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NFL Prop Shop: Wild Card Weekend
By SEAN MURPHY

It's playoff time in the NFL with Wild Card Weekend getting underway Saturday. Why not spice things up with some player prop bets? Covers Expert Sean Murphy opens the doors of the NFL Prop Shop and gives you his favorite player prop picks for this weekend's action:

Most passing yards

Alex Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts)

I'm going to take a shot with Alex Smith at an underdog price in this matchup, for a couple of reasons.

First, I expect the Chiefs to be playing from behind for the better part of this game, forcing Smith to take to the air. Second, Kansas City has to realize that its passing game is an area where it will need to improve after Smith made only 16 completions for 153 yards in a 23-7 home loss to the Colts two weeks ago. The Colts defense has been vulnerable against the pass at times this season, giving up seven yards per pass play.

Even though QB Andrew Luck is the engine, the Colts still strive to be a run-oriented team on the offensive side of the ball. Luck will need to pick his spots against an opportunistic Chiefs secondary on Saturday.

Take: Smith

Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) vs. Andy Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals)

This play sets up similarly to our play on Alex Smith. There's a good chance the Chargers will be playing from behind for much of Sunday's game in Cincinnati, but that won't phase Philip Rivers, who brings a 'gunslinger' mentality to the table.

The Bengals defense has been terrific against the pass this season, but that's largely due to the fact that most teams have elected to run on them instead. San Diego didn't show much caution in its previous matchup with Cincinnati, airing it out 37 times in a 17-10 loss. Rivers threw for 252 yards compared to Andy Dalton's 190 on that day, and I'm expecting a similar ledger at the end of this rematch.

Take: Rivers

Most rushing yards

Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Eddie Lacy (Green Bay Packers)

As much as the Packers would like to lean heavily on their rookie running back, with Aaron Rodgers back under center, they'll undoubtedly fall in love with the passing game once again this week.

Lacy did run the ball 21 times last Sunday in Chicago, but only had moderate success, gaining just 66 yards. Veteran James Starks was actually the more explosive back on that day.

Frank Gore was a non-factor for the 49ers in last week's win over the Cardinals, but he was a workhorse in the previous two weeks, and I expect to see him resume that role against the Packers. Last week's poor performance doesn't take away from the fact that Gore has been running well, gaining at least 86 yards in three of his last four games. He'll find room to run against an up-and-down Packers defense on Sunday.

Take: Gore

Most pass receptions

Keenan Allen (San Diego Chargers) vs. A.J. Green (Cincinnati Bengals)

Since Week 4, Keenan Allen has emerged as Philip Rivers' favorite target, and even though he's a rookie, I expect him to be counted upon heavily in Sunday's showdown with the Bengals.

Note that Allen was a force against Cincinnati back in Week 13, hauling in eight catches for 106 yards.

A.J. Green has quietly emerged into a superstar, but that leaves hiim overvalued in terms of prop matchups more often than not. This is such a case as we're getting a healthy underdog return with Allen in what I feel is nothing more than a toss-up. In terms of yardage Green may win the battle, but as far as receptions go, I'll take my chances with Allen.

Take: Allen

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Chiefs at Colts: What bettors need to know

Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts (Pick'em, 46)

Andrew Luck and Indianapolis Colts closed the season with three consecutive lopsided victories, including a 23-7 romp in Kansas City, and now have the luxury of home-field advantage when they host the Chiefs on Saturday in the AFC wild-card round. The Colts allowed a staggering 82 points in road losses to Arizona and Cincinnati before sinking the Chiefs, part of a three-game run that has seen them outscore the opposition 78-20. Indianapolis has dominated the series, winning five of the last six.

Unlike the Colts, Kansas City wobbled down the stretch, losing five of its last seven games after opening the season with nine straight wins and leading the league in points allowed. The Chiefs, seeking their first postseason victory since Joe Montana was under center in 1994, committed an uncharacteristic four turnovers in the loss to the Colts on Dec. 22. "They've got the upper hand on us right now because in their minds they think they can beat us," Kansas City linebacker Derrick Johnson said after last month's loss.

TV: 4:35 p.m. ET, NBC.

LINE: The Colts opened at -2.5, but have been bet all the way to a pick'em. The total has moved down slightly from 46.5 to 46.

WEATHER: N/A.

