JEFFERSONSPORTS
NCAA HOOPS
KENT ST+1
KENT ST OVER 138
OKLAHOMA OVER 139
NBA
PHOENIX+4.5
Dr Bob
2 Star Selection
College of Charleston (-5) over ELON
College of Charleston had a rare down year last season, but former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins has all 5 of last year’s starters returning and the Cougars are playing very well and come into their Southern Conference opener riding a 4 game win streak and a win over South Carolina in their most recent game. Elon, meanwhile, has been dreadful so far this season and my ratings using this year’s games only would favor Charleston by 12 points. Elon, however, aren’t likely to continue to be as bad as they’ve been so far this season and using my pre-season rating on the Phoenix would result in a line of Charleston by 7 points. Road favorites sometimes have a tendency to relax a bit, but that isn’t the case in conference openers, which tend to eliminate any possible letdown. Charleston applies to a 36-12 ATS subset of a 124-81-2 ATS conference opening road favorite angle and Cremins’ team has had no trouble winning on the road. The Cougars are 16-8-1 ATS on the road under Cremins, including 8-2 ATS as a road favorite, and Cremins is at his best when he’s had at least a couple of days off to prepare for his opponent. Charleston is 23-11-1 ATS under Cremins when they’ve had 2 or more days off between games, including 6-0 ATS as a road favorite. I’ll take College of Charleston at -6 points or less in a 2-Star Best Bet.
2-Stars at -6 or less.
3 Star Selection
Detroit (+4 1/2) over WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE
Detroit sunk to levels they had rarely seen last season, as the Titans suffered through a 7-23 campaign in coach Perry Watson’s final season. Detroit is on the rebound with new coach Ray McCallum and a cast of new players that have raised the talent level. McCallum has also raised the level of intensity on the defensive side of the floor, as the Titans are now slightly better than average defensively (after compensating for opponents’ offense) after being horrible defensively last season. Detroit’s top 3 scorers and their best defender are all newcomers (3 transfers and a freshman) and the Titans have covered the spread in 3 consecutive games after struggling mightily on offense in their first two games. Milwaukee, meanwhile, played well in their opener against a horrible Loyola Marymount team, but they are 0-4-1 ATS since then and are now without veteran pointguard Ricky Franklin, who was suspended prior to the Panthers’ 21 point loss at Wisconsin and is out indefinitely. My ratings only favor Milwaukee by 2 points and Detroit applies to the same 95-29-1 ATS early season indicator that applied to Ball State in their 13 point win as a 6 ½ point dog at Wisconsin-Milwaukee last Tuesday. I’m hoping for similar results tonight and I’ll take Detroit in a 3-Star Best Bet at +3 points or more and for 2-Stars at +2 ½ or +2 points.3-Stars at +3 or more, 2-Stars at +2 1/2 or +2.
Special K
20* Cleveland State
Bestsportspicks
NBA - DEN
NFL - S. D.
NCAABB - BUFFALO
Ben Burns
Canadiens
Hurricanes
Lightning
Predators
Coyotes
RAS
Western Michigan/Virginia Commonwealth Over 134 1 UNIT
Dr Coglye West
7* Lou/Rut Over 51
3* Rut -10
3* Det/Van Under 5.5
4* Teaser Oklahoma/Texas
3* Okl -8
Executive
250 Mavs
250 St Mary's
MIKE NERI
3* Raiders
3* Rutgers
3* Lou/Rut Over
3* Clev St
Drew Gordon
1. 100,000♦ Raiders
2. 50,000♦ Rutgers
1. Raiders- Am I crazy backing the Raiders in this spot? No, despite the fact the Bolts are 10-1 ATS over their last 11 meeting with Oakland, I still believe this is the perfect spot to take advantage of a tail-spinning San Diego team. You can blame the loss of Merriman, or the average play of Tomlinson, or whatever you want, but no one can deny that this Chargers team has taken a BIG step back this season. So big in fact, that I just don't see much difference between these two teams, especially when you get down to the match ups...
Speaking of match ups, if you think Phillip Rivers is going to light up this Raiders secondary, then you haven't been watching CB Asomugha and company shutting down opposing passing attacks all season. You can laugh at the Raiders stunted pass offense, but you sure as hell better respect their pass defense, which allows just 192 passing yards per game (good for 8th in the NFL)! That leaves the game in LT's hands, and while in years past that might have been a good thing, this year his injuries and age are finally starting to catch up to him and its painfully obvious.
On the flip side, the Chargers defense can't stop anyone, ranked 27th in the NFL allowing 367 total yards per contest, slotted right above such terrible defenses as the Broncos and Rams! Now before you start knocking JaMarcus Russell and this below average Raiders passing attack, I want you answer one question: Against whom did Russell have his best passing day this season? You guessed it, the Chargers back in Week 4, tossing for 277 yards... So don't tell me that Russell can't get it done against this piss-poor Chargers defense.
Finally, the one thing the Raiders do extremely well is run the football, averaging a hearty 123 rushing yards per game this season. Running the ball effectively is the single best way to keep a game competitive, especially when you consider the number on this contest. Chargers are only middle-of-the-pack against the run this season, allowing 107 rushing yards per game on 4.0 yards per carry... Simply not good enough to keep the Raiders off the field consistently.
Bottom line, its payback time, as the Raiders avenge their 28-18 early season loss to the Chargers with an outstanding effort tonight at Qualcomm. While I'm not saying they win outright (although possible), I am saying is its time to jump off the Chargers bandwagon (if you already haven't) and you'll see EXACTLY why tonight.
Take the Raiders plus the points over the Chargers as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Rutgers- Talk about two teams headed in opposite directions, as the red-hot Scarlet Knights host the sputtering Cardinals in this Thursday night college clash! Listen guys, if you haven't had the chance to see this Rutgers team play over the last month and a half, let me be the one to tell you: They're rocking and rolling, winners of 5 straight (4-1 ATS), including a dominant 30-3 win over Army in their last one. More of the same tonight, and here's why:
Coach Kragthorpe better start inquiring about new digs, because his Cardinals have been an embarrasment over the last month, losing 4 games in a row SUATS, and looking lost in the process. Its hard to pinpoint where the Cards went wrong, but we can start with their defense, which is giving up an average of 408 total yards over their last 3 games (208 passing & 199 rushing)! Needless to say those are terrible numbers, and the only thing that's worse are the Cardinals offensive numbers over the same span, scoring just 16 ppg on 365 total yards!
Herein lies the problem, as Louisville is about to run smack into a Rutgers team playing inspired on both sides of the ball, scoring 38 ppg over their last 3, while allowing just 12 over the same span! Their two road wins, at Pitt and at South Florida were two of the more impressive performances I've seen from Rutgers in a long time. The fact they didn't let down against Army last week also say a lot about this team's focus, which is razor sharp right now.
Finally, you've got to like this match up for Rutgers QB Mike Teel, who over his last 4 games is averaging 322.5 passing yards per contest with 13 TDs and just 5 picks! Needless to say, this Scarlet Knights offense is firing on all cylinders, and after watching the Cardinals defense get thrashed at Pitt in their last road game, there's no question the Knights offense will continue to roll here. Rutgers protects their house and grabs the cash Thursday night!
Take Rutgers comfortably over Louisville in this college foobtall match up
MONEYLOCKOFTHEDAY
Oakland +10 (3 Units)
Texas -4 (3 Units)
UCONN -15 (2 Units)
Chad Jordan
LOU +10
Oskeim Sports
Kent St.
Jack Frost
Butler
Jigsaw Sports
Tennessee St
Triple Crown
4* St. Mary's
Roundball
3* Nuggets