10-31-13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAA Football Game Picks

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 Time Posted: 5:00 p.m. EST (10/29)

Game 305-306: South Florida at Houston (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: South Florida 70.284; Houston 100.509 Dunkel Line: Houston by 30; 59 Vegas Line: Houston by 17 1/2; 53 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Houston (-17 1/2); Over

Game 307-308: Rice at North Texas (7:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Rice 80.386; North Texas 87.648 Dunkel Line: North Texas by 7 1/2; 47 Vegas Line: North Texas by 4 1/2; 52 Dunkel Pick: North Texas (-4 1/2); Under

Game 309-310: UL-Monroe at Troy (7:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: UL-Monroe 73.902; Troy 72.980 Dunkel Line: UL-Monroe by 1; 64 Vegas Line: Troy by 3 1/2; 58 1/2 Dunkel Pick: UL-Monroe (+3 1/2); Over

Game 311-312: Arizona State at Washington State (10:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Arizona State 110.390; Washington State 88.446 Dunkel Line: Arizona State by 22; 75 Vegas Line: Arizona State by 11 1/2; 71 Dunkel Pick: Arizona State (-11 1/2); Over

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Today's NFL Picks

Cincinnati at Miami

The Bengals look to follow up their 49-9 win over the Jets and build on their 7-1 ATS record in their last 8 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game. Cincinnati is the pick (-2 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Bengals favored by 7. Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-2 1/2). Here are all of this week's picks.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 Time Posted: 8:00 p.m. EST (10/29)

Game 303-304: Cincinnati at Miami (8:25 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 139.022; Miami 131.940 Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 7; 38 Vegas Line: Cincinnati by 2 1/2; 42 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-2 1/2); Under

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Football lines that make you go hmmm...
By JASON LOGAN

The Cincinnati Bengals gave bettors 49 reasons to believe they're among the contenders in the AFC this past Sunday, thumping the New York Jets 49-9 as 6-point home favorites.

That lopsided win improved the Bengals to 6-2 (5-2-1 ATS) on the year, and has them riding a four-game streak into Thursday’s primetime date in Miami, where the Fins hope to snap a four-game losing skid.

But despite Week 8’s blowout – and the fact Cincy has beaten Super Bowl contenders like Green Bay and New England – books have set the Bengals as slim 1-point road chalk versus the reeling Dolphins.

The Bengals offense stalled out of the gate, with QB Andy Dalton falling short of preseason expectations. However, Dalton has topped 300 yards passing in three straight games, connecting for 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions in that span.

The Dolphins have allowed an average of 28.5 points while coughing the ball up 10 times during this four-game slide. Miami can’t afford to give this Cincinnati offense any extra cracks at the end zone, especially with a spread so small.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

The Gold Medal Club CFB Selection 30/10/2013
#309 UL-Monroe +3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cappers Access

Dolphins +3
S. Florida +18.5
Washington St +12

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Thursday Night Football betting: Bengals at Dolphins

Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins (+2.5, 43)

The Cincinnati Bengals are threatening to turn the AFC North into a runaway and will go for their fifth straight win when they visit the skidding Miami Dolphins on Thursday night. Cincinnati is coming off a superb performance, getting a career-high five touchdown passes from Andy Dalton in a 49-9 mauling of the New York Jets. "This is one of the first games we were able to finish because we jumped on them early," Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap said. "This was just a statement game."

Miami, meanwhile, is in the midst of a major spiral, dropping its fourth straight game after blowing a 14-point halftime lead in a 27-17 defeat at New England on Sunday. So instead of thrusting themselves back into the AFC East race, the Dolphins are approaching must-win territory if they hope to remain in postseason contention. "If we don’t get wins in these next (few) games, I feel like (the season) could slip away,” middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe said.

TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network.

LINE: This game opened at a pick'em and has since moved to Bengals -2.5. The total has climbed from 41.5 to 43.

WEATHER: Temperatures in the mid 70s with partly cloudy skies and winds blowing east at 7 mph.

COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Cincinnati (-4.0) + Miami (+3.0) + Home Field (-3.0) = Miami +4.0

ABOUT THE BENGALS (6-2, 5-2-1 ATS): One of Cincinnati's concerns has been its reliance on the combination of Dalton to standout wide receiver A.J. Green, but fellow wideout Marvin Jones went a long way to allaying those worries by hauling in a franchise-record four scoring catches in Sunday's onslaught. Dalton has rebounded from a pair of middling efforts against Cleveland and New England to throw for 1,034 yards with 11 TDs and two interceptions in his last three. The Bengals are also getting it done on defense, tied for fifth in the league with 18.0 points allowed per game, but will likely be without linebacker Rey Maualuga (knee) for at least three weeks.

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (3-4, 3-4 ATS): Losing streak aside, Miami has to deal with additional fallout from Sunday's defeat. Wide receiver Brandon Gibson suffered a season-ending knee injury in in the loss and, following the game, center Mike Pouncey was served with a grand jury subpoena in connection with the murder investigation of former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. The Dolphins churned out a season-high 156 yards rushing but still have not been able to protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has been sacked a league-worst 32 times.

TRENDS:

* Bengals are 1-4 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Road team is 5-0 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Dolphins are 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall.
* Bengals are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 games overall.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The away team has won the last three meetings, including the Dolphins' 17-13 win in Week 5 last season.

2. Cincinnati had two interception returns for TDs versus the Jets, the first time that's happened for the Bengals since December 1984.

3. Miami has had losing streaks of at least four games in five of the last 10 seasons.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tale of the Tape: Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins

The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the hottest teams in the NFL - and they'll look to keep the good times rolling at Raymond James Stadium Thursday.

Winners of four straight, the 6-2 Bengals visit Miami for what can only be described as a must-win game for the 3-4 Dolphins. Miami has dropped four straight games following a 3-0 start, and now has to contend with a Bengals team that lit up the New York Jets for 49 points in a one-sided victory last weekend.

Here's the breakdown in our betting tale of the tape:

Offense

The Bengals struggled with consistency on the offensive end through the first five weeks but have hit their stride of late, averaging better than 34 points over their last three games. Andy Dalton has the passing game ranked seventh in the NFL in yards per game (269.9) thanks to a 325-yard performance in Sunday's 40-point rout of the Jets. The running game remains a work in progress, ranked 15th in total yardage but just tied for 26th in yards per attempt (3.6).

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has improved in his second season, vaulting Miami into the middle of the pack in passing yards per game (222). He has thrown 11 touchdown passes against nine interceptions, and has thrown for a score in every game this season. The two-headed rush attack of Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas combined for 136 yards in last week's loss to New England but Miami averages just 89 per game - good for 23rd in the league.

Edge: Cincinnati

Defense

Cincinnati is building off the defensive momentum it created last year, ranked 11th in the NFL in passing yards against (225.3) and eighth in opposition rushing yards (97.3). The Bengals were at their stingiest against the Jets, limiting them to 147 yards in the air. One area Cincinnati has struggled is on third-down defense; the Bengals have allowed opposing teams to convert nearly 42 percent of their chances, the seventh-worst mark in the NFL.

Miami's pass defense has been slightly below average when it comes to yards per game allowed (245, 20th) but has surrendered just nine touchdowns while racking up eight interceptions. The Dolphins are also near the middle of the pack on the pass rush, accumulating 20 sacks for 125 yards. The Miami run defense has been somewhat successful to date, surrendering seven touchdowns but limiting opponents to 109.9 yards per game on 3.8 yards per carry.

Edge: Cincinnati

Special Teams

Cincinnati has had a decent return game in 2013, ranked seventh in kick-return average (26.3) and 21st in punt-return yardage (7.1). The Bengals are allowing opponents to gain 23.2 yards per kickoff return - the 12th-best mark in the NFL - and 7.3 yards per punt return. Veteran kicker Mike Nugent, who settled for seven extra points in last week's drubbing, is just 10-for-13 in field-goal attempts on the season.

While Miami's kick-return game is solid (24.9 ypa, 11th), it has managed to compile just 62 yards on 12 punt-return attempts for a 5.2 ypa average - good for 27th in the league. Miami is allowing more yards to opponents on both fronts - 26 yards per kickoff attempt and 9.1 yards per punt return. Kicker Caleb Sturgis has connected on just 11 of 15 field-goal chances in 2013, and missed a pair in last Sunday's loss to the Patriots.

