LT Lock
Pitt Panthers
Wunderdog Comp (NHL)
Game: Pittsburgh at Boston (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: Game Total UNDER 5.5 -125
Sidney Crosby has been off of late. Last year he led the NHL in scoring but he has managed just one goal in his last nine games. Pittsburgh as a team is averaging just 1.6 goals per game over their last five. Boston is keeping everyone out of the net. They haven't allowed more than three goals since December 8th, when Alex Auld took over as netminder. This team has allowed just 1.8 goals per game in fourteen home games this season. The Penguins are 12-4 UNDER this season when coming off a road game while Boston is 22-11 UNDER in all games.
SPORTS MEMO - COLLEGE BOWLS
Utah -8 vs. Navy O/U 66.5 Recommendation: Utah
Thursday, December 20, 9 pm EST (ESPN) San Diego, Calif.
We’ll cut to the chase and ask the pressing question, can Utah stop
the rushing attack of Navy? Yards are going to be accumulated by
the Midshipmen. Even in their darkest days running the ball, production
over 250 yards was certain. Utah is a good team at stopping
the run, closing out the year with five out of seven games allowing
less than 100 yards. The one letdown on the season, however, was
against Air Force, a squad that like Navy exclusively runs the option.
The Falcons racked up 334 yards in a 20-12 victory. Despite the letdown,
we feel the familiarity of facing Air Force every season is going
to help in stopping Navy. And like all potent offensive attacks, keeping
them on the sidelines is the best defense. Utah does this well
by holding a four-minute edge in time of possession average for the
season. Offensively with Utah, you aren’t going to get anything special.
Quarterback Brian Johnson is effective, and certainly capable of
carving apart a Navy secondary that allows 265 yards per game. The
strength of Utah, however, is running the football. In their eight wins,
they averaged over 200 yards per game on the ground, whereas in
four losses, just 78. We can expect a large amount of yards on the
ground with the Midshipmen allowing 172 yards per game. Navy’s defense
is beyond bad, allowing virtually everyone to move the ball at
will. Notre Dame, Rutgers, Wake Forest and Pittsburgh all put up 40-
plus points despite only Rutgers averaging over 30 points per game
on the season. A good indicator of how good or bad a defense is is
how many times their opponent punts the football. In 12 games, Navy
foes punted just 29 times. Utah forced 79 punts. It is an intriguing
matchup with Utah allowing just over two TDs a game, while Navy
managed to score no fewer than 24 points. Even with the quirkiness
of Navy, one can’t help but notice when asked to step up in class, the
offense was nowhere near as effective. In losses to Wake Forest and
Rutgers, Navy registered over 100 yards less of total offense vs. its
season output. Another interesting stat for you liking to play first half
lines, Utah outscored its opponents 182-76 in the first stanza this season.
That is a remarkable feat for a moderate offense. The Utes are a
different team than what we saw the first half of the season. The win
at Louisville provided a spark that led to some convincing victories.
They closed out the year on a 6-1 SU and ATS run. Navy’s schedule
hasn’t featured a team with a winning record since I-AA Delaware
in late October, a game the Midshipmen lost. It is extremely hard to
decipher the class of Navy’s schedule vs. the Mountain West conference.
There were some bad teams in the MWC that put on a neutral
field, Navy would surely be able to compete with and potentially beat.
