

The Jayhawks had only one game this past week as well. The KU crew – playing at its home away from home in Kansas City, Mo. – breezed past La Salle, 90-65, on Dec. 12.

Coach Bill Self’s squad might not have enjoyed the cozy confines of Phog Allen Fieldhouse, but the No. 1 team in the country showed no signs of distress against the Explorers from the Atlantic 10 Conference. Freshman guard Xavier Henry threw down 31 points, while reserve center Markieff Morris produced a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Kansas, which improved to 9-0 on the season.

In many lopsided games, it’s easy for college kids to slack off and neglect the fundamental aspects of any athletic competition, not just basketball. Yet, Kansas resisted the temptation to clown around, an encouraging sign for a loaded ballclub. KU point guard Tyshawn Taylor didn’t commit a single turnover in 28 minutes of playing time, while starting center Cole Aldrich blocked five shots and continued to hustle at the defensive end of the court. In many ways and on many levels, this romp over La Salle is a blueprint for how KU wants to perform.

Outlook & Pick

Michigan plays down to inferior opponents, but the Wolverines also play up to the level of superior ballclubs. UM beat Duke last season and almost won at Connecticut, despite losing on the road at Iowa and nearly getting ambushed by a terrible Indiana team. Michigan will play hard and well in this game and make the proceedings interesting for at least 30 minutes if not more. However, the Jayhawks are functioning smoothly and will be playing on their home court in Lawrence, Kan. Michigan badly needs this win for its NCAA Tournament resume, but the Wolverines wish they could take on KU in Ann Arbor, and not at Allen Fieldhouse. Home-court advantage is a big reason why Kansas should deny Michigan’s upset bid.

College Basketball Picks: Kansas

College Football Weekend Bowl Preview – Meineke, Emerald and Music City

After a brief holiday break bowl season continues this weekend. BetOnline college football betting features three ACC programs trying to finish their season with a bang. Here’s a look at how these teams match up:

Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh (-2.5, 44.5)

The Tar Heels finished the season with an upset loss to North Carolina State, which snapped a four-game winning streak. The bowl schedulers did a great job matching UNC’s ninth-ranked rushing defense against Pitt’s freshman running back Dion Lewis, who led the Big East in rushing.

Lewis isn’t the only threat the Heels have to keep tabs on. Panthers quarterback Bill Stull was one of the best passers in the Big East and goes up against a UNC pass defense that allowed four touchdowns through the air in the loss to NC State.

Emerald Bowl: Boston College vs. Southern California (-7.5, 44)

Boston College is thrilled to face an elite program like USC. As for the Trojans, a bowl game on December 26 doesn’t quite rally the troops. The Eagles will take on a depleted USC squad. The Trojans have a starting tight end and tackle out for academics problems and star running back Joe McKnight was left in Los Angeles to sort out his recent eligibility issues.

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With Knight likely to miss the Emerald Bowl, Southern Cal will hand the ball to running back Allen Bradford. The junior lead the team with eight touchdowns and has found the end zone four times in the last three games. Redshirt freshman Matt Kalil will start at right tackle in place of Tyron Smith.

Music City Bowl: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Clemson Tigers (-7, 52)

Clemson may have a hard time getting up for this matchup with the SEC after losing its final two games of the season, including a 39-34 loss to Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship. That sends the Tigers and their game-breaking running back C.J. Spiller to Nashville. Spiller is coming off his own disappointment, after getting snubbed by Heisman voters. The senior totaled 15 touchdowns, rushed for more than 1,100 yards, and compiled 714 kick-return yards and four scores on special teams.

Kentucky heads into familiar territory after headlining the Music City Bowl three times in the last 10 years. The Wildcats won their most recent trips to Nashville, beating Florida State in 2007 and Clemson in 2006. Kentucky will stick with freshman quarterback Morgan Newton despite a healthy return from senior Mike Hartline from a knee injury. Newton passed for more than 110 yards per game, five touchdowns, and three interceptions in his seven appearances this season.

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