SPORTS WAGERS
UTAH -2½ over Sacramento
We were on the Jazz last night in a big letdown spot for the Blazers but it did not matter, as Portland took the Jazz to the cleaners in an easy 32-point win. That game at the Rose Garden last night was essentially over with about 8 minutes to go in the third with the Blazers up 24 points. Portland barely broke a sweat the rest of the way but the good news is that the Jazz barely broke one also after the half. Meanwhile, the Kings were fighting tooth and nails right down to the wire in a game against the hated and visiting Lakers. Back and forth they went down the stretch at Arco with each possession being more important than the last. In the end, the Kings lost by six after getting outscored in the final quarter 25-13. Now they’re being asked to pick themselves up and play in Utah after that one. The Kings have one road win this season in five tries. Overall they have four wins and 13 losses. They are a team that has to be 100% focused and determined to compete otherwise they cannot.
The Jazz are no better off than the Kings with just four wins also but their last three games have come against Houston, Indiana and Portland. They defeated the Rockets and lost to Indiana by just nine at home. After facing that trio, the Jazz are taking a huge step down in class and after an embarrassing loss last night, a response is expected. The Kings played their hearts out last night and figure to have little left, both mentally and physically, for this one.
Ken Thomson
Fresno St. -2.5
I know Fresno State gave up a ton of points to San Jose State. The Spartans have David Fales who is legit NFL talent and played his best game ever. Utah State could move the ball like that if they had Chuckie Keeton....They don't!! Fresno State is getting NO Respect.....Carr won't be stopped at home and the Dogs will roll.....home record is impeccable.....look for Fresno State vs. USC in Vegas Bowl after Fresno wins....I watched Utah State here in Vegas a few weeks back...they were very fortunate to win the game...could not stop Rebels who should have won the game.....Adams may be best receiver in Country...and Burse will be big receiving the ball and running back punts!!
Chase Diamond
Rutgers -3.5
This game features the 2-9 South Florida at the 5-6 Rutgers. Both teams are pretty sad this season Rutgers losing 3 straight and South Florida 5 straight. We played against Rutgers last week for a big winner. A big motivation advantage for Rutgers a win and they are playing in a bowl game South Florida doesn't have that motivation. We are getting a great deal spread wise because South Florida is coming off their best game of the season almost beating UCF so the line has been beat down by the public here. The bulls are 3-13 ats in there last 16 games following a ats win.
Andrew Lange
Dartmouth at Fort Wayne
Play: Fort Wayne -6.5
Following Illinois' 57-55 win over Fort Wayne, head coach John Groce had nothing but praise for the Mastodons.
“I saw that over the past two days (of watching film),” Groce explained. “I thought ‘Oh boy, these guys are a team.’ They really gel well together at both ends of the floor.”
“They were really physical,” Groce said. “They beat us to loose balls. They played really, really well.”
IPFW should have won the game had it not been for a 2-of-13 effort from the free throw line.
This showing however wasn't an isolated incident as IPFW lost on a buzzer-beater three at Dayton to start the year – and we know the Flyers are a quality basketball team.
But as with a lot of mid-major teams, getting up for the big boys isn't hard, it's staying focused against comparable competition – hence why IPFW has losses at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Miami-Ohio. The loss to Miami last time out was a home run spot for the RedHawks though IPFW had a 16 point second half lead but faltered late. Now off back-to-back losses and at home, I think we'll get the "good" Mastodons this evening as Dartmouth comes rolling into town.
The Big Green will play its second game in three days after losing at Northern Illinois 64-57. This is really only the second quality opponent Dartmouth has faced after losing to Bryant at home by 10. The Big Green were extremely young last season and appear poised to be more competitive in the Ivy League but I'm concerned about their level of talent and athleticism on the road against a quality foe. And despite playing only four games, it is alarming to see how little Dartmouth goes to the line (14.4% of their points) and how unsuccessful they are once they get there (60% as a team). We'll lay the moderate price here with the home squad.
The Duke's Sports
Utah St +3
Classic case of defense wins championships here. The Bulldogs are coming off a narrow loss to ruin their BCS hopes; in the process, they allowed a staggering 736 total yards to SJS. And the Bulldogs have historically not responded well after allowing 40+ points going a dismal 5-20-2 ATS. Utah State had its share of adversity to overcome mid-season losing its starting QB Keeton; however, they've responded well with Fr Darell Garretson who has a good supporting cast with SR RB DeMartino and an experienced offensive line. We'll look for Utah State to be productive offensively against the soft Bulldogs' defense. On the other hand, Utah State packs a solid punch defensively with a Top 20 defense that doesn't give up the explosive play often and stays tough backed up in the red zone (#6 nationally). Utah State 11-2 in their last 13 as a dog and 5-2 ATS in this series. The Aggies haven't won against FSU the past five meetings and hungry for a win here. Utah State the call.
LT Profits
Kansas vs Colorado
Pick: Colorado +1
The Kansas Jayhawks may be ranked sixth in the country, but they are in serious danger of losing for the second time in three games when they visit the Colorado Buffaloes, who are 50-7 straight up at home since Tad Boyle became their head coach. The Jayhawks were cruising along at 5-0 until they were upset by Villanova in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis last week, and they were then unimpressive while getting by UTEP 67-63 in a non-covering win the following day. It does not help that freshman sensation Andrew Wiggins is slumping, shooting 5-for-17 from the field those last two games. Colorado has won eight straight games since a season opening loss to Baylor and the Buffaloes are 6-0 at home with an average winning margin of +16 points. Colorado is 5-2 ATS in the last seven head-to-head meetings.
Stanford vs Arizona State
Pick: Stanford +3.5
Although the Stanford Cardinal have to travel to Tempe to face the Arizona Stats Sun Devils for the Pac-12 Championship, we feel Stanford is better on both sides of the ball and that their physicalness will prove too much for a finesse team like the Sun Devils. Stanford won the regular season meeting between these teams at home 42-28 in a game that was not that close as the Cardinal led 39-7 entering the fourth quarter. Stanford can beat up the ASU offense with a defense that is allowing only 3.0 yards per rush and 6.2 yards per pass attempt, and they could move the chains and control the clock offensively with a power running game averaging 5.0 yards per carry for the season, as running back Tyler Gaffney is peaking, averaging 152.5 rushing yards the last six games. Stanford is 19-6-1 ATS in its last 26 road games.
OC Dooley
Texas / Baylor Over 73
The weather conditions today in the state of Texas are poor and in this particular contest there is a chance of “freezing” rain while the “wind chill” will have the temperature in the teens. Despite the adverse weather conditions and the fact that the Texas Longhorns are coming off a “defensive” gem on Thanksgiving where they held the opposition to only 16 points, there has been no major reduction regarding this total. The reason for the spot remaining high has to do with a Baylor offense that is averaging a whopping 55.4 points per game. That is a per-game offensive mark that is right below the all-time record set by Army (56 points per game average) set back in 1944 which is nearly SEVENTY years ago. The oddsmakers seemingly have been unable to post a total high enough as Baylor is 14-4 OVER/HOME in the past eighteen appearances. Odds are the Bears will score plenty against a banged up Texas defense which back on Thanksgiving saw another starter (linebacker Steve Edmond) go down with a major injury. In the Turkey Night triumph the Longhorns defense were able to force the opposition into multiple mistakes which brings to the table an UNDEFEATED long term angle. After a game where they forced 3+ turnovers Texas is 6-0 OVER/ROAD