49ers vs Cardinals: The Arizona Cardinals were in Kansas City last week while the San Francisco 49ers endured their first home shutout since 1977 at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Sunday’s results the NFC West race has been transformed into a three-team race. The competitors are Seattle (5-6), St. Louis (5-6), and the winner of tonight’s game.
SAN FRANCISCO (3-7) AT ARIZONA (3-7)
Sportsbook have the number on this one set as the 49ers -1 and the Total is 40.
The fantasy ride for quarterback Troy Smith could be short-lived but this week he gets one more chance. Coach Singletary said he wouldn’t hesitate to bench QB Smith if he’s playing a miserable game and Alex Smith is second on the depth chart.
TE Vernon Davis, who left the game against Tampa Bay with an ankle injury, should be fine but San Francisco needs to hitch its wagon to Frank Gore.
Gore (foot) is coming off his worst game of the season against Tampa Bay and it could have partly been due to his injury, but this week he is ready to go. Arizona’s front seven is beat up right now and Gore could be the key to opening up room for the passing game.
Arizona HC Whisenhunt is under pressure to produce on offense and critics are starting to question why the team won’t bring in an offensive co-ordinator. The Cardinals will go with Derek Anderson at QB but look for Whisenhunt to open the playbook and try to get WR Fitzgerald involved early.
Arizona has played 7 overs and 2 unders in its past nine games overall.
BETTING TRENDS
Joe Public bettors made huge gains in Week 11 and after the two big favs on Thanksgiving cashed tickets it looked like oddsmakers were getting ready for another bath. Sports betting can be an evil mistress, though, and the heaviest percentage bets for Sunday had a rough day.
Favorites went 4-7 ATS and San Francisco is getting the public nod for tonight.
- The 49ers have a 17-5 ATS record in their past 22 Monday Night game including a cover earlier this year vs. New Orleans.
Sportsbetting.com manager Brian Taylor stated that as of late Sunday evening they had 60% of the volume on San Francisco and 57% on the Over.
NFL PICKS
The winner of tonight’s game will still have a hill to climb if they hope to stay alive in the battle for the playoffs. The loser can start plotting a draft strategy and selecting candidates for the soon to be vacant head coaching post.
We have a hard time building an argument to support either side but project that the game will see enough scoring to go Over the total.
Pick: Take the Over
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
NFL Week 12 Picks: Big Games for Week 12
NFL Week 12 Picks: It doesn’t matter if NFL players actually watch any of the action unfold during Thursday’s Thanksgiving triple-header; they know the results by Friday morning.
How it affects the players on Atlanta to see Drew Brees pass for more than 350 yards on the road against Dallas? Another mystery, but Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 285-plus in five of his past six outings so the Falcons defensive backs better be ready!
GREEN BAY AT ATLANTA
Line: Falcons -2
Over/Under: 47.5
The Packers sandwiched their bye week with impressive wins against Dallas and Minnesota, leaving a trail of coaching casualties in their wake. The Falcons have had a few extra days after beating Baltimore on Thursday (Week 11) and they’ll face a Packers team that’s allowed only one TD on 31 drives in their last three games.
Atlanta is 3-2 ATS at home this year and was 5-1 ATS when laying points in 2009. QB Ryan’s (18-1 SU) strong run of straight-up home wins gets a ton of publicity but it’s well deserved; the guy knows how to get the job done.
Online sportsbook opened the line for this game at Falcons -2 and public betting percentages show a 70-30 split of ATS betting action, Green Bay getting the majority.
The Falcons won their final four games of the season ATS last year and are 11-2 SU in their past 13 overall. In what could be a preview for the NFC Conference Final we like the betting value on the home favorite.
Pick: Take the Falcons
In another one of the more popular games for online betting this week, probably more because of the storylines leading up to it than then actually matchup itself, Donovan McNabb and Brett Favre square-off for the final time at FedEx Field.
