Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Thursday, December 28, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
Scott Spreitzer
Dec 28 '17, 8:00 PM in 11h
NCAA-B | Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky
Play on: Western Kentucky -6 -110 at BMaker
I'm recommending a play on Western Kentucky on Thursday. Western Kentucky is 8-5 straight up and 8-3 ATS and Louisiana Tech is 3-7 ATS its last 10 road games dating to last season. The Hilltoppers are one of the few teams in Conference USA who can match Louisiana Tech's offensive firepower as WKU is shooting 50.6 percent overall and 38.9 percent from 3-point range. The Bulldogs have a .451 field goal percentage, but only .397 on the road. Louisiana Tech has a guard-oriented offense after losing two top frontcourt players from last season and no one on the team averages more than 5.4 rebounds per game. DaQuan Bracey, Jalen Harris and Jacobi Boykins combine for 45.4 points per contest. Western Kentucky answers with five players averaging double figures led by Darius Thompson with 14.2 per game and the Hilltoppers have outscored opponents 550-367 in the paint. WKU has covered the spread four of its last five home games and its five losses this season have come by a total of 22 points against some decent competition. We're recommending a play on Western Kentucky minus the points on Thursday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
Red Dog Sports
Dec 28 '17, 3:00 PM in 6h
Soccer | Arsenal vs Crystal Palace
Play on: Crystal Palace +330 at Bovada
Crystal Palace +330
Arseanal is a tough team in the England Premier League and favored -140 in this soccer match set for Thursday afternoon. However, Crystal Palace hasn't lost in their last 8 matches having either won or tied. Nice value on the home team at +330.
Teddy Covers
Dec 28 '17, 5:15 PM in 9h
NCAA-F | Virginia Tech vs Oklahoma State
Play on: Oklahoma State -4 -110 at BMaker
Take Oklahoma State (#244)
There’s been a fair bit of buzz in the betting markets about Oklahoma State’s late season ‘collapse’, driving concerns about the Cowboys mentality as they face Virginia Tech in the Camping World Bowl. For a team that had Playoff aspirations, a December 28th bowl game may not push the appropriate motivational buttons for Mike Gundy’s squad.
That being said. Oklahoma State DIDN’T ‘collapse’ down the stretch, winning two out of three after their loss to Oklahoma, including a solid road win at bowl bound Iowa State. They didn’t cover a pointspread in those three ballgames, but that certainly wasn’t unusual for a team that spent most of the season as an overvalued commodity, just 2-6-1 ATS following their 3-0 start.
The Cowboys strength, all season, was their dynamic passing game. Senior QB Mason Rudolph and senior WR James Washington truly enjoyed a special career together in Stillwater. Rudolph enters the bowl game with more than 13,000 career passing yards and a 90-26 TD-INT ratio. Washington averaged more than 20 yards per reception this year, with 221 career receptions for the Cowboys at 19.7 yards per catch. Stop that duo and Okie State is beatable. Otherwise, you’ve got to outscore Mike Gundy’s squad, which only elite offensive teams are capable of doing.
Virginia Tech was most assuredly NOT an elite offensive team this year. The Hokies scored more than 24 in ACC play only once all season. They were held to a grand total of 62 points in their final four ballgames, including SU road losses at Miami and Georgia Tech. Frosh QB Josh Jackson cannot be positively compared to the elite senior QB on the other sideline. The Hokies lacked playmakers around Jackson. Top receiver Cam Phillips was Jackson’s top threat with 71 catches, but he’s out for the bowl game with a hernia. No Virginia Tech RB reached 500 rushing yards, and top backs Travon McMillan and Deshawn McClease didn’t have a single run of 25+ yards all season.
Compared to the potent offenses Okie State has been seeing all year in the Big 12, Virginia Tech’s sputtering attack doesn’t stand up well. The Okie State defense isn’t anywhere near elite, but they’re good enough to get stops against this caliber of competition. Expect a Cowboys win by a TD or more – facing Virginia Tech in Orlando is enough of a motivator to get Okie State interested. Take Oklahoma State.
Jimmy Boyd
Dec 28 '17, 9:00 PM in 12h
NCAA-F | Stanford vs TCU
Play on: UNDER 49 -110
Free pick on Stanford UNDER
Dustin Hawkins
Dec 28 '17, 9:00 PM in 12h
NCAA-B | San Francisco vs San Diego
Play on: San Francisco +4 -110 at betonline
Free Play on San Francisco +4 -110
Tommy Brunson
Going to go Over the total in tonight's Alamo Bowl from San Antonio as Stanford and TCU get the scoring going.
I know both teams are predominantly Under teams - Cardinal 8 of 13 this season Under, while the Horned Frogs were 10 of 13 Under the total for the season - but I also know that BOTH teams can score the football, and this total is simply too low to trust a 10-7 defensive slug-fest to ensue.
Stanford scored 4 TD's or better in 7 of their 13 games this season, while TCU managed to go for 24 points or better in 10 of their 13 games this year. The Frogs also allowed 4 teams this season to get 31-points or more on them as well, while the Cardinal enter at 6-1 Over the total their last 7 neutral site contests.
Simply put, this total is very low for a game being played indoors.
Both teams know how to score, and we will see enough scores to land easily Over the total.
Alamo Bowl Over between TCU-Stanford.
3* TCU-STANFORD OVER
High Stakes Syndicate
Free Selection for Thursday: Pepperdine Waves + 6
John Anthony Sports
Thursday's Free Selection: Northern Kentucky Norse - 16
Mike Wynn
Free Play: Free Pick Marshall -11 Over So Mississippi
Jim Feist
Jim Feist's Comp Pick, Thursday, December 28, 2017
CF (245) STANFORD VS (246) TCU
Take: UNDER
Reason: Your free play for Thursday, December 28, 2017 is in the College Football bowl game between Stanford and TCU. Alamo Bowl pits No 16 Stanford playing No 13 Texas Christian. The Stanford Cardinal are 9-4 S/U and 6-6-1 ATS this season. Stanford has done well in Bowl games, going 6-2 ATS their last eight times. These clubs are pretty evenly matched, with Stanford scoring 32 ppg and TCU at 33.2 ppg. Both clubs were excellent home teams, covering all six of their home contests. Stanford closed out the season with a pair of covers against USC and Notre Dame, while TCU lost their last two spread games to Oklahoma and Baylor. Stanford's success lies in Bryce Love, who rushed for 1,973 yards and 17 TD's this season. Love is also a big play back, breaking runs of 50+ yards in all but two of his games this year. Love will go against a TCU defense ranked 12th in the nation and 4th best rushing defense. I think this is one of the best two matched teams in the entire bowl season and will be one heck of a game to watch. I think this game is going to be much lower scoring than what most people think. Take the UNDER as your free play for Thursday.
Razor Sharp
YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR THURSDAY: Take OAKLAND (CBB) -3 over WI-Milwaukee
Totals4U
Thursday's Free Selection: Bradley/Drake over 135 1/2
Jeff Allen Sports
Thursday's Free Selection is on the Toronto Maple Leafs
Roz Wins
Roz's Thursday, Decmeber 28, 2017, Free Pick
NBA (509) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS VS (510) PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
Take : 76ers