Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites.
— Cavaliers 115, Celtics 111- Cleveland is off to an 18-3 start.
— Lakers 105, Jazz 104- Laker starters were minus-23, subs +28.
— Clippers 126, Nuggets 122- Denver shot 58% from floor, still lost.
— Spurs 127, Kings 125- Wembanyama had 34 points, 13 boards, 11 assists.
— Mavericks 137, Trail Blazers 131- Doncic had 36 points, 13 assists.
— Magic 100, Nets 92- Orlando is off to a 15-7 start.
Quote of the Day
“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!!!”
Mr Carlson, WKRP in Cincinnati
Friday’s quiz
Where did Bills’ QB Josh Allen play his college football?
Sunday’s quiz
Miami Hurricanes lost their last five bowl games; they beat West Virginia 31-14 the last time they won a bowl, in Orlando back in 2016.
Saturday’s quiz
USC basketball coach Eric Musselman was also head coach for the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings.
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Monday’s Den: Wrapping up an NFL Sunday……..
Eagles 24, Ravens 19
Eagles’ first four drives: 14 plays, 23 yards, four punts.
Eagles’ last seven drives: 43 plays, 237 yards, 24 points.
Philly is 8-0 SU/6-2 in their last eight games.
Philly is 9-1-1 ATS in last 11 games with spread of 3 or fewer points.
Saquon Barkley ran ball 23 times for 107 yards and a TD.
Baltimore led 9-0 after the first quarter.
K Tucker missed a PAT and FG’s of 47-53 yards (he made 34-50 yard FGs).
Baltimore is 8-0 if they score 28+ points, 0-5 if they score less than 28.
Vikings 23, Cardinals 22
Vikings drove 62 yards, scored game-winning TD with 1:13 left.
Kevin O’Connell is 24-9 as a HC in one-score games, really good.
Arizona ran for 154 yards, most RY Vikings have allowed this year.
Minnesota is 8-17 ATS in last 25 games as home favorite.
Cardinals outgained Minnesota 406-273, but scored only one TD.
Arizona had 10 drives; 5-6 on FG’s, one TD, two INT’s on last three drives.
Arizona is 17-9 ATS in last 26 games as a road underdog.
Vikings have won 5 in row, are 10-0 giving up less than 30 points.
Seahawks 26, Jets 21
Jets led 21-7 after a 99-yard kick return in second quarter.
DE Marshall had 92-yard pick-6 that made score 21-13.
Seahawks are 3-0 since their bye, giving up 17-6-21 points.
Seattle allowed 26+ points in losses, 21 or less in wins.
Jets first three drives: 18 plays, 110 yards, 14 points.
Jets rest of game: 44 plays, 155 yards, outscored 7-0 by Seattle defense.
Jets are 9-15 ATS last 24 games as a home underdog.
Jets are 1-8 SU/ATS in their last nine games.
Steelers 44, Bengals 38
Wilson threw a pick-6 on Pittsburgh’s third play of the day.
Steelers’ next five drives: 35 plays, 302 yards, 27 points.
Steelers won/covered six of their last seven games.
Steelers are 11-5 ATS in last 16 games as a road underdog.
Wilson was 29-38/414 passing, with three TD’s.
Last eight games, Steelers are +13 in turnovers.
Cincinnati is 0-7 SU in games decided by fewer than 7 points.
Bengals are 4-1 if they allow 24 or fewer points, 0-7 if they allow more than 24.
Buccaneers 26, Panthers 23 OT
Carolina led 16-10 after the third quarter.
Carolina scored on 25-yard TD pass with 0:30 left to go ahead 23-20
Tampa Bay kicked 51-yard FG at the gun to force overtime.
Seven of Tampa Bay’s last nine games went over the total.
Carolina QB Young threw for 298 yards; he has gotten a lot better.
WR Thielen caught 8 passes for 99 yards and a TD.
Last four games, Panthers are 2-2 SU/4-0 ATS.
Carolina is 6-2-1 ATS in last nine NFC South home games.
Chargers 17, Falcons 13
Chargers’ only TD was 61-yard pick-6 late in third quarter.
Chargers won/covered five of last six games.
Bolts in first half: 31 plays, 148 yards, 3 FG’s on four drives.
Chargers held on in 2nd half: 15 plays, 40 yards, no points.
Atlanta lost its last three games SU, scoring 3 TD’s on 29 drives.