MINNESOTA AT WASHINGTON
Line: Redskins -1.5
Over/Under: 43
After compiling a 40-37 straight-up record in five seasons with Minnesota, Brad Childress was fired this week after the Vikings were blown out by division rival Green Bay.
Leslie Frazier has become the second interim coach named in the past two weeks and Minnesota can only hope to enjoy the same success the Dallas Cowboys have enjoyed under interim coach Jason Garrett.
It was fairly obvious how big the rift between Childress-Favre had become and we know who will be calling the shots vs. Washington. Look for an up-tempo offense utilizing RB Peterson and all of the WRs to spread out the field.
On defense, the Vikings front seven will keep QB McNabb guessing. If the secondary can take something positive out of last week’s disaster they have a chance for redemption against the league’s 27th rated passing game (76.1).
Pick: Take the Vikings
How it affects the players on Atlanta to see Drew Brees pass for more than 350 yards on the road against Dallas? Another mystery, but Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 285-plus in five of his past six outings so the Falcons defensive backs better be ready!
GREEN BAY AT ATLANTA
Line: Falcons -2
Over/Under: 47.5
The Packers sandwiched their bye week with impressive wins against Dallas and Minnesota, leaving a trail of coaching casualties in their wake. The Falcons have had a few extra days after beating Baltimore on Thursday (Week 11) and they’ll face a Packers team that’s allowed only one TD on 31 drives in their last three games.
Atlanta is 3-2 ATS at home this year and was 5-1 ATS when laying points in 2009. QB Ryan’s (18-1 SU) strong run of straight-up home wins gets a ton of publicity but it’s well deserved; the guy knows how to get the job done.
Online sportsbook opened the line for this game at Falcons -2 and public betting percentages show a 70-30 split of ATS betting action, Green Bay getting the majority.
The Falcons won their final four games of the season ATS last year and are 11-2 SU in their past 13 overall. In what could be a preview for the NFC Conference Final we like the betting value on the home favorite.
Pick: Take the Falcons
In another one of the more popular games for online betting this week, probably more because of the storylines leading up to it than then actually matchup itself, Donovan McNabb and Brett Favre square-off for the final time at FedEx Field.
MINNESOTA AT WASHINGTON
Line: Redskins -1.5
Over/Under: 43
After compiling a 40-37 straight-up record in five seasons with Minnesota, Brad Childress was fired this week after the Vikings were blown out by division rival Green Bay.
Leslie Frazier has become the second interim coach named in the past two weeks and Minnesota can only hope to enjoy the same success the Dallas Cowboys have enjoyed under interim coach Jason Garrett.
It was fairly obvious how big the rift between Childress-Favre had become and we know who will be calling the shots vs. Washington. Look for an up-tempo offense utilizing RB Peterson and all of the WRs to spread out the field.
On defense, the Vikings front seven will keep QB McNabb guessing. If the secondary can take something positive out of last week’s disaster they have a chance for redemption against the league’s 27th rated passing game (76.1).
Pick: Take the Vikings
Saturday, November 27, 2010
La Liga Betting – Matchday 13
There may be a full round of action in La Liga this weekend, but there is only one game being talked about – El Clásico at the Nou Camp on Monday night as Barcelona host their biggest rivals Real Madrid. Where is the betting value on this one? Let’s look at the biggest La Liga games.
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
Sportsbooks, fans and bettors are all looking forward to this one on Monday night, as Barcelona welcome their biggest domestic rivals to the Nou Camp as they look to record their 5th successive El Clásico win over the side from the capital. Will they be able to do so, as Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho are a different, and more difficult to defeat, side than in recent years.
Both sides go into this crucial encounter having won their last five matches in all competitions, and Real Madrid head the Catalan side in the league by just a single point thanks to their ten wins and two draws in the league this season compared to Barca’s ten wins, one draw and one loss. They have already streaked away from the rest of the league and are seven points ahead of third placed Villarreal in a league of their own. Barca have proved their vulnerability at home this season with their loss to Hercules early in the season and while they have improved they do not look as consistent as Real Madrid do this season.
