Miscellaneous Articles

NFL Picks: Packers at Vikings Odds and Betting Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 12/27/2012

It’s always exciting when these two bitter rivals play — even if it seems wrong for a key NFC North game to be decided inside where it is comfortable instead of outside in the bitter cold and snow. This game should be even more exciting than most, though. Both teams have a lot on the line, and there is history on the line as well. If Green Bay wins this one then they secure the second seed, and the Packers get the coveted bye week before their playoff journey begins. If they lose and San Francisco wins, then they would drop to the third seed and would host Chicago, Minnesota or the Giants next week.

NFL Picks: Bears at Lions Predictions and Betting Odds
by Trevor Whenham - 12/27/2012

When I told my son about this game, he was adamant that the Lions were going to win. His reasoning was simple — Lions roar louder than Bears. He’s two, and in his world that’s all that matters. Detroit probably wishes it really were that simple. If it were, then there aren’t many teams that could beat a Lion. Sadly, though, it’s about football, not your spot on the food chain, and on that front the Lions are in a very tough spot. The truth is that this year they just haven’t been very good, and now they have nothing at all to play for.

NCAA Bowls Fantasy Matchups Odds and Betting Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/27/2012

My last college football story of 2012 – wow, that still is hard to fathom – takes a look at Sportsbook.ag fantasy matchups in terms of highest-scoring team in bowls from Dec. 28 through the National Championship Game. I will simply list each option below and give you my thoughts.

NFL Week 17 Player Props Odds and Betting Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/27/2012

If you have followed these weekly NFL props stories I have done this season, you know I get giddy about predicting the futures of NFL head coaches. Well, for Week 17 Bovada has one more head coaching prop, so let’s get to that first. How many head coaches will be fired or resign by the time the first playoff game kicks off: “over/under” 6.5.

Week 17 NFL Teasers Advice: Best Three for Basic Strategy Teases
by George Monroy - 12/27/2012

Welcome to the final week of the season and one of the last chances to wager on a basic strategy teaser until the 2013 NFL season. The year has come and gone faster than a pick-six that pulls off a cover and ruins the spread. It seems like only yesterday that the replacement referees were messing up games and taking years off the life expectancy of NFL bettors everywhere. But, luckily for NFL gamblers, basic strategy teasers have won at an 85 percent rate this season, and they have been a solid investment for sports bettors all year. Let’s just jump right in and take a look at this week’s basic strategy teaser games and try to find the best value wagers for the final week of the season.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 17 Over and Under Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 12/25/2012

Last week in the NFL, seven games went “over” the total, eight stayed “under” and there was one “push”. This means that over the past 10 weeks the oddsmakers have been able to keep the results on the NFL total line just about dead even with an overall record of 71-74-4. I went even across the board with my top three picks last week at 1-1-1 to take my year-to-date record to 24-19-2. With just one more week to sharpen my edge for the playoffs, I dug deep into this Sunday’s matchups in an effort to unearth the value in the total line.

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 17 vs. Giants
by Dave Schwab - 12/25/2012

The Philadelphia Eagles will once again try and play the role of spoiler when they invade MetLife Stadium this upcoming Sunday afternoon for their season finale against the New York Giants. This NFC East clash is set to get underway at 1 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast on FOX.

Week 16 NFL Teasers Advice: Best Three for Basic Strategy Teases
by George Monroy - 12/21/2012

The final few weeks of the NFL season can be tricky for bettors, as some teams have their playoffs fates already locked up while others are still fighting for their postseason lives. However, if bettors can stay patient, the last two weeks of the season could also present gamblers with more than a few great opportunities to wager on. So, let’s take a look at this week’s basic strategy teaser games and see which matchups have the best value.

NFL Picks: 49ers at Seahawks Betting Odds and Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 12/20/2012

This game isn’t actually life-or-death for either team, but there is a whole lot on the line when the 49ers meet the Seahawks on Sunday night in the last game before Christmas. If the 49ers win the game they will win the NFC West, and they will be one last win or a Green Bay loss away from securing a bye. A loss isn’t fatal for them — they can still secure the division with a win in their finale, though their chances of a bye would be badly hurt.

NFL Week 16 Player Props, Leaders Odds and Betting Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/20/2012

Numbers are hallowed in Major League Baseball. I likely don’t have to tell you what the single-season home run record is or how many career leader Barry Bonds has. Or what Joe DiMaggio’s consecutive hits record is. Or the last player to hit .400 or win 30 games.