Cousins threw 4 INT’s, 3 of them on Falcons’ last four drives.
Falcons were held to 17 or fewer points in all six losses.
Falcons/Tampa Bay are now tied for first atop NFC South.
— Famous birthdays, December 2nd:
Steven Bauer, 68
Mark Kotsay, 49
Britney Spears, 43
Aaron Rodgers, 41
Gary Sanchez, 32
Aaron Jones, 30
Colts 25, Patriots 24
Down 24-17, Colts drove 66 yards, scored TD with 0:12 left.
Then they went for 2 points; QB Richardson ran for the winning score.
6-7 Colts are 5-4 in games decided by 6 or fewer points.
Despite the win, Indianapolis is 1-4 ATS in its last five games.
NE outgained Colts 422-253, but had only 2 TD’s in 6 trips to red zone.
Patriots lost their last three games, giving up 28-34-25 points.
Over is 5-1 in New England’s home games.
Patriots are 1-10 when they allow more than 10 points.
Rams 21, Saints 14
First regular season game in McVay era Rams didn’t score in 1st half.
Rams in first half: 23 plays, 93 yards, no points.
Rams in second half: 29 plays, 239 yards, 21 points.
Rams won five of their last seven games, after a 1-4 start.
Saints in first half: 43 plays, 159 yards, only six points (led 6-0 at half).
NO is 1-4 in one-score games this year.
Saints are 6-9 ATS last 15 games as a home underdog.
New Orleans is 9-16-2 ATS last 27 games coming off a win.
Texans 23, Jaguars 20
Texans first five drives: 33 plays, 125 yards, six points.
Texans last four drives: 23 plays, 171 yards, 17 points.
WR Collins caught 8 passes for 119 yards.
Houston has six wins by 6 or fewer points.
Jaguars’ QB Lawrence was KO’d (concussion( by a violent hit.
Jaguars lost last five games, by 3-5-5-46-3 points.
Jacksonville covered five of their last six games.
Jaguars are 7-3 ATS last ten games as a home underdog.
Commanders 42, Titans 19
Washington’s first four drives: 26 plays, 197 yards, 28 points.
Commanders led 21-0 after first quarter, outgained Titans 463-245.
Washington is 7-0 when it gives up less than 26 points.
McLaurin caught 8 passes for 73 yards, two TD’s.
Washington ran ball for 267 yards (5.9 yards/carry)
Titans are 2-6 SU/1-7 ATS in last eight games.
Titans scored 31-20-32 points in wins, 19 or fewer in their losses.
Tennessee is 4-10 ATS in last 14 games as a road underdog.
Bills 35, 49ers 10
49ers lost last three games, giving up 35-38 points in last two.
Buffalo ran ball for 220 yards, outgained SF 372-239 on a snowy night.
Star RB McCaffrey (knee) could be out for the season.
49ers are 0-6 when they gain less than 400 yards.
Buffalo’s first four drives: 26 plays, 238 yards, 21 points.
Bills won their last seven games (6-1 ATS); they clinched AFC East.
Last eight games, Bills are +12 in turnovers (17-5).
Last seven Buffalo games went over the total.
— Hall of Fame basketball coach Lou Carnesecca, who led St John’s to two Big East tournament titles and a 1985 Final Four appearance, died Saturday at age 99.
Carnesecca led St. John’s to eighteen 20-win seasons and 18 NCAA tournament appearances; he had a 526-300 record, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
RIP, coach.
— New York Mets signed P Frankie Montas to a 2-year, $34M deal; Montas was 7-11, 4.84 in 30 starts last year, for the Reds/Brewers. He is 44-46, 4.09 in 129 MLB starts.
— Bill Vinovich was the referee for the Cardinals-Vikings game in Minnesota Sunday; during the week, he was a basketball referee at the Acrisure tournament in Palm Springs, CA. I saw him do at least two games during the week (Thursday/Friday??) Busy week for a good official.
NBA
Monday, December 2
Trend Report
Miami vs Boston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Miami's last 11 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Boston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Miami
New Orleans vs Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Orleans's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of New Orleans's last 9 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Atlanta's last 18 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Atlanta's last 9 games when playing at home against New Orleans
Brooklyn vs Chicago
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Brooklyn's last 7 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Brooklyn is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games when playing at home against Brooklyn
LA Lakers vs Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Lakers's last 5 games
LA Lakers is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
Minnesota is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games