Barca have definitely improved in recent times and, while they will be fired up for this game, Jose Mourinho will want to turn around Real’s lack of victories in this fixture. And we feel he will claim all three points in this match by setting out a solid defensive side and keep the game low scoring and take all three points.
Pick: Looking at the current La Liga odds at online sportsbook, we’re backing both a Real Madrid win @ 3.01 and under 2.5 goals in this match @ 2.15.
Villarreal vs. Real Zaragoza
Third placed Villarreal know that they will be able to close the gap to one, if not both, of the sides at the top of the table this weekend with a win and they face Real Zaragoza this weekend in their match. Zaragoza have won just one game at home this season and sit bottom of the table having conceded 10 goals in their last 5 home games. Villarreal have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five away games and have scored nine goals in those matches and we feel that they are likely to win this game.
Pick: However, we feel the best value for this match is on the goals market and we’re backing over 2.5 goals @ 1.70.
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
Sportsbooks, fans and bettors are all looking forward to this one on Monday night, as Barcelona welcome their biggest domestic rivals to the Nou Camp as they look to record their 5th successive El Clásico win over the side from the capital. Will they be able to do so, as Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho are a different, and more difficult to defeat, side than in recent years.
Both sides go into this crucial encounter having won their last five matches in all competitions, and Real Madrid head the Catalan side in the league by just a single point thanks to their ten wins and two draws in the league this season compared to Barca’s ten wins, one draw and one loss. They have already streaked away from the rest of the league and are seven points ahead of third placed Villarreal in a league of their own. Barca have proved their vulnerability at home this season with their loss to Hercules early in the season and while they have improved they do not look as consistent as Real Madrid do this season.
Barca have definitely improved in recent times and, while they will be fired up for this game, Jose Mourinho will want to turn around Real’s lack of victories in this fixture. And we feel he will claim all three points in this match by setting out a solid defensive side and keep the game low scoring and take all three points.
Pick: Looking at the current La Liga odds at online sportsbook, we’re backing both a Real Madrid win @ 3.01 and under 2.5 goals in this match @ 2.15.
Villarreal vs. Real Zaragoza
Third placed Villarreal know that they will be able to close the gap to one, if not both, of the sides at the top of the table this weekend with a win and they face Real Zaragoza this weekend in their match. Zaragoza have won just one game at home this season and sit bottom of the table having conceded 10 goals in their last 5 home games. Villarreal have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five away games and have scored nine goals in those matches and we feel that they are likely to win this game.
Pick: However, we feel the best value for this match is on the goals market and we’re backing over 2.5 goals @ 1.70.
College Football Picks
Rivalry weekend in the NCAA serves up some of the best matchups of the year and some strong betting opportunities. Let’s take a look at a couple of the big games and look at a couple of picks.
LSU vs. Arkansas
While they won’t play for a national championship, a win over #12-ranked Arkansas puts Les Miles and LSU in a great spot for a BCS bowl game...and a loss means they can wave bye bye to the BCS. This big SEC battle on Saturday has already grabbed a lot of attention from bettors during the week, but by kick-off, it will be one of the most wagered on college games of the weekend.
In speaking with Brian Taylor, manager at Sportsbetting.com, he stated that “LSU is currently an underdog of more than a field goal at +3.5, but we’re starting to see more action come in on them. As of Friday evening, we have 54% of all the action on this game on the Tigers”.
Sportsbooks have the total set at 54.5 and so far, in speaking with several sportsbook managers, it appears have yet to really make up their mind on what to do with it. Most are reporting pretty balanced early action, with an overall small lean to the high side.
This is going to be a very difficult challenge for LSU, as they play away from home vs. a Top 12 team that has some star power and big motivation. The Razorbacks are looking for a double-digit winning season, as they sit at 9-2 heading in.
But we like the dog in this one. We think getting more than a field goal, this Tiger team has a great shot at the straight up win and feel they have a few matchup advantages that will be key.
Pick: We’re taking LSU +3.5.
Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma
Bedlam is will be in this one. Known as the “Bedlam” series, these two big time rivals make acquaintance in a familiar...and not so familiar way in 2010. Familiar as Oklahoma State and Oklahoma have clashed in their season finales none of the last 11 seasons. Unfamiliar because this year the Cowboys from Oklahoma State have something more to play for than just bragging rights and respect.
While the Sooners are used to having a conference title already in the bag or about to be won (which is true this year), that’s usually not the case for Oklahoma State. But it is this year, as the Cowboys have a share of the Big 12 South title at the very least, and with a victory on Saturday will move on to the Conference Championship game.
Sportsbook currently have this line set at -2.5 for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State are a high-scoring team (ranked third in the country) and the Sooners can rack up the points as well, so we have a high Total on this one of 67
Note that the Cowboys are an impressive 9-2 against the spread this year, while the Sooners are a pedestrian 6-5 ATS.
Early betting action, according to sportsbooks, has about 60% of the action on the Cowboys compared to 40% on the Sooners.
We like the small favourite in this one. The Cowboys have been beat up for a long time by the Sooners, but the talent-gap has closed and now Oklahoma State is in a great position to finally step up and beat the bully on the block.
Pick: Our play is on the Cowboys.
LSU vs. Arkansas
While they won’t play for a national championship, a win over #12-ranked Arkansas puts Les Miles and LSU in a great spot for a BCS bowl game...and a loss means they can wave bye bye to the BCS. This big SEC battle on Saturday has already grabbed a lot of attention from bettors during the week, but by kick-off, it will be one of the most wagered on college games of the weekend.
In speaking with Brian Taylor, manager at Sportsbetting.com, he stated that “LSU is currently an underdog of more than a field goal at +3.5, but we’re starting to see more action come in on them. As of Friday evening, we have 54% of all the action on this game on the Tigers”.
Sportsbooks have the total set at 54.5 and so far, in speaking with several sportsbook managers, it appears have yet to really make up their mind on what to do with it. Most are reporting pretty balanced early action, with an overall small lean to the high side.
This is going to be a very difficult challenge for LSU, as they play away from home vs. a Top 12 team that has some star power and big motivation. The Razorbacks are looking for a double-digit winning season, as they sit at 9-2 heading in.
But we like the dog in this one. We think getting more than a field goal, this Tiger team has a great shot at the straight up win and feel they have a few matchup advantages that will be key.
Pick: We’re taking LSU +3.5.
Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma
Bedlam is will be in this one. Known as the “Bedlam” series, these two big time rivals make acquaintance in a familiar...and not so familiar way in 2010. Familiar as Oklahoma State and Oklahoma have clashed in their season finales none of the last 11 seasons. Unfamiliar because this year the Cowboys from Oklahoma State have something more to play for than just bragging rights and respect.
While the Sooners are used to having a conference title already in the bag or about to be won (which is true this year), that’s usually not the case for Oklahoma State. But it is this year, as the Cowboys have a share of the Big 12 South title at the very least, and with a victory on Saturday will move on to the Conference Championship game.
Sportsbook currently have this line set at -2.5 for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State are a high-scoring team (ranked third in the country) and the Sooners can rack up the points as well, so we have a high Total on this one of 67
Note that the Cowboys are an impressive 9-2 against the spread this year, while the Sooners are a pedestrian 6-5 ATS.
Early betting action, according to sportsbooks, has about 60% of the action on the Cowboys compared to 40% on the Sooners.
We like the small favourite in this one. The Cowboys have been beat up for a long time by the Sooners, but the talent-gap has closed and now Oklahoma State is in a great position to finally step up and beat the bully on the block.
Pick: Our play is on the Cowboys.
Premier League Picks: Match Day 15
Premier League Picks: After the excitement of the midweek Champions League football we’re back to the domestic action again this weekend and we’re looking at the 15th round of games from England’s Premier League, giving out our top picks.
