Strike Point Sports
Thursday's College Hoops Plays
2-Unit Play. #709 Take Valparaiso +1.5 over Wright State (7 pm)
The Crusaders are 6-1 on the season, and with wins already over Austin Peay and Western Michigan, not to mention a strong showing against Vanderbilt, they have shown a lot more than Wright State. With a balanced offensive attack, Valpo will extend its winning streak to five and improve to 5-1 ATS with the outright win.
2-Unit Play. #713 Take Butler -10.5 over Detroit (7 pm)
The Bulldogs are going to be too much here. Butler shoots the ball too well from three, not to mention they have the talent that makes this match-up one-sided. And it will be the three ball that is the difference here. Each of Butler's last four wins over Detroit have been by double digits, and this one meeting will too. Butler covers here.
2-Unit Play. #719 Take Wisconsin Green Bay +2 over Loyola Chicago (8 pm)
With three nice victories in a row, look for the Phoenix to continue their strong play of late with a nice victory over the Ramblers. Loyola is just 2-4 this season, so they aren't in any position to be handing out points as a favorite. Wisconsin Green Bay is a much more capable offense, scoring 75 points per game to Loyola's 60. Behind first team Horizon player Mike Schachtner, the Phoenix will make it four straight in Chicago.
asa 4*
Pro Hockey Picks
12/6/2007
6:00:00 PM OVER 5.5 GOALS(5.5) BOSTON BRUINS
-vs- Montreal Canadiens
ASA 4* Over 5.5 goals in Boston vs Montreal @ 6 P.M.
We lost with the over in the Canadiens game on Tuesday but we come right back with it here after falling a half goal short in Montreal. The key here is the goaltending situation for both clubs. Also adding strong support to the Over here is some bad blood between these clubs! This has a tendency to result in plenty of extracirricular activities on the ice! That was exactly the case in the last meeting between these clubs as penalties and power plays were the story throughout a high-scoring game that saw 11 pucks find the back of the net! The Canadiens goaltending is an area of concern now due to the Cristobal Huet injury. The Habs have allowed too many goals in their recent games and that trend is likely to continue on the road tonight! The good news for Canadiens fans tonight is that the Montreal offense should strike early and often against a Bruins club playing the second night of a back to back. The Boston situation is made even tougher as Tim Thomas was hurt in last night's game. That means the Bruins may go with Finnish rookie Tuukka Rask in between the pipes tonight. It would be his first ever start at home in Boston and the Habs will certainly look to pressure him early and often. This game, with bad blood, extra intensity, back-up goalies, as well as two clubs each coming off of a loss has 'over' written all over it!
asa 4*
Pro Hockey Picks
12/6/2007
6:00:00 PM OVER 5.5 GOALS(5.5) BOSTON BRUINS
-vs- Montreal Canadiens
ASA 4* Over 5.5 goals in Boston vs Montreal @ 6 P.M.
We lost with the over in the Canadiens game on Tuesday but we come right back with it here after falling a half goal short in Montreal. The key here is the goaltending situation for both clubs. Also adding strong support to the Over here is some bad blood between these clubs! This has a tendency to result in plenty of extracirricular activities on the ice! That was exactly the case in the last meeting between these clubs as penalties and power plays were the story throughout a high-scoring game that saw 11 pucks find the back of the net! The Canadiens goaltending is an area of concern now due to the Cristobal Huet injury. The Habs have allowed too many goals in their recent games and that trend is likely to continue on the road tonight! The good news for Canadiens fans tonight is that the Montreal offense should strike early and often against a Bruins club playing the second night of a back to back. The Boston situation is made even tougher as Tim Thomas was hurt in last night's game. That means the Bruins may go with Finnish rookie Tuukka Rask in between the pipes tonight. It would be his first ever start at home in Boston and the Habs will certainly look to pressure him early and often. This game, with bad blood, extra intensity, back-up goalies, as well as two clubs each coming off of a loss has 'over' written all over it!
Kelso FB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chairmans Club 10 units Washington -3 v. Bears
DOC'S
3 Unit Play. #724 Take Niagara -3 over Rider (7:00 pm) Chalk Play of the Week. The Gallagher Center is the site for this affair as the MAAC Conference opens up in Niagara, New York. Both teams have winning records, but the Broncs live and die by one player, Jason Thompson, and the Purple Aces will not him beat them tonight. Carron Fisher has similar numbers and this team is used to winning, having made the NCAA tournament last season and expect them to open play with a winning on Thursday
At 7 pm, our Horizon Conference Game of the Month is on the Detroit Mercy Titans plus the points over Butler. The Bulldogs come into this game ranked 13th in the country, and unbeaten at 7-0. But they fall into negative systems of mine that are 2-21 and 13-27 ATS which go against certain unbeated teams off back to back wins and covers who are matched up against an opponent off a SU loss. Also, Butler has a HUGE revenge game on Saturday at Wright State (who beat Butler three times last season to win the Conference Title), and could be caught looking ahead. On Saturday, even though Butler defeated Ohio State, it didn't play very well, as it shot just 41% from the field, and missed its first 15 attempts from 3-point land. Butler trailed by 10 points at halftime before rallying in the 2nd half. Detroit has won three of its last four (and six of its last eight) at home vs. Butler. Take the points. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.