The problem in backing Navy is the defense is so bad and again, when
asked to play a formidable opponent, they just didn’t have the size
or athleticism to hang. Not to mention they will be without the services
of head coach Paul Johnson, who has since departed to Georgia
Tech. While the option is indeed a scary thing to defend, we trust
Utah has enough defensive and offensive clout to get things done
ATS Financial
3 units on Duke (-5 1/2) over Pittsburgh, 7:00
Mighty Quinn
UTAH - 8
CHARLIES SPORTS MEMBERS SECTION
college football. utah-7' (500* )
college football. navy vs utah over 64' (30*)
nfl. pittsburgh-7' (20*)
nfl. pittsburgh @ st.louis over 43' (20*)
nba. denver-6 (10*)
nba. lakers-2 (10*) free play
Insider Sports Report
4* Miami -4 over New Jersey (NBA)
4* Oklahoma -1.5 over Gonzaga (NCAAB)
3* Navy/Utah (NCAAF) OVER 64.5
Elite Sports Picks
L.A. Lakers +1 over Cleveland (NBA)
Discount Sports Picks
10* Miami-4 over New Jersey (NBA)
5* Utah -7.5 over Navy (NCAAF)
THE REAL ANIMAL
Pick title: 4* Utah -8
Pick Date: 12/20/2007
Pick description:
The departure of Coach Paul Johnson doesn’t figure to have a dramatic impact on the vaunted Navy rushing attack tonight. But in this handicapper’s estimation, there appears to be a bigger disparity defensively between these two teams than offensively. In a dozen games this year, Navy’s opponents punted just 29 times. That’s significant especially when you consider strength of schedule. Since October 21st, Navy has only played one team with a winning record. That was I-AA Delaware. When the Middies lost to decent programs like Wake Forest and Rutgers, they accumulated about 100 yards less than their seasonal average. In Utah’s 12 games, the opposition punted 79 times. That’s 50 more forced punts than Navy’s defense registered (more than four possessions per game). I have to give Utah a ton of credit for being there. In Utah’s season-opening loss at Oregon State (24-7), the Utes lost the services of QB Brian Johnson and top RB Matt Asiata. A week later they lost at home to Air Force 20-12. The season looked like a lost cause. But Johnson would eventually return and Utah finished 8-2 including a narrow 17-10 loss to BYU in their last game. That was a game Utah led with less than two minutes to go and the Cougars needed to convert a 4th and 18, plus get two miracle calls by the Zebras to put themselves into position to win with 1:05 left. Putting that close lost into perspective, BYU entered the Utah game with 11 straight home wins including 10 by 13 points or more. For the Utes to limit BYU to 10 points the first 59 minutes in Provo is an incredible defensive accomplishment. Veteran Animal clients know how I preach balance on offense. Navy is completely one-dimensional. Out of 119 FBS teams, the Midshipmen were #119 and dead last in passing. They had just seven touchdown passes all season. That’s half of Florida International’s total for the year. They threw for less than 100 yards per game. Nothing is more frustrating than watching a trailing team trying to play catch-up football by doing something they can’t do. That could easily be Navy tonight especially when you consider the Utes have out-scored their 12 opponents this season 182-76 in the first quarter. Here’s the other issue that really struck me about Navy. How can the Midshipmen have the #99-rated total defense? They run the ball constantly and you would assume would own time of possession. We’ve already established the fact they played a soft schedule. But to allow 438 yards a game to the likes of Temple, Ball State, Duke, Air Force, Pittsburgh, Delaware, Notre Dame, North Texas, Northern Illinois, and Army is inexcusable and bordering on pathetic. Curious to note that last year Navy was #61 in the nation in total defense allowing 335 yards a game. Of course this year’s defense didn’t include eight starters off the 2006 unit. Meanwhile Utah is #15 in the country in total defense. That’s impressive considering they were without their starting QB for a month and lost their #1 running back for the season in the first half of game #1. Last year Utah was #43 in defense. So we have a Utah team up 28 spots in total defense against a Navy unit that dropped 38 spots in the same category from a year ago. Plus take a look at Utah’s track record in the bowls. Since 2001, the Utes are 5-0 SU and ATS in the post-season. What’s remarkable is all five were different bowls and venues. The last four Utah bowls have resulted in victories by margins of 17, 28, 28, and 12 points. You really have to throw out Utah’s seasonal offensive numbers as Johnson missed more than half of the Oregon State opener, plus games with Air Force, UCLA, and UNLV. Before the narrow BYU loss, Utah had won seven straight and covered the last six. I have trouble taking Navy after they allowed 62 points and 635 total yards at North Texas. By comparison, Utah allowed a total of 57 points in their last six games including 17 at BYU with the last seven being awfully tainted. For what it’s worth, Navy was 1-3 SU and ATS against bowl-eligible teams this year. Utah began practicing for their bowl immediately after the BYU loss on November 24th and before official pairings were announced. Navy took the week off for finals after the December 1st win against Army. There are conflicting statistics on Utah. They are 16-2 ATS against non-conference opponents with winning records but 2-18 ATS when they are a favorite and get out-rushed. Military teams are an impressive 19-6 ATS in bowl games. But of course Utah is gunning for their 6th consecutive bowl win and cover. But in the end I can’t stomach bad defenses and Navy’s is atrocious. Plus I believe Utah overcame some amazing obstacles this year following their 1-3 start and losing the two most important members of their backfield in the first month. 4* Major on Utah –8 in our first of 32 bowl games.
