The hangover from New Year’s Eve has finally worn off (man, I am getting old) and I am ready to completely indulge myself in January sports.

This month is actually quite interesting. The NFL is as hot as Hansel right now, NCAA football is over and that could actually be a good thing (I live in the South), and NCAA hoops is just hitting its stride. The NBA has, surprisingly, been quite entertaining, although it seems like every other night some team scores only 62 points. And the NHL has quietly elbowed its way back into the national consciousness.

As the winter weather begins to rear its ugly head, just sit back and relax with a cold beer and some January sports. Lots of sports mean lots of action. And that means lots of potential for the Hot/Cold list. Here is this week’s version:

THE COLD LIST

10. Vegas Baby? – Nevada casinos reported that revenue was up in 2011, but they also reported a $4 billion loss on net earnings. The cost of doing business is outpacing revenue? Clearly I am not doing my part. Looks like I am booking a flight to Vegas right away; who’s coming with me?

9. Hockey Favorites – Over the past 180 days NHL favorites are 208-405 against the puck line. That is good for a miniscule 33.93 winning percentage.

8. Miami Marlins – Miami traded away Chris Volstad for Carlos Zambrano. Yes, you read that right, Carlos Zambrano. How in the hell is this guy still in the Major Leagues?

7. Wisconsin – The Badgers have lost three straight Big Ten games both SU and ATS. Iowa and Michigan State both went into Wisconsin and beat them, which never seems to happen. Wisconsin plays at Purdue next followed by games at home versus Nebraska and Northwestern. If the Badgers don’t sweep the next three games they are in huge trouble.

6. NFL Away Favorites – Over the last 30 days away favorites are covering lines only 40 percent of the time. The first week of the playoffs had only one situation where the away team was favored, and they failed to cover (Pittsburgh). The Divisional Round has the Saints favored on the road.

5. Tyrus Thomas – He is absolutely TURRIBLE! (Thanks, Charles.) How mad are the Chicago Bulls that they traded away LaMarcus Aldridge for him during that fateful draft of 2006? And yes, I’m salty because he did everything he could to submarine my big play on Charlotte last Friday

4. Baltimore Ravens at M&T – The Ravens, facing the Houston Texans at home this weekend, are just 1-3-1 ATS in their last five home games. This streak includes failed covers versus Arizona, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. The Bengals game was the only game that featured a line less than double digits (Ravens push). Around nine points favor Baltimore this week.

3. Los Angeles Kings Offense – The Kings have scored just six goals over their last four games. What makes this even worse is the fact that the Kings scored four times against Vancouver. LA is just 9-24-9 versus the total this season and I’m sure whatever fans they have are pulling for Wayne Gretzky to come out of retirement.

2. Queens Park Rangers – This EPL team is 1-2-7 over their last 10 matches. The set up of EPL records is different than American sports as the seven stands for losses and not draws/ties. There is a lot of value going against the Rangers on the pitch.

1. Going For It On Fourth Down – Oh, Mike Smith, don’t you wish you could have just kicked the field goals? Or don’t you wish you could have even scored on Sunday afternoon? I don’t have a huge problem with Smith’s decisions (I felt he should have gone for it all three times, or kicked it all three times, not mixed and matched.) But living and dying with the quarterback sneak was a very questionable call.

THE HOT LIST

10. The Charles Barkley Saturday Night Live Skit – If you haven’t had the opportunity to see the NBA on TNT skit on SNL, do yourself a favor and look it up on YouTube. Classic.

9. Getting Ref Derrick Collins At Home – If you are playing an NBA home game and Mr. Collins is your official, be thankful. Thus far this season in the home teams are a perfect 7-0 ATS. If you are an ‘under’ bettor you should like Collins as well, as the ‘under’ is 6-1 in those seven games. 

8. Barry Larkin – Larkin is one of 48 Hall of Famers that played their entire career for one team. Congrats, Mr. Larkin. I was definitely a fan.

7. Home Teams In The NFL Playoffs – The home team was 4-0 ATS in the first week of the NFL playoffs. The only true surprise was that Denver beat the Steelers. It wasn’t necessarily a surprise that they covered. This week’s home squads are all favored except the 49ers. I, for one, do not see this trend continuing this weekend.

6. NBA Favorites – Over the last week, favorites in the NBA are 34-26, which is good for a 57 percent winning clip. The ‘under’ has continued to be hot, going 35-23 in non-overtime games (60 percent).

5. The ‘Over’ In Bruins Games – The ‘over’ is 5-1 in the last six Boston Bruins games. The total has been easily reached in four of the five covers with the teams combining for at least seven goals.  

4. Syracuse Orange Update – The Cuse is still No. 1 in the land at 17-0 SU. With a victory over Marquette the Orange continued their dominance at home as well (although they didn’t beat the inflated spread). Not only has Syracuse been winning games, but also they have been cashing at the window. Syracuse is 11-5 ATS on the season.

3. St. Joseph’s – Is Jameer Nelson back in uniform and we didn’t know it? St. Joe’s is 10-2 ATS so far this season with covers at Harvard, Villanova, and over Georgia Tech on a neutral floor. The Atlantic 10 is outstanding this year and I think that they should have no less than three teams in the Field of 65. But there is a long way to go before we get there.

2. Playing Back-to-Back-to-Back – Teams that are playing the third game of a back-to-back-to-back games in the NBA are a perfect 6-0 ATS on the season. Who thought that would be a great opportunity to bet against said teams? Shame on you.

1. Check back next week for more Hot/Cold List.

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