SPORTS ADVISORS
Rutgers (4-2, 1-3 ATS) at Army (3-4, 2-5 ATS)
Rutgers plays under the Friday night spotlight for the second straight week, this time hoping for better results as it makes the short trek to West Point for a non-conference clash with Army.
The Scarlet Knights saw a four-game winning streak go by the wayside last Friday night, falling 24-17 to Big East rival Pittsburgh as a six-point home underdog. Rutgers jumped out to a 7-0 lead, then got outscored 24-3 before getting a fourth-quarter TD pass to cap the scoring. The Scarlet Knights got outgained 376-286, including a 223-38 discrepancy in rushing yardage.
Rutgers’ two losses were in Big East play (Cincinnati and Pittsburgh), scoring just 15 and 17 points in those two contests, while the four victories came against lesser foes Howard, Florida International, Maryland and Texas Southern by a combined score of 144-35.
Army failed to capitalize on a thrilling 16-13 overtime victory over Vanderbilt as a 10-point home underdog, losing 27-13 at Temple as a 10½-point underdog Saturday. The Black Knights’ defense was outstanding, yielding just 195 total yards, and Army had a 181-80 rushing edge, but the offense went just 1-for-11 on third downs and produced just 13 first downs to 27 for Temple.
Army has scored between 13 and 19 points in five of its last six games, and its three victories came against Vanderbilt (16-13) as well as Mid-American Conference bottom-feeders Eastern Michigan (27-14) and Ball State (24-17), three teams that are a combined 2-18.
These regional rivals met each of the last two Novembers, with Rutgers rolling both times by scores of 41-6 as a 20-point road chalk in 2007 and 30-3 as an 18-point home favorite last year. The Scarlet Knights have won five straight meetings since 1998 by margins of 12, 44, 15, 35 and 27 points. Rutgers is also 6-0 ATS in the last six series clashes since 1997.
The Scarlet Knights are on ATS runs of 14-6 on the road (5-0 last five), 11-4-2 in non-conference play, 7-0-1 on artificial turf and 10-4 as a double-digit favorite. However, they’re also in ATS slumps of 0-2-1 as a favorite, 2-6 as a road favorite, 0-5-1 when laying 3½ to 10 points and 1-3 after a SU loss. Army is 5-2-1 ATS in its last eight October contests, but otherwise is in pointspread ruts of 2-7 overall, 1-5 at home, 1-10 against the Big East, 7-19-1 as a home underdog and 1-8-1 when catching between 3½ and 10 points.
Rutgers carries “under” trends of 3-0 overall, 12-3-1 in October, 3-0 in non-conference action and 3-0 after a SU loss. Similarly, the Black Knights are on “under” runs of 4-1 overall, 8-1 at home, 4-1 versus Big East opponents and 8-3 on artificial turf. Finally, these teams stayed under the posted price in their last two meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: RUTGERS and UNDER
DUNKEL INDEX
Rutgers at Army
The Scarlet Knights look to take advantage of an Army team that is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games versus the Big East. Rutgers is the pick (-10) according to Dunkel, which has the Scarlet Knights favored by 12 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Rutgers (-10)
Game 305-306: Rutgers at Army
Dunkel Ratings: Rutgers 88.331; Army 75.835
Dunkel Line: Rutgers by 12 1/2; 41
Vegas Line: Rutgers by 10; 38 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Rutgers (-10); Over
NHL
Minnesota at St. Louis
The Blues look to build on their 10-3 record in their last 13 home games against teams with a road winning percentage of less than .400. St. Louis is the pick (-150) according to Dunkel, which has the Blues favored by 1/2 a goal. Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-150)
Game 1-2: Florida at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Florida 11.701; Pittsburgh 13.192
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Pittsburgh (-240); 6
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-240); Under
Game 3-4: Minnesota at St. Louis
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 12.062; St. Louis 12.180
Dunkel Line & Total: St. Louis by 1/2; 5
Vegas Line & Total: St. Louis (-150); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-150); Under
Game 5-6: Carolina at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 11.225; Colorado 11.646
Dunkel Line & Total: Colorado by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Colorado (-115); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-115); Over
CFL
Hamilton at Toronto
