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Cincinnati -6.5
New Orleans -6.5
Tennessee -6.5
Baltimore -2.5
Cincinnati -6.5
New Orleans -6.5
Tennessee -6.5
Baltimore -2.5
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DOUBLE DRAGON NFL
TOP RATED GAME OF THE YEAR
BRONCOS +10 (-135) vs patriots
REGULARS
SEAHAWKS +4 (-120) at bears
TEXANS -6 vs panthers
TITANS -6.5 at colts
BENGALS -6.5 (-120) at rams
LIONS -1 at raiders
RAVENS -2 at chargers (SNF)
49'ERS -3 vs steelers (MNF)Comment
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NFL Cheat Sheet: Week 15 Betting Notes
By Colin Kelly
Jacksonville at Atlanta (-11)
WHY JAGUARS WILL COVER: Relatively speaking, this team on fire from a scoring standpoint. After failing to break 20 points all season long, the Jags blew up for 41 consecutive points in Sunday’s 41-14 rout of Tampa Bay. Atlanta has cashed just once in the past five weeks (1-3-1 against the spread) and that required a comeback last weekend against Carolina.
WHY FALCONS WILL COVER: Even after their 41-point outburst, the Jags still sit 28th in league in scoring, at 14.8 ppg. Atlanta’s 7-2 ATS (against the spread) in its last nine December starts and 20-8-1 ATS in its last 29 against losing teams. The Jags are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 against winning teams.
TOTAL(42.5): Before last week’s game vs. Carolina, Atlanta was on tear of eight straight unders. Jacksonville has gone over in each of the last two weeks but is still 10-3 to the under on the season. The Jags have watched the total go low in six straight on the highway.
Dallas (-7) at Tampa Bay
WHY COWBOYS WILL COVER: The Cowboys are playing the Bucs, who just gave up 41 points to the awful Jaguars. And the Cowboys have no room to mess around against Tampa after stinging losses to the Cardinals and Giants. At home, the Bucs are in ATS slumps of 6-20 overall and 5-16 when getting points.
WHY BUCCANEERS WILL COVER: Well, if they really like Raheem Morris as coach, it would serve them well to show it. The Bucs have dumped seven in a row SU (straight up), going 1-6 against the number over that span. They could be playing for Morris’ job here, so perhaps that’s some incentive. Dallas is just 7-18-1 ATS in its last 26 when laying points and 7-18-2 ATS in its last 27 in December.
TOTAL (47): Tampa has given up 24 points or more in every game of its seven-game slide, including 35 or more four times. The over is 18-8 in Dallas’ last 26 overall.
New Orleans (-6.5) at Minnesota
WHY SAINTS WILL COVER: They are hotter than a supermodel on the sun, winning and covering five in a row and six of their last seven. Minnesota, meanwhile, has lost five in a row straight up (1-3-1 ATS) and seems to have a QB quandary – rookie Christian Ponder was yanked after a dismal two-plus quarters against Detroit, and Joe Webb nearly pulled off a stunning comeback.
WHY VIKINGS WILL COVER: They are 5-1 ATS in the last six of this rivalry and the Saints tend to play down to the level of competition, at 3-11 ATS in their last 14 against losing teams.
TOTAL (50.5): Total has gone low in four of the last five for New Orleans, but the Saints average 31.9 ppg (second in NFL), and the over is 6-1 in Minny’s last seven at home. The over is also 5-1 in the last six Saints-Vikes matchups.
Carolina at Houston (-6.5)
WHY PANTHERS WILL COVER: This team is better than its 4-9 SU record suggests. They’ve lost six games this season in which they’ve led or been tied in the fourth quarter. Once Cam Newton figures out how to stop throwing more INTs (16) than TDs (15), they’ll be the real deal. Carolina’s 15-6 ATS in its last 21 December outings.
WHY TEXANS WILL COVER: Even with rookie T.J. Yates at QB, they’re still winning and covering, going 6-0-1 ATS during their current seven-game SU run. This team is contending for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so it has plenty of incentive. The Panthers are on pointspread dives of 4-12 when catching points and 3-9 against winning teams.