Edge: Cincinnati

Notable Quotable

"It's a lot of fun to come out and play the way we've been doing. It has been a lot of fun for the fans and everybody that's in Cincinnati that is rooting for us. If we can keep delivering and we can keep playing like we have been, I think there will be a lot of happy people." - Dalton

"I understand that there are probably four right tackles in the NFL that can block Elvis Dumervil and Mario Williams consistently one-on-one. At this point in my career, it doesn't appear that I'm one of them." - Dolphins OL Tyson Clabo, who was benched last week after allowing eight sacks in six games

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Thursday's NCAAF action: What bettors need to know

South Florida Bulls at Houston Cougars (-17.5, 53.5)

Houston must avoid looking ahead to a pair of American Athletic Conference showdowns when they host South Florida for a Halloween clash on Thursday. The Cougars defeated Rutgers 49-14 on Saturday to remain unbeaten in the league along with No. 22 Central Florida, who they visit Nov. 9 before a trip to Louisville for a showdown with the No. 17 Cardinals.

The Bulls will test Houston’s high-octane offense, but have not scored an offensive touchdown in a school-record 12 straight quarters despite winning two of three. Freshman Mike White is expected to make his first career start, the fourth different quarterback to do so for South Florida. Freshman quarterback John O’Korn leads a Cougars offense that has averaged 42 points and almost 500 yards and Houston’s defense leads the nation in takeaways with 27.

LINE: Houston has seen a major shift in the line, up to a 17 1/2-point favorite after opening at 14. The over-under is set at 53.5.
WEATHER: N/A
TRENDS:

* Bulls are 1-12 ATS in their last 13 contests after scoring 20 or fewer points in their previous game.
* Cougars are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games following an ATS win.
* Under is 7-1-1 in South Florida's last nine games against teams with winning records.

UL Monroe Warhawks at Troy Trojans (-3, 59.5)

The host Trojans carry a three-game winning streak into Thursday night's showdown with the Warhawks. Senior Troy quarterback Corey Robinson leads a top-25 pass attack, having racked up 2,195 yards and 16 touchdowns through the Trojans' first eight games. They'll be in tough against a Louisiana-Monroe team that followed up a narrow victory at Texas State with a 38-10 drubbing of Georgia State.

Robinson is dominating the Sun Belt Conference to date, leading the way in passing yardage, TDs and completion percentage (70.4). The Warhawks haven't had nearly the same level of success from quarterback Kolton Browning, though the senior did throw four touchdown passes against Georgia State after missing the previous two games with a torn quad muscle many thought would sideline him for the season.

LINE: Troy has held steady as a three-point favorite. The over/under has risen from 58 1/2 to 59 1/2.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-70s with mostly cloudy skies and wind blowing north across the length of the field at 10 mph.
TRENDS:

* Warhawks are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games on turf.
* Trojans are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 October games.
* Over is 7-0 in Troy's last seven home games.

Rice Owls at North Texas Mean Green (-4.5, 52.5)

The visiting Owls bring one of the nation's most relentless rush attacks into Apogee Stadium for a date with Conference USA-rival North Texas. Senior running back Charles Ross leads the conference in yards per game (116.2) and is tied for first in touchdowns (six), and has racked up 319 yards and two scores in consecutive wins over New Mexico State and UTEP.

The Mean Green boast the stingiest defense in the conference, allowing just over 20 points per game. North Texas has been particularly difficult to run against, limiting teams to 125.8 yards on the ground - the third-best mark in C-USA. The Mean Green also have a robust passing offense, averaging the third-most yards through the air in the conference (258.9) thanks to the exploits of senior QB Derek Thompson (1,980 yards, 11 TDs).

LINE: North Texas opened as a three-point favorite, but the line has since risen to 4 1/2. The over/under has jumped a half-point to 52 1/2.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with clear skies and wind blowing diagonally out of the northwest at 10 mph.
TRENDS:

* Owls are 6-0 ATS in their last six road games.
* Mean Green are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.
* Under is 9-1 in North Texas' last 10 games on Fieldturf.