Handicapper: Nite Owl Sports
Sport: NFL Football
Game: Chicago Bears @ Washington Redskins - Thursday December 6, 2007 8:15 pm
Pick: 2 units (Normal) ATS: Chicago Bears +3 (-106)
Its been a tough year for both of these teams, especially the Skins, with the loss/death of their Pro Bowl safety Sean Taylor just ten days ago. Both teams are coming off of draining and frustrating last minute losses last week (games they both needed to win and could have won, but didnt), and it will get even tougher for the loser of this game, as neither of these 5-7 teams can afford a loss here and continue to have any realistic playoff hopes. .While both of these teams have been inconsistent and undependable all year, and Chicago is certainly no bargain with its 4-8 ATS (against the spread) record this year and Rex Grossmans 4/7 ratio of TDs to INTs with just 55% completions, at least da Bears have shown one consistent good trend, and thats been their ability to bounce back from a defeat, going 5-1 SU (straight up) and 4-2 ATS after their first six losses this year, including 3-1 both SU and ATS on the road following a loss, with two of those wins (at Green Bay and at Philly) being upset wins as road dogs. Notice their recent pattern, in which they have alternated outright (and point spread) wins and losses in their last six games (they are due for a win this game). In fact, the situation the Bears face Thursday night is similar in many ways to their Oct 21 game in Philly, where they were coming off of another gut-wrenching last minute home loss, that one to the Vikings, and they faced a decent but beatable foe in the Eagles the result was that Chicago came through with not only a point spread cover as a 5 point dog, but an outright win as well. We think there is a good chance of history repeating itself in Washington for the Bears against a Redskin team that is about on a par with Philly in most respects and is not only beatable at home (3 wins, 3 losses so far this year) but is a lousy home favorite, not only this year (1-4 ATS as a home fave, all in this 3-6 point price range) but last year as well (3-5 W-L and 0-3 ATS as home faves). In addition, Skins are 6-12 ATS in their last 18 games after a loss (0-2 this year), and 8-16 in the second of two consecutive home games (0-2 LY, none TY until this game), without an intervening bye week. While we realize Chicagos down sides (only three games TY with over 100 yards rushing, and choppy play on both sides of the ball, including having the NFLs 26th ranked defense and the ever present threat of turnovers by QB Rex Grossman), they are also ranked #1 in special teams, with game-breaking KO and punt return specialist Devin Hester as an omnipresent threat, as he showed in winning Bears recent game against Denver almost single handedly. Also, Grossman has started to make better decisions and take better care of the ball, in his second tour of duty TY after getting benched in mid-season. For example, Sundays loss to NY Giants certainly cannot be blamed on him, as he went 25-46 passing, for nearly 300 yards and NO INTS. Anyone who is having a hard time deciding which side to bet on in this game should simply ask themselves whether they would rather have a team (getting 3 points) which won 15 games last year and went to the Super Bowl, with the same head coach and basically the same players as this year, or a team which has been to the playoffs only once in the last three years, did not even qualify as a wild card last year, and is coached by someone who may have been a great coach in his previous life with the Redskins but isnt as sharp as he once was, as indicated by his gift wrapping the Skins last game for Buffalo by forgetting that it is a 15 yard penalty to call two consecutive time outs without an intervening play. Bottom line this is not our favorite match-up of the week -- in fact, we already have five other NFL picks posted for Sunday and Monday night NFL games which we like better than this one, including just our second five unit NFL pick this year (the first one won). But this is the only NFL game until Sunday, and we like it enough to actually have two picks on it (we dont make picks on games just because they are on national TV). Our first pick, for two units, is on Chicago at +3, but if you can get Bears at +3.5 without having to lay ridiculous juice like 125 or more, make it 3 units. We also like the Bears on the money line, at +135, to win the game outright. We base this money line pick on two factors first, in Bears two games TY as a road dog after a loss, they have won both games outright, and second, in 11 of Chicagos 12 games this year, including all six of Bears away games, the point spread winner has been the outright winner on the field as well. Good luck, bet smart, and Go Bears!!!
vernon croy..