TOTAL (45.5): Something’s got to give here. Carolina’s on over runs of 5-0-1 against winning teams, 6-1-1 as an underdog and 7-3-1 on the highway. Houston is on under surges of 5-1 at home and 6-2 as a chalk.
Green Bay (-14) at Kansas City
WHY PACKERS WILL COVER: During their eye-popping 19-game SU win streak, they’ve cashed 14 times. That includes four covers as double-digit favorites this season. The Chiefs are in disarray after firing coach Todd Haley on Monday while the Packers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 roadies and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 in December.
WHY CHIEFS WILL COVER: Bad as they are, they’re still a good underdog. They are riding ATS streaks of 7-2 overall, 5-1 as a home pup, and 12-4 when getting more than 10 points. The Packers are 1-5 ATS in the last six as a road chalk of more than 10 points.
TOTAL (46): The Chiefs have scored 10 points or fewer in six straight games and the under has cashed in six of the last seven for K.C. Conversely, the Packers average a league-best 35.8 ppg, with over hitting in six of their last seven games. An average Green Bay outing wouldn’t leave much work for K.C. to reach the over.
Seattle at Chicago (-3.5)
WHY SEAHAWKS WILL COVER: They’re hot, and Chicago’s not. The Seahawks have won four of last five SU and five of last six ATS. Running back Marshawn Lynch has 109 yards or more in five of last six games, along with six TDs in that stretch. The Bears have lost three straight without QB Jay Cutler.
WHY BEARS WILL COVER: They’re dying for a win to stay in the NFC playoff hunt and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five when laying points. The Seahawks are riding ATS skids of 16-34-2 on the highway and 8-20-1 as road pups.
TOTAL (35.5): Lots of over trends for both teams. Plus, the over has cashed in six overall and the last four in Windy City.
Tennessee (-6.5) at Indianapolis
WHY TITANS WILL COVER: They’d covered five of six before Sunday’s 22-17 loss to New Orleans and they nearly got the outright upset. Winless Indy (4-9 ATS) has failed to cash in its last four at home and the last four inside AFC South. The Titans are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 in this rivalry.
WHY COLTS WILL COVER: Tennessee QB Matt Hasselbeck’s status is uncertain due to calf injury. Plus, Indy has covered two in a row, following seven consecutive pointspread setbacks. The Colts are also 14-5-2 ATS in their last 21 vs. winning teams.
TOTAL (41): Under has been big for both teams lately, hitting seven straight for Tennessee and five of six for Indianapolis. This division rivalry is littered with unders – 11-2 in the last 13 overall and 6-0 in the last six in Indy.
Washington at N.Y. Giants (-6.5)
WHY REDSKINS WILL COVER: As bad as Mike Shanahan’s troops are, losing eight of last nine SU, they’ve at least been a little better lately against the spread by covering three of the last four. They fell just short of pushing Patriots to overtime last weekend. The Redskins also like division play, cashing five of the last six in the NFC East.
WHY GIANTS WILL COVER: After knocking off Dallas on the road last week, they are due for a good game at home, where they are just 1-3-1 ATS in the last five. Tom Coughlin’s squad will also be looking for some payback after getting ripped 28-14 at Washington in the season opener.
TOTAL (46.5): The score has played under in seven of the last eight ‘Skins-Giants meetings at the Meadowlands. The over is on runs of 4-0 for Washington and 4-1 for New York.
Miami at Buffalo
WHY DOLPHINS WILL COVER: They’ll be inspired by firing of coach Tony Sparano. They covered six in a row before falling to Philadelphia last week. They were due for a little letdown.
WHY BILLS WILL COVER: The Bills have dumped six in a row SU (1-5 ATS) and are due for a decent game at some point.
TOTAL: The under has been the big play for Miami all season, going 10-2-1. The under has also cashed in 10 of Buffalo’s last 11 in December and 8-3 in the team’s last 11 at Orchard Park.
Cincinnati (-6) at St. Louis
WHY BENGALS WILL COVER: Their playoff hopes are dangling by a thread, but this is a good team well overdue for some good luck. They’ve lost four of their last five, but those losses were all by one score or less against playoff-bound teams. St. Louis is the league’s worst team ATS (2-11).
