Dave Price
1 Unit Duke -12
Duke has more talent, more experience, has played tougher competition and has already played away from home. Expect an inexperienced Tennessee team to struggle in its first game away from home tonight. The Volunteers are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning record. We'll lay the points with the Blue Devils.
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit Missouri Tigers -4
The Irish get Tim Abromaitis back tonight, but that could actually hurt them in this game. The team has developed chemistry without him in winning their first 4 games. Now, all of a sudden, he gets thrown into the mix, and the offense is expected to go through him. While the presence of Abromaitis is crucial to the success of this team over the course of the season, I believe it will throw a hitch in Notre Dame's giddy-up this evening. Plus, we can't expect Abromaitis to be at his best in the first game of the season, especially when matched up against a Missouri squad that really gets after it defensively. Expect Abromaitis to be sucking a little wind in this one and to be a little out of sync. The venue also favors the Tigers. With this game being played in Kansas City, there will be mostly Mizzou fans on hand. In other words, this will be like a home game for the Tigers in terms of fan support. With almost everyone back, including their top 5 scorers (would have been 6 if Laurence Bowers wasn't out), Mizzou gets the call.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit Chiefs/Patriots OVER 46.5
The Patriots are 6-0 OVER in Monday Night Football home games under coach Belichick. We have seen an average of 50.7 total points scored in these games. In addition, plays OVER on home teams following a win by 10 points or more, provided their opponent scored 14 points or less last game, are 45-15 the last 5 seasons. We'll take the OVER tonight.
Larry Ness
Central Michigan vs Pepperdine
Pick: Central Michigan
CMU head coach Ernie Zeigler recruited his own son last year, the 6-5 Trey, but didn’t have much talent surrounding the budding star other than Jalin Thomas (15.9-5.3). The Chippewas went 10-21 last year and while Thomas is gone, Ziegler’s got a few more ‘weapons’ this year to add to his son. CMU is just 1-1 to open the season but as expected, Zeigler (16.5-13.5) is off to a terrific start. Last year, fellow guard Jackson was third on the team with a 7.5 average but he’s scoring 14.0 PPG after two games this season. Two major additions this year are 6-7 JC transfer Mbiagoto (7.5-9.5) and 5-11 freshman guard McBroom (11.5), a name all should like. Pepperdine was 12-21 last year and many want to take note of the team's early-season win over Arizona St but Herb Sendek’s team is a mess. Gone from LY’s team are guard Bell (18.9 PPG) plus the 6-7 Thompson (14.6-5.9) and I’m not sure Marty Wilson's team can replace those guys. Point in fact, 6-8 senior forward Taylor Darby is Pepperdine's leading scorer at 12.3 PPG. I’m taking the points.
Rocketman
St Bonaventure @ Siena
Play: St Bonaventure -7
St Bonaventure is 9-2 ATS last 3 years in November. Siena is 1-7 ATS since 1997 at home when the total is 130 to 134 1/2. Bonnies are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss. Bonnies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. Bonnies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning SU record. Bonnies are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games overall. Bonnies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Bonnies are 22-9 ATS in their last 31 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. Saints are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 home games. Saints are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 games following a SU win. Saints are 7-21-1 ATS in their last 29 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Saints are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 Monday games. Saints are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 games overall. Saints are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. We'll recommend a small play on St Bonaventure tonight!
DAVID BANKS
Kansas City / New England Over
Week 11 of the 2011-12 NFL season comes to a close on Monday night at Gillette Stadium where the New England Patriots (6-3, 5-4 ATS) will look to build off their huge divisional road win last week against the slumping Kansas City Chiefs (4-5, 5-4 ATS); kick-off for this AFC non-divisional clash is set to go live on ESPN at 8:30 ET.
It’s been quite the roller coaster ride for fans and bettors of the Kansas City Chiefs through 10 weeks of the season. Enormous injuries to huge playmakers aside, KC went on to drop each of its first three games (1-2 ATS), but then it rattled off four straight wins to claw above .500 for the year. Two of those triumphs came against the division rival Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers in back-to-back weeks; the latter coming in overtime on Monday Night. Unfortunately, the win streak came to an end in Week 9 at home against Miami and was then followed up by an embarrassing home defeat to Tim Tebow and the division rival Denver Broncos last week. News of starting QB Matt Cassell being lost for the season was announced early this week, so it looks as if QB Tyler Palko will be making his first ever start at the NFL level on the road in Foxboro – Not good! KC owns 2-2 SU & 3-1 ATS marks as visitors to date and has covered 11 of the L/13 times it was installed an underdog of 10.5 points or more.
The New England Patriots hadn’t lost three games in a row since 2002, and that streak remained intact at MetLife Stadium last Sunday night when Head Coach Bill Belichick’s squad erupted in the second half to pull out the 37-16 outright road win and cover. In doing so, the Pats swept the season series from the hated New York Jets and now sits atop the AFC East standings with four of their remaining seven games of the regular season to be played in front of the hometown faithful. QB Tom Brady was surgeon like in cutting apart the Jets defense last week taking his time when needed and rushing to the line to fluster Rex Ryan’s vaunted stop unit throughout the second half onslaught. He just might be able to take some time off in this one and allow his RB corps to have its way against a Chiefs defense allowing the opposition to gain an average of 134 YPG on the ground. New England stands 3-1 SU & 2-2 ATS as a host heading into this one with the lone defeat coming in their last home appearance against the New York Giants.
The last time these franchises met on the gridiron won’t soon be forgotten by Patriots fans, as it was the game in which Brady went down with a season ending knee injury and Matt Cassel was then called upon to lead the offense the rest of the way. New England still went on to win that game and stands 4-1 SU but 2-3 ATS in these teams five clashes dating back to 2000. Both Kansas City and New England have been moneymakers on MNF with the Chiefs 5-2 ATS their L/7 appearances and the Patriots 7-3 ATS their L/10. That said; New England is just 3-13 ATS the L/16 times it went off the board a home chalk of 10.5 points or more.
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
New England/ Kansas City Over 46.5: Surprise, Surprise. Im taking an Over. LOL. I do like this play though. I know that Palko is making his first ever start and that the Chiefs will try an protect him by keeping the ball on the ground, but I look at it a different way. The chiefs are in the middle of a divisional race in the AFC West and they know that the Patriots offense will not be held in check, so if they hope to win and stay in the AFC West race they WILL have to throw the ball. They cannot just sit on it. Tyler Palko does get to face the 32 ranked pass defense in the league as New England has allowed 308 ypg through the air so far, so I really expect the KC team to generate enough points for this game to go over. On the other side we know that New England will score with their 2nd ranked offense and 1st ranked passing offense. The Chiefs rank 14th vs the pass, but 23rd overall and 23rd in ppg allowed (24.2 ppg). I think the Pats are good for at least 34 points and I see now reason why a Chiefs team with their backs to the way can't at least put 17 points on the board. I look for at least 50+ in this one.
Hollywood Sports
Flames at Blue Jackets
Prediction: Under
The Flames (8-9-1-0) come off a 5-2 win versus Chicago on Friday -- and the Under is 5-1-1 in their last 7 games after a victory. Now after two straight games at home, Calgary goes back on the road where the Under is 5-1-1 in their last 7 games away from home. Colorado (4-13-0-2) comes off a 4-3 loss at Nashville on Saturday but return home now where the Under is 7-2-1 in their last 10 home games. The Avalanche has seen the Under go 8-2-1 in their last 11 games against an opponent that scored at least five goals int heir last game. And in the last 9 games between these two clubs in Colorado, 7 of these contests finished Under the Total. Those trends should continue tonight. Take the Under.