Weekly CFB Mid-Major Betting Report: Ohio Bobcats Bowl Game
by Aaron Smith - 12/20/2012

The Ohio Bobcats didn’t accomplish the things they set out to do this year. The season started on a very high note with a win at Penn State and a 7-0 start to the year. In the end, the Bobcats would lose four of their last five regular season games to finish at 8-4. There was no MAC title game and no chance of a major bowl game. The Bobcats were selected to play in the Advocare V100 Independence Bowl.

NFL Totals Betting: Week 16 Over and Under Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 12/17/2012

The results on the NFL total line have basically remained even for the last nine weeks of the season with 64 games going “over” the total, 66 games staying “under” and three games ending as a “push”. Despite the oddsmakers’ ability to sharpen these lines down to a razor-thin edge, another 2-1 record for last week raised my overall record on the year to 23-18-1. Since we are down to the final two weeks of the regular season, I decided to dig even deeper into this Sunday’s matchups to find where the value lies in the total line.

Free College Bowl Game Picks for Mid-Major Matchups
by Dave Schwab - 12/17/2012

The college bowl season kicked off this past Saturday with the first two of the 35 college bowl game on this year’s slate. The betting public continues to focus much of its attention on the upcoming BCS Bowl series and national title game. However, I continue to focus mine on the bowl games that feature teams exclusively from the mid-majors. These matchups tend to stay well under the radar but often times offer a tremendous amount of value to your overall betting strategy if you know how to properly handicap the games.

Weekly Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks: Week 16 vs. Washington
by Dave Schwab - 12/17/2012

The division-leading Washington Redskins will look to take one step closer to their first NFC East title since 1999 this Sunday when they travel to Lincoln Financial field to face the 4-10 Philadelphia Eagles. The game is slated to get underway at 1 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast on FOX.

49ers at Patriots Picks and NFL Betting Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 12/13/2012

Up until last weekend the best game any team had played all year was San Francisco’s 34-0 win at the Jets. Now that distinction belongs to the Patriots. Their showdown at home against Houston was supposed to be a battle between the elite squads in the AFC, but it turned out to be a stunning mismatch. New England was close to flawless, and they made the Texans look ridiculous. Now they come off that game to face the best team in the NFC in what could easily wind up being a Super Bowl preview. It’s a second very tough game in a row, but it’s also the last big test — only Jacksonville and Miami remain after this one.

NFL Week 15 Player Props, Leaders Odds and Betting Picks
by Alan Matthews - 12/13/2012

Certainly the marquee game in Week 15, all due respect to Denver-Baltimore, is San Francisco at New England, an incredibly tough back-to-back for the Patriots after thumping the Texans on Monday night. Right now, New England and San Francisco are the respective-odds on favorites in the conferences. Thus Bovada offers a Week 15 special on whether that’s the Super Bowl matchup: “no” -1500 and “yes” +750.

2013 Sugar Bowl Picks: Louisville vs. Florida Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 12/13/2012

Judging by the spread, the Sugar Bowl between Big East champion Louisville and BCS No. 3 Florida should be a mismatch. But the Cardinals are likely to be highly motivated as they are playing in just their second BCS bowl – the first being the Jan. 2, 2007, Sugar Bowl, which Louisville won over Wake Forest.

2013 Outback Bowl Picks: Michigan vs. South Carolina Odds and Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 12/13/2012

It has been a disappointing year to be a Michigan fan. As a diehard Michigan fan, I can say that without question. The defense has been sound, but the offense was rocky. And as a result the team lost to their four best opponents of the year. There was really no excuse for them not to be in the Big Ten Championship Game — especially when you consider that it was Nebraska that beat them out, and the Huskers Championship Game performance was as humiliating as any performance can be.

2013 Capital One Bowl Picks: Nebraska vs. Georgia Betting Odds
by Aaron Smith - 12/12/2012

Georgia was one play away from playing for a BCS Championship against Notre Dame. Instead, the Bulldogs will now take on the 10-3 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Capital One Bowl. Nebraska was absolutely manhandled 70-31 by Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. Capital One Bowl organizers can’t be too disappointed with getting a matchup of two teams in the Top 16. In addition, both schools have a terrific fan base that travels very well. This should be a well-attended game.

2012 Sun Bowl Picks: USC vs. Georgia Tech Betting Odds
by Aaron Smith - 12/12/2012

No offense to the Sun Bowl, but one has to assume the USC Trojans are less than thrilled to be here. USC was the top ranked team in the preseason, and Matt Barkley flat out said he had returned for his senior year because he believed this USC team could win a national title. Not only did they not win a national title, but the Trojans lost five games during an extremely disappointing regular season. The Sun Bowl might be a nice bowl destination for some schools, but USC can’t be overjoyed about this game.