WHY RAMS WILL COVER: Seriously, all the Rams can hope for is that Cincy’s current 0-4-1 ATS funk continues.
TOTAL (38.5): St. Louis averages a league-low 11.8 ppg and the under has cashed in seven of the last 10. However, Cincy’s on several over runs including 8-2 overall and 5-0 as a chalk.
Detroit (-1) at Oakland
WHY LIONS WILL COVER: Defensive stalwart Ndamukong Suh returns from two-game suspension and Detroit needs him to continue its push for a NFC wild-card spot. The Raiders were pummeled over the last two weeks (at Miami and at Green Bay) by a combined score of 80-30. The Raiders are 20-43 ATS in the last 63 in December.
WHY RAIDERS WILL COVER: Last week’s loss to the Packers notwithstanding, Oakland’s generally a good bounce-back bet. The Raiders are 7-2 ATS in the last nine off a SU loss and 14-4 ATS in the last 18 off an ATS loss. Detroit’s 1-8-1 ATS in the last 10 as a road chalk.
TOTAL (47.5): The over is on a 7-1-1 run in the Lions’ last nine roadies, 4-0 in the Raiders’ last four overall. The over is also 7-3 at home for Oakland and 5-1 with the Raiders catching points at Coliseum.
New England (-6) at Denver
WHY PATRIOTS WILL COVER: At some point, the Broncos’ good fortune will go up in smoke. New England is the best team Denver has faced during the Tebow Mania craze, and the Pats have covered eight of their last 11 road games.
WHY BRONCOS WILL COVER: Tim Tebow has led Denver to seven wins in eight games. The Broncos have covered in six of those – five from the underdog role. So this game sets up perfect for the Mile High Messiah. The Pats are 2-5 ATS in their last seven when laying points, 1-4 ATS in the last five vs. the Broncos, and 1-4 ATS in their last five trips to Denver.
TOTAL (45.5): In Tebow’s eight starts, Denver has scored 18 or fewer points. But New England averages 30.5 points per game and a defense that’s allowed 20 or more points nine times this year. The over is 12-4 in the Pats’ last 16 roadies and in the Broncos’ last 16 at home.
N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia (-3)
WHY JETS WILL COVER: Clinging to sixth and final playoff spot in AFC, they need this game. They’ve won their last three while cashing in their last two outings. Philly is just 1-8 ATS in its last nine at home.
WHY EAGLES WILL COVER: There’s no pressure here with a playoff sport out of the question, so they can play fast and loose. All the pressure is on the Jets, and Philly’s talent is far better than its 5-8 SU and ATS record indicates.
TOTAL (44): If Jets are playing the over is in play. The Jets have played over in all three games during their current upswing. The Jets also have the over on streaks of 23-8 overall, 13-3-1 with New York set as a pup, and 9-2 with Gang Green pegged as a road underdog.
Cleveland at Arizona (-7)
WHY BROWNS WILL COVER: They’re not very good, but they have covered in three of their last four. That’s about all I’ve got in their defense.
WHY CARDINALS WILL COVER: Upended 49ers last week to continue a nice roll in which they’ve won five of six SU and six of seven ATS. Cleveland’s averaging just 13.7 ppg (30th) and could be without QB Colt McCoy (concussion).
TOTAL (37.5): Cleveland’s scoring impotence has led to under streaks of 4-1 overall and 8-3 when the Browns are catching points.
Baltimore (-1.5) at San Diego
WHY RAVENS WILL COVER: This team is gunning for No. 1 seed in AFC playoff chase and has won four in a row by average of more than 11 points per game. The Bolts are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games.
WHY CHARGERS WILL COVER: They still have a sliver of chance in AFC West, but they’ve got to win outright. San Diego’s a worthy underdog, with ATS runs of 22-9-3 when getting points and 5-1 as a home pup.
TOTAL (44.5): Qualcomm Stadium is the home of unders lately, with total staying low in 10 of the last 11. The Ravens’ defense is yielding just 15.5 ppg (third).
