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St. Louis -185 over Nashville
New York Rangers -125 over Florida
St. Louis -185 over Nashville
New York Rangers -125 over Florida
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SPORTS WAGERS
BYU +109 over Tulsa PINNACLE
Tulsa boasts an impressive résumé for an 8-4 team, with losses only to top-10 outfits Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Boise State and Houston. The development of quarterback G.J. Kinne and a veteran offensive line helped the Golden Hurricane overcome a lack of experienced skill position players. There are no impressive wins on this team's schedule but most of them were blowouts and there's no shame in any of the losses. BYU has a similar résumé, with losses to the three best teams on its slate, accompanying a host of lopsided victories over weak opponents. The Cougars aren't as explosive as Tulsa, but this BYU defense is easily the best the Hurricane has faced outside of its quartet of highly ranked foes. Seventh-year BYU boss Bronco Mendenhall is an accomplished bowl coach, and his edge in postseason experience over Tulsa rookie Bill Blankenship could be the decisive advantage in this evenly matched affair. Play: BYU +109 (No bets)
RUTGERS –102 over Iowa State PINNACLE
Expect a grinding, defensive affair from two teams that prefer to run but aren't that great at it. Iowa State lacks explosive playmakers in the passing game, relying on James White and Jeff Woody for yards on the ground. Rutgers is transitioning from a failed spread approach back to the downhill identity that served the Scarlet Knights so well during the Ray Rice era. Iowa State takes its bowls seriously and is not a program we expect to fade in the postseason. However, Rutgers has a few advantages that could turn this defensive struggle in the Knights' favor. Rutgers has the far better defense, big-play special teams units and will be playing in front of a partisan crowd in a stadium in which it beat Army just a month ago. The Knights also feature the matchup's best playmaker in record-setting wideout Mohamed Sanu. Most important, Iowa State is a turnover-prone group, ranking 118th in giveaways, while the ball-hawking Knights are the country's fifth-best in takeaways. Yards will be at a premium but a Rutgers team that ranks just 100th in total offense yet 66th in scoring finds a way to get the job done even when the chains aren't moving. Play Rutgers –102 (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).
Wake Forest +7 over Mississippi St. SportsInteraction
The current identity of the Wake Forest offense plays into Mississippi State's hands, as the Bulldogs linebackers are inexperienced but the secondary is among the nation's best. Nor is this a great matchup for a Wake Forest defense that has struggled with physical rushing attacks. Still, even with the matchup disadvantages, we are unwilling to lay postseason points to a Jim Grobe-coached team. After falling out of the SEC West race all that remained for Mississippi State was to claim bowl eligibility and a third straight win over hated rival Ole Miss. Those missions accomplished, it's hard to see the Dogs getting fired up to play a historical ACC doormat. All State knows about Wake is that the Deacons dropped a 41-7 decision to Vandy in their final game. It's almost impossible for State not to be overconfident here, while Wake is itching to prove it's better than its last outing, especially given a chance at redemption against an SEC opponent. Another red flag that should concern Bulldog backers is that all the money is coming in on the chalk. No question Mississippi State matches up well here but a fresh Wake team is a lot better than the out-of-gas squad Vanderbilt saw. A touchdown is too much weight to lay with an offensively challenged team against an opponent that’s “expected to lose” with an excellent track record both in bowls and as an underdog. Play: Wake Forest +7 (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).
