Inside the Numbers
By Bodog
Welcome back to another year of Inside the Numbers, our Top 10 list of intriguing statistics and facts for the sports bettors. At this time in 2009, we were already prepping for the Conference Championships of the NFL, but the schedule-makers keep pushing the end of the season closer and closer. Arizona and Baltimore, by the way, are the only two teams from last year’s Final Four to qualify for this year's Divisional Round.
NFL Numbers to Note
Cardinals at Saints
Arizona gun slinger Kurt Warner is 9-3 straight up and 7-4-1 against the spread in his 12 career playoff appearances. And that includes beating the football odds in all five of his games with the Cardinals. In those dozen contests, Warner has tossed 33 touchdowns and only 13 picks.
Ravens at Colts
The Ravens are 24-9-2 ATS in their last 35 games after scoring 30 points or more in their last contest. Baltimore advanced to the Divisional Round with a 33-14 victory over the New England Patriots last week.
Cowboys at Vikings
At age 40, Brett Favre’s adjusted 2009 passer rating index of 129 is almost identical to his career-best of 130, set back in 1995 with Green Bay. The Packers wound up losing the NFC Championship that year to the eventual Super Bowl champion Cowboys.
Jets at Chargers
The 'under' is 7-3 in San Diego’s last 10 January games. The Chargers finished the 2009 regular season with the OVER on a 5-1 run; their team defense has fallen from No. 20 to No. 23 in the league’s efficiency rankings.
Pro Hoops heatin' up
Tuesday - L.A. Lakers at Spurs
San Antonio is 1-10 versus the number in their last 11 home games against teams with road records of better than .600. The Lakers are 8-5 SU (.615) and 4-9 ATS in away games this year. Pau Gasol is listed as doubtful for Los Angeles with a sore hamstring.
Friday - Magic at Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers run the slowest pace in the league at 89.9 possessions per game. Orlando is in the middle of the road with 95.2 possessions per game. Despite the snail’s pace that Portland has pushed, the OVER is 21-18 for the Blazers.
March Madness on the Horizon
Tuesday - Kentucky invades Gainesville
The UNDER is 12-5 in Kentucky’s last 17 games against winning teams. Florida is 11-4 SU and 5-5 ATS with the UNDER at 4-2. The Wildcats rank No. 5 in the nation in blocking (18.9 percent) and No. 6 in defending the 2-pointer (39.3 percent).
Wednesday - North Carolina and Clemson clash
Tar Heels opponents are the worst in Division I when it comes to getting to the charity stripe, with one free throw for every 5.03 field goal attempts. The national average is 2.68 attempts. UNC is second only to FSU in average height at 79.1 inches. Can you say "Trees in the Paint?"
NHL
Wednesday - Bruins at Ducks
The Bruins have the best 'under' record in the Eastern Conference at 27-17. Back-up goalie Tuukka Rask is No. 2 in the league with a .933 save percentage; The Sabres' Ryan Miller is first at .935. Boston is also No. 28 in the 30-team league in scoring with 2.48 goals per game.
Thursday - Flyers at Maple Leafs
Toronto has the worst penalty killing in the league at 68.3 percent and the third-worst since the NHL began recording the statistic in 1963-64. The Los Angeles Kings of 1979-80 (67.7 percent) and 1982-83 (68.2 percent) are 1-2. Not too shabby, huh?