Pittsburgh at San Francisco
WHY STEELERS WILL COVER: Like Baltimore and New England, they’re battling for the No. 1 seed. So this West Coast trip is a huge one for Pittsburgh, which has cashed in the last four following an ATS loss.
WHY 49ERS WILL COVER: Despite upset loss at Arizona last week, they are still No. 1 in the NFL at 10-2-1 ATS and really want to beat out the Saints for the No. 2 seed and a playoff bye. It won’t hurt to be at home, where San Fran has won and cashed in five straight and six of seven this year. In fact, Jim Harbaugh’s troops are 17-6-3 ATS in the last 26 at home. Plus, Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is hobbled, and star defender James Harrison may be serving a one-game suspension.
TOTAL: The Niners’ defense is No. 1 in the league, yielding a meager 14.0 ppg. Pittsburgh is No. 2 allowing just 15.2 ppg.Comment
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ROBERT FERRINGO
3 UNIT* NFL* NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -6.5
2.5 UNIT* NFL* NE PATRIOTS -6.5
1.5 UNIT* NFL* NEW YORK JETS +3
1.5 UNIT* NFL* GREEN BAY PACKERS -13.5
1 UNIT* NFL* 2 TEAM TEASER: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS +10.5 & INDIANAPOLIS COLTS +13.5
2 UNIT* NFL* WASHINGTON-NY GIANTS Under 46.5
1.5 UNIT* NFL* TENNESSEE-INDIANAPOLIS Over 41.5
1.5 UNIT* NFL* NEW ORLEANS-MINNESOTA Over 51.5
1 UNIT* NFL* DETROIT-OAKLAND Under 48.5
1 UNIT* NFL* NY JETS-PHILADELPHIA Under 44
1 UNIT* NFL* SEATTLE-CHICAGO Under 36Comment
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NCAA Basketball Picks
Portland State at Oregon State
The Vikings look to take advantage of an Oregon State team that is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games as a home favorite of 13 points or more. Portland State is the pick (+14) according to Dunkel, which has the Beavers favored by only 12. Dunkel Pick: Portland State (+14). Here are all of today's games.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. ESTGame 841-842: Princeton at Northeastern (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Princeton 52.243; Northeastern 52.763
Dunkel Line: Even; 128
Vegas Line: Northeastern by 2 1/2; 124 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Princeton (+2 1/2); OverGame 843-844: Yale at Rhode Island (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Yale 50.452; Rhode Island 48.625
Dunkel Line: Yale by 2; 138
Vegas Line: Yale by 1 1/2; 143 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Yale (-1 1/2); UnderGame 845-846: Central Michigan at Iowa State (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Central Michigan 48.981; Iowa State 62.133
Dunkel Line: Iowa State by 13; 147
Vegas Line: Iowa State by 15 1/2; 142
Dunkel Pick: Central Michigan (+15 1/2); OverGame 847-848: William & Mary at Missouri (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: William & Mary 40.313; Missouri 77.457
Dunkel Line: Missouri by 37; 141
Vegas Line: Missouri by 32 1/2; 145
Dunkel Pick: Missouri (-32 1/2); UnderGame 849-850: Loyola-Marymount at Florida State (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Loyola-Marymount 51.291; Florida State 65.997
Dunkel Line: Florida State by 14 1/2; 128
Vegas Line: Florida State by 16; 131 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Loyola-Marymount (+16); UnderGame 851-852: Virginia at Oregon (5:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Virginia 69.331; Oregon 63.567
Dunkel Line: Virginia by 6; 127
Vegas Line: Virginia by 2; 122 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Virginia (-2); OverGame 853-854: Loyola-MD at St. Bonaventure (2:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Loyola-MD 54.177; St. Bonaventure 63.426
Dunkel Line: St. Bonaventure by 9; 137
Vegas Line: St. Bonaventure by 6 1/2; 130
Dunkel Pick: St. Bonaventure (-6 1/2); OverGame 855-856: Eastern Illinois at Northwestern (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Illinois 45.565; Northwestern 61.326