Vernon Croy
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins (NHL) - 7:05 PM EST Premium Play
Pick: Money Line: -110 Montreal Canadiens Play Title: 10 Unit NHL Smash of the Week
Click Here to View Pick Analysis
10 Units, Take Montreal ML -110, Montreal is the superior team here and this pick falls into one of my NHL systems. Montreal is 7-3 in their last 10 games when playing on the road and coming off a 3 game losing streak. Montreal is 4-1 in their last 5 games when coming off a loss by 3 goals and they are 15-4 in their last 19 games against Boston. Boston is averaging just 24.8 shots on goal per game at home this season and their penalty kill has been brutal over their last 5 games with opponents converting 38.9% against them. Great Value here with Montreal tonight as my NHL Smash of the Week.
WAYNE ROOT
Chairman - Redskins
Millionaire - Butler
tom freese
20 star burial
atlanta
Northcoast
Marquee Play
Washington -3
Economy Club
NYG +3 (Top Play)
GB -10
TB -3
Seattle -7
NE -10
J E N K I N S
Toronto
K R U G E R- HEATING UP BIG TIME
T'Wolves OVER 188
Valpo +2
Lets' keep pounding the F out of Charlie 500* fades- take da BEARS over
Net Prophet
NFL:
Chicago +3 over Washington
NBA:
Denver +7' over Dallas
NHL:
PASS
CBB:
Wright State -2 over Valpo
ROCKETMAN 5*
Miami @ Portland 10:35 PM EST
Play On: 5* Miami -3
Portland is 1-6 ATS in non conference games this year. Portland is 29-52 ATS last 3 years when playing against a team with a losing record. Miami is 4-0 SU and ATS overall vs Portland last 3 years. Miami is 8-2 ATS at Portland since 1996. Miami is 2-0 SU and ATS at Portland last 3 years. Miami is 8-2 ATS last 10 against NBA Northwest. Portland is 2-9 ATS last 11 games overall. Road team is 7-2 ATS last 9 meetings in this series. We'll play Miami for 5 units tonight!
Michael Cannon
Thursday's Plays...
20 Dime –
BEARS
Take the Edit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write Ups with the Bears tonight when they travel to take on the Redskins.
You have to wonder about the collective psyche of the Redskins right now. They are still mourning the loss of teammate Sean Taylor. The entire team attended the funeral services on Monday and had only one practice to prepare for this game.
This off the debacle of Sunday’s loss to Buffalo, when head coach Joe Gibbs possibly cost the Skins the game by calling consecutive timeouts before what was going to be a 51-yard field goal attempt by the Bills Rian Lindell. Instead, a 15-yard penalty was assessed to Washington and Lindell kicked a 36-yard game winner with 4 seconds left.
Now the Redskins find themselves trying to regroup against a Bears team still trying to make a push towards a postseason berth.
Chicago’s defense is perfectly capable of stopping a Redskins’ offense that features a beat up Clinton Portis. Quarterback Jason Campbell has been prone to picks lately and the ball-hawking Bears secondary could snag a few tonight.
The Bears offense should operate with good field position thanks to the return exploits of Devin Hester.
Washington has lost four straight and five of six, so you have to wonder if they have given up on the season.
There are simply too many distractions right now to justify laying any kind of number with the Redskins. They are just 1-6-2 ATS in their last nine at home, while Chicago Edit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write Up a 6-1 ATS mark in the first of back-to-back road games.
Take the Edit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write Ups and don’t be surprised to see the Bears grab the outright win.
5 Dime –
VALPARAISO
Take Valpo for the road win over Wright State.
Valpo moves into the Horizon League from the Mid-Continent after being a perennial contender for that league’s title. They are a balanced team that can have anyone step up and be the leading scorer on any given night, which is a big advantage on the road in conference play.
Wright State coach Brad Brownell did a great job last year, but he lost his leading scorer from a year ago and now he has to figure out a way to generate Edit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write Ups from this lineup.
I like Valpo’s depth and scoring balance and I don’t think Wright State is ready to step it up yet against this kind of competition.
Take Valparaiso for the road win.
BUTLER
Take Butler as the big road chalk tonight over Detroit.
Butler swept this Horizon League series by 10 and 20 Edit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write Ups last year and I like them to continue that run here tonight.
Butler finds themselves in the national rankings again this year and returns three starters from last year’s team that finished 13-3 in conference play.
It’s not like the Bulldogs have played a soft non-conference schedule in bolting out to a 7-0 start this year. They have beaten Ohio State, Michigan, Virginia Tech and Texas Tech. Butler won the Great Alaska Shootout and should roll here tonight on the road over an inferior Detroit team.
Butler’s efficient offense and stingy defense, they allow just 57.1 ppg, to get it done tonight.
Lay the Edit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write UpEdit and change name Remove Write Ups as Butler rolls to the road win and cover.