Iowa +13½ over OKLAHOMA PINNACLE
Iowa RB Marcus Coker is out and unlike last year's Insight, when Coker had his coming-out party in relief of suspended tailback Adam Robinson, there's no comparable talent waiting his turn down on the depth chart. The loss of Coker will really hurt Iowa's ability to control the clock and keep Oklahoma's offense off the field. Still, it's impossible to endorse an Oklahoma team that's down to just two backs itself and is suffering the worst team wide wear and tear in the country. Sooner Nation is melting down after the preseason No. 1 fell to 9-3 and a minor bowl berth. Oklahoma now finds itself in the classic spot of the disappointed big bowl favorite. Bob Stoops has done well in non-BCS bowls, but those previous appearances were in known retooling years, not seasons of dashed high expectations, and he's just 4-8 against the spread in all bowls. With three trips in five years, this is a team that's grown weary of Fiesta Bowls. It's unlikely the Sooners can get that fired up about yet another trip to Phoenix, this one for the Insight. Iowa's pass defense is miserable, and Oklahoma should roll up some serious yardage, but at least the Hawkeyes will play hard for retiring coordinator Norm Parker. Just a few stops might be enough for the Iowa defense, as Big Ten receiving leader Marvin McNutt is prepared to be the go-to guy in Coker's absence and Iowa is capable of landing some blows on an underachieving Oklahoma pass defense. Add the Sooners state of mind after being selected to play in a small Bowl game and that makes the Cyclones the only side worth having. Play: Iowa State +13½ (Risking 2.14 units to win 2).Comment
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NHL Predictions
Nashville Predators +161
Take note that the Preds are coming off a big 2-1 shootout victory against the Wild, while the Blues are coming off a road loss in Detroit and have played 3 of their last 4 on the road. Nashville has already taken both meetings between these two teams, including one game in St Louis (a 4-2 win), with Pekka Rinne coming up big in both wins. This is a good chance to get on the Predators coming off a win with Rinne playing solid.Comment
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Tradeline Sports
Predators at Blues
Play: Under 5
Playing to the bottom side of a National Hockey League Over-Under on a team (St Louis) that is coming off a road loss by one goal or less in a game involving two teams with a winning percentage between .510 and .600 percent when the oddsmakers set the total at 5 goals has cashed at a 70% clip (50-21) over the last 15 NHL campaigns. This is the first time this season the bias has presented itself.
Miami Heat at Minnesota Timberwolves
Play: Miami Heat -7.5
Fading National Basketball Association underdogs (Minnesota) following a game where they committed 13 or more turnovers than their opponent when the oddsmakers set the pointspread between of 3.5 to 9.5 points has been a money maker over the last 15 NBA campaigns. The trend is 46-15 (75%) during this span and this is the first time the bias has presented itself this season.
Rockets at Grizzlies
Play: Under 192
Play to the bottom side of the National Basketball Association Over-Under on a team (Houston) who has made six or more three points shots, on average, last season in a contest against a division foe when the oddsmakers set the total between 190 and 199.5, this in the first month of the season. The trend is a stellar 35-8 over the last five NBA campaigns and is already 4-1 this season.
New York Rangers at Florida Panthers
Play: Florida Panthers +105
Fading road National Hockey League teams (Rangers) that have won four of their last five games when playing on Friday nights has been a solid money maker over the last 15 NHL campaigns. The trend is times tested 165-88 during that span and is a red hot 7-1 this season.Comment
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Jeff Benton
Friday's Action
20 Dime winner going out on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons as the underaog againnst the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the Music City Bowl. At the time I release this winner, the Deacons are listed as the 6 1/2-point underdog both here in Vegas and offshore.
10 Dime winner tonight on the Temple Owls as the favirite against the Delware Blue Hens. At the time I release this winner, the Owls are a 6 1/2-point favorite both here in Vegas and offshore.Comment
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Dom Chambers
Today's winners ...
My 40 Dime play is on the Oklahoma Sooners to cover against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Insight Bowl. Checkaing the sports books at 7 a.m. and the Soonners were laying 13 ½ points. Always shop around to make sure you get the best numbier.
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Mark Mayer @ Gaming Today
FRIDAY
Rutgers -2 vs. Iowa St: Rutgers has a chance to go 2-0 in Yankee Stadium this year. Maybe they should move their home games to the Bronx. RUTGERS.
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Richard Saber @ Gaming Today
Friday, Dec, 30
Iowa +13 ½ vs. Oklahoma: The Hawkeyes defense should be able to keep this game within the big point spread. IOWA.Comment
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