Arizona State Sun Devils at Washington State Cougars (+11.5, 71.5)

Arizona State can take another step toward being the South Division representative in the Pac-12 title game when it visits pass-happy Washington State on Saturday. The Sun Devils hold a one-game lead over three teams in the division race and are averaging 56.3 points in three conference victories. Ironically, the Cougars have allowed an average of 56.3 in their three Pac-12 defeats,

Washington State isn’t even attempting to establish a running game as Halliday is being asked to air it out. The junior set school and conference records with 557 passing yards against the Ducks but was also picked off four times. Arizona State has a versatile attack with senior running back Marion Grice leading the nation with 18 total touchdowns.

LINE: Washington State opened as a 13 1/2-point underdog, but the line has dropped to 11 1/2. The over/under has risen a point to 71 1/2.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-40s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing diagonally out of the southwest at 6 mph.
TRENDS:

* Sun Devils are 5-1 ATS in their last six conference games.
* Cougars are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with winning records.
* Over is 17-4 in Arizona State's last 21 games following an ATS win.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Ducks won 10 of first 13 games, including last three on road.
-- Coyotes won four of their last five games.

Cold teams
-- Bruins lost their last two games, 4-3/3-2.
-- Sabres lost 12 of their first 14 games. Rangers lost six of last nine games.
-- Predators lost two of last three games, scoring four goals.

Series records
-- Bruins lost three of last four games with Anaheim.
-- Rangers won five of last seven games with Buffalo.
-- Phoenix won six of its last eight games with Nashville.

Totals
-- Six of last nine Anaheim games stayed under the total.
-- Five of six Buffalo road games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Nashville games.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Today's NBA Picks New York at Chicago The Bulls look to build on their 5-0 ATS record in their last 5 games against the Knicks. Chicago is the pick (-8) according to Dunkel, which has the Bulls favored by 10. Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-8). Here are all of today's picks. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST Game 501-502: New York at Chicago (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: New York 115.311; Chicago 125.148 Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 10; 192 Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 8; 190 Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-8); Over Game 503-504: Golden State at LA Clippers (10:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 123.300; LA Clippers 120.924 Dunkel Line & Total: Golden State by 2 1/2; 208 Vegas Line & Total: LA Clippers by 7; 203 Dunkel Pick: Golden State (+7); Over

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Today's NHL Picks

Anaheim at Boston

The Ducks look to follow up their 3-2 win over the Flyers on Tuesday and build on their 6-0 record in their last 6 games after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game. Anaheim is the pick (+120) according to Dunkel, which has the Ducks favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (+120). Here are all of today's picks.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 Time Posted 7:00 a.m. EST

Game 1-2: Anaheim at Boston (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Anaheim 12.953; Boston 11.880 Dunkel Line & Total: Anaheim by 1; 6 Vegas Line & Total: Boston (-140); 5 Dunkel Pick: Anaheim (+120); Over

Game 3-4: Buffalo at NY Rangers (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 10.608; NY Rangers 12.109 Dunkel Line & Total: NY Rangers by 1 1/2; 4 Vegas Line & Total: NY Rangers (-200); 5 Dunkel Pick: NY Rangers (-200); Under

Game 5-6: Nashville at Phoenix (10:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Nashville 10.359; Phoenix 11.903 Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 1 1/2; 4 Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix (-155); 5 Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-155); Under

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports

Our Free Plays are 1120-844 (57% ) over the last 5 1/2 years !

Free winner THURS: Rice + 4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Gamblers Data

Free Plays Thursday

Phoenix Coyotes -155

Rangers under 5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA TNT doubleheader: Knicks at Bulls, Warriors at Clippers

New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls (-8.5, 188.5)

Derrick Rose looks to shake off a subpar return as he plays at home for the first time in 17-plus months when the Chicago Bulls tangle with the New York Knicks on Thursday night. Rose was just 4-of-15 shooting for 12 points and had more turnovers (five) than assists (four) in his return from major knee surgery in Chicago’s loss to the Miami Heat. “I don’t think I forced anything,” Rose said after Tuesday’s contest. “I just couldn’t knock down any shots. I don’t think it was rust.”