The Argonauts look to take advantage of a Hamilton team that is 5-15-1 ATS in its last 21 meetings in Toronto. Toronto is the pick (+4) according to Dunkel, which has Hamilton favored by only 2 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+4)
Game 451-452: Hamilton at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: Hamilton 107.740; Toronto 105.381
Dunkel Line: Hamilton by 2 1/2; 52
Vegas Line: Hamilton by 4; 48
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+4); Over
Game 453-454: Edmonton at Calgary
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 106.761; Calgary 114.069
Dunkel Line: Calgary by 7 1/2; 49
Vegas Line: Calgary by 5 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Calgary (-5 1/2); Under
JIM FEIST
FLORIDA PANTHERS / PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
TAKE UNDER
Florida has a terrible offense, averaging just over 2 points per game. How about 16 goals in 7 games? That stumbling offense comes to play a first place Pittsburgh team, one with a terrific defense, allowing 19 goals in 9 games. The Penguins are on a 4-0 run allowing 1, 2, 1 and 1 goals! What would you expect from the defending Stanley Cup champions, as they pushed their record to an NHL-best 8-1? They are off a 5-1 win over St. Louis, Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 22 saves to improve to 8-0, setting a career high for most consecutive victories. Play the Panthers/Penguins Under the total.
Tom Freese
Carolina Hurricanes at Colorado Avalanche
Prediction: Colorado Avalanche
Colorado is 15-7-2 their last 24 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days. Colorado is 4-1 with one day of rest. The Avalanche are 120-54-14 their last 188 games vs. a team with a road win percentage of less than 40%. Carolina is 0-6 their last 6 road games and they are 0-5 vs. a team with a winning record. The Hurricanes are 0-4 their last 4 games and they are 0-6 in the Mile High City.
Jr Tips
WILD at BLUES
A tough road schedule has taken its toll on the Minnesota Wild and the Western Conference's worst team looks to avoid a seventh defeat in as many road games tonight when they take on the St. Louis Blues. Minnesota is adjusting to a new system under first-year coach Todd Richards and has already played six road games and lost them all while getting outscored 22-11.They lost both of their games in St. Louis last year and Niklas Backstrom was in net each time as he is 0-3 with a 5.18 GAA in three starts at Scottrade Center, getting pulled after two periods in two of them while backup goalie Josh Harding has given up 11 goals in two starts this season. St. Louis went 3-1 against the Wild last season behind right wing Brad Boyes, who had three goals and two assists in the Blues' three victories. Although St. Louis was dominant in a 5-0 victory at Anaheim 3 nights ago, they are cominn back home after a dismal end to a three-game road trip after a 5-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Tuesday.The Blues held a team meeting upon returning home and there is no doubt they are looking for more from Boyes who has one goal this season after leading St. Louis in that department each of the last two seasons and had 33 in 2008-09. There enthusiasiam at home will spell trouble for the Wild who has lost their last 7 on the road.
TAKE ST. LOUIS -145
LT Profits
Carolina Hurricanes @ Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche may the most defensively improved team in the NHL, and we look for them to keep this home meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes Under the total.
Defense was a major liability for Colorado last season, but this year, they are allowing just 2.11 goals per game, third best in the league behind only the Phoenix Coyotes and the Buffalo Sabres. Even more impressive is the fact that seven of their nine games have been on the road, and they have allowed a total of two goals in two home games. Craig Anderson has started all nine games in net, and he has posted an excellent .934 save percentage with a 2.06 GAA.
As for the Hurricanes, they are struggling offensively, averaging 2.10 goals per game overall and a dismal 1.75 goals per game on the road. They have exceeded three goals just once in eight games this season, and it is unlikely that they will rediscover their offense here the way the Avs are playing defense right now. The biggest asset for Carolina right now may be goalie Cam Ward, and his success is usually the only reason the Canes are not blown out more often.
That does bode well for the Under though, and such should be the case again tonight.