Dunkel Line: Northwestern by 16; 133
Vegas Line: Northwestern by 18; 136 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Illinois (+18); UnderGame 857-858: Montana State at Pepperdine (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montana State 48.956; Pepperdine 54.591
Dunkel Line: Pepperdine by 5 1/2; 140
Vegas Line: Pepperdine by 3; 135
Dunkel Pick: Pepperdine (-3); OverGame 859-860: Portland State at Oregon State (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Portland State 48.090; Oregon State 60.227
Dunkel Line: Oregon State by 12; 144
Vegas Line: Oregon State by 14; 151
Dunkel Pick: Portland State (+14); UnderGame 871-872: Oral Roberts at Xavier (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oral Roberts 58.463; Xavier 74.435
Dunkel Line: Xavier by 16; 137
Vegas Line: Xavier by 6 1/2; 130
Dunkel Pick: Xavier (-6 1/2); OverGame 873-874: Canisius at South Dakota (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Canisius 43.570; South Dakota 48.449
Dunkel Line: South Dakota by 5; 142
Vegas Line: South Dakota by 6 1/2; 146
Dunkel Pick: Canisius (+6 1/2); UnderGame 875-876: IPFW at Tennessee-Martin (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: IPFW 50.773; Tennessee-Martin 45.748
Dunkel Line: IPFW by 5; 144
Vegas Line: IPFW by 3 1/2; 141
Dunkel Pick: IPFW (-3 1/2); OverGame 877-878: South Dakota State at Washington (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: South Dakota State 54.019; Washington 65.260
Dunkel Line: Washington by 11; 157
Vegas Line: Washington by 13 1/2; 164
Dunkel Pick: South Dakota State (+13 1/2); UnderComment
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DCI CBB
Season
Straight Up: 1184-360 (.767)
ATS: 419-491 (.460)
ATS Vary Units: 1535-2008 (.433)
Over/Under: 445-452 (.496)
Over/Under Vary Units: 632-611 (.508)
Non-Conference
ARMY 71, Texas-Pan American 61
BOSTON COLLEGE 78, Bryant 59
CONNECTICUT 81, Holy Cross 53
FLORIDA STATE 78, Loyola Marymount 55
Hawai'i 80, North Carolina A&T 68
ILLINOIS STATE 66, Norfolk State 59
IOWA STATE 79, Central Michigan 62
Ipfw 77, TENNESSEE-MARTIN 72
MISSOURI 88, William & Mary 55
NORTH TEXAS 70, Jackson State 59
NORTHWESTERN 80, Eastern Illinois 55
OREGON STATE 86, Portland State 67
PENN STATE 70, Mount St. Mary's 48
PEPPERDINE 73, Montana State 66
Princeton 64, NORTHEASTERN 61
SACRAMENTO STATE 68, North Dakota 67
SETON HALL 74, Mercer 61
SOUTH DAKOTA 79, Canisius 72
ST. BONAVENTURE 68, Loyola (Md.) 62
TEXAS TECH 76, Grambling State 54
Virginia 64, OREGON 61
WAKE FOREST 74, Gardner-Webb 64
WASHINGTON 91, South Dakota State 78
WOFFORD 73, Jacksonville 59
XAVIER 78, Oral Roberts 58
Yale vs. RHODE ISLAND: TOO CLOSE TO CALLComment
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Today's NHL Picks
Calgary at Chicago
The Flames look to build on their 6-2 record in their last 8 Sunday games. Calgary is the pick (+170) according to Dunkel, which has the Flames favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Calgary (+170). Here are all of today's picks.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18
Time Posted 8:00 a.m. ESTGame 1-2: Carolina at Florida (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 11.243; Florida 12.068
Dunkel Line & Total: Florida by 1; 5
Vegas Line & Total: Florida (-175); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Florida (-175); UnderGame 3-4: Calgary at Chicago (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Calgary 11.981; Chicago 11.176
Dunkel Line & Total: Calgary by 1; 6
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago (-200); 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Calgary (+170); OverGame 5-6: Columbus at St. Louis (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Columbus 11.611; St. Louis 11.000
Dunkel Line & Total: Columbus by 1/2; 4
Vegas Line & Total: St. Louis (-180); 5
Dunkel Pick: Columbus (+160); UnderComment
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