New York opened its season with a victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday in a game in which the Knicks let a 25-point second-half lead slip away before fighting off the Bucks. Center Tyson Chandler elected to take the view that the close call was of benefit to his team. “We want to put teams away, especially (when) you’re going into a back-to-back so you have an opportunity to rest,” Chandler said. “But like I say, at the end of the day, learning experience, and I’d rather learn with a win than a loss.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE: Bulls opened at -7.5 and were bet up to -8.5. The total opened at 190.5 and has come down to 188.5.
NBA POWER RANKINGS: Knicks (-8.5) - Bulls (-13.3) + Home court (-3.0) = Bulls -7.8

ABOUT THE KNICKS (1-0): The status of point guard Raymond Felton is a concern after he tweaked a hamstring in the opener. New York coach Mike Woodson said Felton’s availability would be decided shortly before game time even though Felton was insisting he would be in the lineup. “Hopefully it goes away,” Felton said after scoring 18 points against the Bucks. “It’s one of those things where it can last two to three days but it can last up to six weeks.” Forward Carmelo Anthony had 19 points and 10 rebounds against Milwaukee.

ABOUT THE BULLS (0-1): Chicago was overly hyped for the challenge of facing defending champion Miami, but the way the Bulls fell behind early and were not in the game made the defeat even more disappointing. “It’s not the end of the world,” Rose said. “This will be easily forgotten. We have the whole season to make a statement. For us, it’s building every game.” The one Chicago standout was forward Carlos Boozer, who repeatedly had his way inside with 31 points on 13-of-18 shooting in addition to grabbing seven rebounds.

TRENDS:

* Over is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Knicks are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings in Chicago.
* Knicks are 0-5 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Chicago went 4-0 against the Knicks last season and has won the last five meetings.

2. Knicks SG J.R. Smith is serving a five-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.

3. Bulls C Joakim Noah (groin) was limited to 20 minutes in the opener but did grab 11 rebounds.

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers (-6.5, 203)

The Los Angeles Clippers endured a disappointing season debut under new coach Doc Rivers, especially at the defensive end. The Clippers will look to avoid falling into an early hole in the Pacific Division when they host the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. Rivers built strong defensive teams with the Boston Celtics but watched Los Angeles struggle mightily in a season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors had the opposite experience against the Lakers in their opener on Wednesday, getting 38 points from Klay Thompson in a 125-94 blowout. Rivers lamented his teams’ lack of preparation. “(The Lakers) destroyed us on the glass and destroyed us in turnovers,” Rivers said. “So it was a good lesson for us.” Golden State controlled the glass in its opener despite holding its entire frontcourt to 27 minutes or fewer on Wednesday.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE: The Clippers opened -7 and have come down to -6.5. The total opened at 203 and has jumped to 203.5.
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Warriors (-9.0) - Clippers (-13.5) + Home Court (-3.0) = Clippers -7.5

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (1-0): Golden State finished second to the Clippers in the Pacific Division in 2012-13 and is looking to challenge for the top spot this season after bringing in Andre Iguodala to supplement the perimeter defense and display toughness on the wing. Iguodala only scored seven points on Wednesday but helped spread the defense for Thompson while providing one of the highlights of the night on a behind-the-back give-and-go exchange with David Lee. The Warriors led the NBA in 3-point percentage in 2012-13 and showed no signs of slowing down by burying 15-of-27 from beyond the arc in the opener, led by Thompson’s 5-of-7 performance.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (0-1): Los Angeles held a slim lead for most of its opener before being blown out in the fourth quarter by the Lakers’ reserves in a 116-103 setback. “The good thing is we have 81 more games,” Rivers said. “The bad thing is everyone is going to play us (hard).” Blake Griffin scored 19 points but struggled on the defensive end while the Clippers were outrebounded. Los Angeles is working in newcomers J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley and had the two split time with Matt Barnes and Jamal Crawford.

TRENDS:

* Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Warriors are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Warriors are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Los Angeles.
* Underdog is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.

BUZZER BEATERS:

1. Golden State F Harrison Barnes (foot) sat out the opener and is not expected to play until the weekend.

2. Griffin shot 47.2 percent from the field against the Warriors last season - his lowest mark against any Pacific rival.

3. Golden State took three of the four meetings last season, with the lone loss coming at Los Angeles on Jan. 5, 115-89.