Liverpool vs. Tottenham
Sportsbook will see a ton of action on the biggest game of the weekend happens on Sunday evening as Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool at White Hart Lane. Spurs are on a run of four games unbeaten having claimed all drawn with Sunderland and then claimed all three points against Blackburn and Arsenal in the league before dispatching Werder Bremen 3-0 in the Champions League to book their place in the last sixteen of the tournament. Liverpool are in better form than earlier in the season and they now sit 9th in the table, however their away form is poor and they have lost four of seven games on the road this season. With Spurs playing in midweek and Liverpool poor on the road, we see this one not being as action packed as expected and we’re backing there won’t be much scoring in this one.
The play is on the under 2.5 goals market @ 1.72.
Chelsea vs. Newcastle United
The only other game being played on Sunday is Newcastle United v Chelsea at St. James Park. Newcastle are an odd side this season and have had some poor results as well as some excellent ones. High points have seen them beat Chelsea in the Carling Cup and Arsenal, Aston Villa and local rivals Sunderland in the league, but these have been countered by losses to Blackpool, Stoke and they are currently without a league win in three games following a 5-1 loss to Bolton. Chelsea have lost three of four in the Premier League, but did beat MSK Žilina in the Champions League this week to get back to winning ways. However, they are still vulnerable to conceding goals.
Because of that we’re backing the over 2.5 goals market in this one @ 1.81.
Aston Villa vs. Arsenal
The final game we’re looking at is the Aston Villa v Arsenal game on Saturday lunchtime at Villa Park. Villa are not in good form and they have won just one of their last eight league games, and that came against a second string Blackpool side, but at home they are unbeaten all season with three wins and four draws to their name and will be confident of getting something against Arsenal. Arsenal are also not in good form and have lost four of their last six in both Premier and Champions Leagues. However, in the Premier League this season, they have lost only to Chelsea and have won their last three games conceding just a single goal, and we’re backing them to win again this weekend. You can check all the updated Premier League odds.
Our money is on an Arsenal win @ 1.92.
Liverpool vs. Tottenham
Sportsbook will see a ton of action on the biggest game of the weekend happens on Sunday evening as Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool at White Hart Lane. Spurs are on a run of four games unbeaten having claimed all drawn with Sunderland and then claimed all three points against Blackburn and Arsenal in the league before dispatching Werder Bremen 3-0 in the Champions League to book their place in the last sixteen of the tournament. Liverpool are in better form than earlier in the season and they now sit 9th in the table, however their away form is poor and they have lost four of seven games on the road this season. With Spurs playing in midweek and Liverpool poor on the road, we see this one not being as action packed as expected and we’re backing there won’t be much scoring in this one.
The play is on the under 2.5 goals market @ 1.72.
Chelsea vs. Newcastle United
The only other game being played on Sunday is Newcastle United v Chelsea at St. James Park. Newcastle are an odd side this season and have had some poor results as well as some excellent ones. High points have seen them beat Chelsea in the Carling Cup and Arsenal, Aston Villa and local rivals Sunderland in the league, but these have been countered by losses to Blackpool, Stoke and they are currently without a league win in three games following a 5-1 loss to Bolton. Chelsea have lost three of four in the Premier League, but did beat MSK Žilina in the Champions League this week to get back to winning ways. However, they are still vulnerable to conceding goals.
Because of that we’re backing the over 2.5 goals market in this one @ 1.81.
Aston Villa vs. Arsenal
The final game we’re looking at is the Aston Villa v Arsenal game on Saturday lunchtime at Villa Park. Villa are not in good form and they have won just one of their last eight league games, and that came against a second string Blackpool side, but at home they are unbeaten all season with three wins and four draws to their name and will be confident of getting something against Arsenal. Arsenal are also not in good form and have lost four of their last six in both Premier and Champions Leagues. However, in the Premier League this season, they have lost only to Chelsea and have won their last three games conceding just a single goal, and we’re backing them to win again this weekend. You can check all the updated Premier League odds.
Our money is on an Arsenal win @ 1.92.