SportsKingz
Poinsettia Bowl:
UTAH -7.5 / OVER 64.5
Armvin Sports
Cbb - 12/20/2007 Duke -5.5
Cbb - 12/20/2007 Gonzaga 2
Nhl - 12/20/2007 Montreal -102
Nhl - 12/20/2007 Tampa Bay -111
Larry Ness | CBB Sides
double-dime bet St. Mary's (Cal.) -8.5 vs Tulane
Analysis:
St Mary's entered the AP top-25 back on Dec 10 for the first time in 18 years. The very next day, the Gaels traveled to Carbondale, Illinois and lost to Southern Illinois, 71-56. The Gaels can be forgiven, as the win gave the Salukis an 81-4 SU record at home, since the beginning of the 2001-02 season. St Mary's has been 'itching' to get back on the court since that loss and gets a very beatable Tulane team here in Honolulu. The Green Wave are deep (10 players have appeared in all nine games), but they don't have a major frontcourt player bigger than 6-7. Meanwhile, the 6-11 Samhan (13.1-7.6) and 6-7 bruiser Simpson (17.6-8.9) are awfully tough inside for the Gaels. Freshman guard Mills (15.5-4.4 APG) from Australia, leads a deep St Mary's backcourt loaded with vets Smith (10.0), Golden (7.0) and Hughes (5.5). Tulane has played three road games TY, winning only at Charleston Southern, while losing as a road favorite at Buffalo (by 14) and at underachieving Syracuse (by 13). St Mary's hasn't exactly been a road warrior but the Gaels did beat San Diego State in Anaheim, 69-64. With some extra-motivation off that loss at Southern Illinois nine days ago, this game WON'T be close. Las Vegas Insider on St Mary's
3G-Sports Bowl Lock of the Year
Pick on UTAH.
Early in the season Utah was all over the place, winning the tough games and losing games they should win. Then they played Louisville and got on a roll which ended in a hard fought loss to BYU. The defense was the major part of that win streak as they allowed just 13.75 PPG over the last 8 games in which they went 7-1. The offense should not be over shadowed as they have scored 30+ PPG over the same stretch. Navy is the best running team in the country averaging 351 YPG and they are able to put up a bunch of points ( witness 74 pts against North Texas). Their problem lies on defense as they struggle to stop balanced teams as they have given up 40+ points 7 different times this season. Utah is 14th in the Nation at stopping the run and has too much balance and too strong a defense. ALso a major edge in Special Teams for Utah. Navy lsot their coach and won't be able to stop the Utah offense from putting up big points and using their speed in sunny San Diego.
Utah wins by 37.
pickspals free pick
College Daily Blast
Gonzaga at Oklahoma
With two of its top scorers bothered by injuries, Gonzaga is looking to some talented freshman to spark it offensively.
Gonzaga has won two straight since losing 51-47 to then-No. 8 Washington State on Dec. 5. The Bulldogs defeated Northern Colorado 77-57 on Monday behind the contributions of two first-year players.
Four Bulldogs scored in double figures in the win, including two freshmen reserves. Austin Daye led the Bulldogs with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Steven Gray, who missed the first 10 games of the season after fracturing his wrist, had 12 points in 28 minutes in his college debut.
With injuries to Matt Bouldin and Jeremy Pargo, two Bulldogs starters averaging double figures in points, Gray found himself in position to see extended playing time.
Gonzaga is the third ranked opponent the Sooners have faced this season. They lost 63-53 to then-No. 3 Memphis on Nov. 15 and 66-55 to then-No. 22 Southern California on Nov. 29. Oklahoma is at home and will get a big win over the young Gonzaga team/
Play Oklahoma
SportsAction365
NFL Pittsburgh @ St Louis 8:15 PM EST 100* Pittsburgh -7.5
NFL Pittsburgh @ St Louis 8:15 PM EST 75* UNDER 44
CFB Navy vs Utah 9:00 PM EST 75* Utah -7.5
CFB Navy vs Utah 9:00 PM EST 50* OVER 64
NBA New Jersey @ Miami 7:35 PM EST 50* UNDER 188
CBB Pittsburgh @ Duke 7:00 PM EST 50* Duke -5.5