Pick: Hurricanes/Avalanche Under 5.5
Randall the Handle
ARMY +10½ over Rutgers
Rutgers season hasn’t exactly gone as planned and as it turns out quarterback play has been its major undoing. Throughout this college football season we have repeatedly seen teams with good talent lose games because of inefficient quarterback play and Rutgers is no different. After getting blitzed at home in Week 1 against Cincinnati, Rutgers turned the QB job over to true freshman Tom Savage. Savage has predictably been shielded from making any big plays by the coaching staff and as a result of the conservative play calling Rutgers is dead last in the Big East in passing yards at 192 yards a game. The offense is way too inconsistent and unpredictable to lay points against a team that employs a run oriented offense in Army. Army is one of the last teams in D-I to employ a strict run-oriented offense and that works to their advantage when catching double-digit points. Army has thrown for a grand total of 463 yards this season, instead using the run to keep games close and control time of possession. While this run-first offense certainly can’t be used to win every game, the matchup against offensively challenged Rutgers this week certainly works in Army’s favor. Army has beaten SEC opponent Vanderbilt on the road and aside from a 31-10 defeat to Iowa State its defense hasn’t allowed more than 21 points in a game all year. Army will run their system, bleed the clock and keep Rutgers off the field. Rutgers has only played one road game this year against awful Maryland and really hasn’t shown any reason to lay double-digit points on the road. Army has beat a BCS team this season and don’t think they can’t do it again. Play: Army +10½ (Risking 2.16 units to win 2).
ST. LOUIS -½ +1.07 over Minnesota Pinnacle
The Blue Notes have dropped four of five and are coming off an ugly 5-1 loss to the champs. That loss and its current funk sure isn’t going to sit well with anyone, as these Blues are too determined and to talented to go into an extended bad run. Now they’ll take a huge step down in class when facing perhaps the leagues most disappointing club thus far. The Wild have just two wins in eight games and zero wins in regulation time. On the road they’re a perfect 0-5 and they’ve been outscored 20-10. After the first line of Koivu, Havlat and Brunette, the Minnesota offense is non-existent. Shut down that line and you pretty much can’t lose. Pierre Marc Bouchard remains out of the line-up. Anyway, the Blues have to be feeling extremely hungry after coming out extremely flat against the Penguins and they couldn’t have handpicked a riper opponent. Play: St. Louis -½ +1.07 (Risking 2 units).
John Ryan
Florida Panthers at Pittsburgh Penguins
Prediction: Florida Panthers
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Florida as they face Pittsburgh set to start at 7:30 EST. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 84-66 making 31 units since 1996. Play against any team against the money line after successfully covering the spread in 5 or more consecutive games, playing with 2 days rest. Here is a 2nd system and one that is worthy for you to write down and track for future qualified game opportunities. It has gone 282-299 making 88.1 units since 1996. Play on any team against the money line after having lost 3 of their last 4 games and is a terrible team winning 30% or less of their games in the first half of the season. Florida is a solid 15-8 against the money line (+13.1 Units) in road games after failing to cover 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread over the last 3 seasons. Take the Panthers.
Doc's Sports
Take Army over Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights have been a disappointment this season currently 0-2 in Big East and I do not believe they warrant this big of a number against a decent Army team that will play hard for sixty minutes. Army is making headway this season on the defensive side of the ball allowing just 286 total yards per game. They have created 14 turnovers in 7 games and have actually played better then what their record would indicate. It is hard to imagine that Rutgers will be motivated to play this game after a tough defeat to Pittsburgh last week. They will just go through the motions and only win by a field goal and thus we will cash with the underdog. Don’t miss Doc’s Sports strong college football card this week, topped by our ACC Game of the Year. This is a must have for any big game hunter.
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Rutgers/Army UNDER 39
Right off, the books are begging for us to take the Over with this line and they have successfully wooed the public. I'm not going to bite. Army is a running football team through and through and that keeps the clock moving. Rutgers also prefers to run the football as doing so was the catalyst to its 4-game winning streak. The Under is 8-1 in the Black Knights last 9 home games and 5-0 in the Scarlet Knights last 5 games overall. Army is also 7-0 Under in home games after playing 2 straight games against non-independents over the last 2 seasons with the combined total score in those games coming in 10.1 points under this number. Bet the Under for 1 Unit tonight and be sure to pick up my premium play on the side.