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (11-5, 9-7 ATS): There remains uncertainty whether leading wide receiver Dwayne Bowe will be cleared to play after suffering a concussion, but that won't alter the game plan for quarterback Alex Smith and Kansas City. The Chiefs will feature a heavy dose of running back Jamaal Charles, who led the AFC with 1,287 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while hauling in a team-high 70 receptions and seven scoring passes. "We called him public enemy No. 1," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "If he doesn't touch the ball 30 times, I'd be shocked." After resting most of the starters in last week's loss at San Diego, the Chiefs are expecting the return of linebacker Justin Houston, who tied for the team sack lead (11) with Tamba Hali despite missing the last five games with a dislocated elbow.

ABOUT THE COLTS (11-5, 10-6 ATS): Indianapolis' offense went sideways when Luck lost his favorite target, Reggie Wayne, to a season-ending knee injury in Week 7. After a stretch of uneven performances, Luck has established a chemistry with young wideouts T.Y. Hilton, Griff Whalen and Da'Rick Rogers, throwing for eight touchdowns and one interception over the final four weeks. Hilton has emerged as a go-to receiver in his second season, hauling in 24 passes during the three-game win streak to finish with 82 on the season. Donald Brown has helped ease the sting of the trade for running back Trent Richardson by averaging 5.3 yards per carry and scoring six rushing TDs - two against the Chiefs. Robert Mathis, who had a league-high 19.5 sacks, heads a defense that yielded two TDs in the final three games

TRENDS:

* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Indianapolis.
* Chiefs are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 meetings.
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Smith had 11 TD passes versus one interception on the road as the Chiefs tied Miami (2008) and Indianapolis (2012) for the most wins by a team with two or fewer victories the previous season.

2. Luck's 13 home wins in his first two seasons ties him with Atlanta's Matt Ryan for the second most in the Super Bowl era.

3. Kansas City has averaged only 9.4 points in its last five losses to Indianapolis.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Saints at Eagles: What bettors need to know

New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5, 53.5)

The New Orleans Saints have dominated opponents at home this season, but the road has been a different story for Drew Brees and company. The sixth-seeded Saints take aim at the first road playoff win in franchise history Saturday night when they visit the third-seeded Philadelphia Eagles, who enter this matchup as one of the hottest teams in the postseason. There likely will be no shortage of points, as the Eagles (second) and Saints (fourth) are among the league leaders in total offense while featuring some of the NFL's top skill-position players - Brees and Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, and the Eagles' duo of quarterback Nick Foles and running back LeSean McCoy, just to name a few.

New Orleans had lost three of four before routing Tampa Bay 42-17 last week - a win that improved the Saints to 8-0 at home compared to their 3-5 record on the road. The Eagles, meanwhile, had lost 10 straight home games before winning their final four contests at Lincoln Financial Field, but first-year coach Chip Kelly knows that while the Saints present a much tougher challenge, the focus remains the same. "You can't be like, ‘Oh my God, now we are in the playoffs and we've got to do this,'" said Kelly. "I think that's really not our mindset. It's, we have got a really, really good Saints team coming in here and we have to prepare the heck out of our guys and play a big game on Saturday night."

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBC.

LINE: The Eagles have held steady as 2.5-point faves. The total opened at 54.5 and has moved down to 53.5.

WEATHER: It should be clear with temperatures in the mid 20s.

ABOUT THE SAINTS (11-5, 8-8 ATS): Brees, who was second in the NFL in passing yards (5,162) and touchdowns (39), believes that New Orleans is capable of winning three straight on the road in the playoffs after losing its final three road games of the regular season. "Absolutely," Brees said after the win against Tampa Bay. "We are good enough to do whatever we set out to do. I think today was a great step in the right direction to get ready for this playoff run." The Saints' defense is much improved from years past, as they allowed the second-fewest passing yards in the league (194.1) and surrendered 20 points or fewer 12 times, although they were the only NFL team without a defensive touchdown in 2013.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (10-6, 8-8 ATS): Philadelphia rebounded from a 3-5 start to win seven of its last eight games, thanks in large part to the steady play of Foles (27 TDs, two INTs, NFL-best 119.2 passer rating) and McCoy, who led the league with a franchise-record 1,607 rushing yards. Kelly's offense had 98 plays of at least 20 yards this season - the most since the Elias Sports Bureau began tracking the stat in 1995 - with DeSean Jackson (career highs of 82 catches for 1,332 yards) leading the way through the air. The NFC East champions must find some way to slow Graham, who paced the NFL with 16 touchdown catches, particularly given their history of struggling with opposing tight ends, including the Cowboys' Jason Witten (12 catches, 135 yards last week).

TRENDS:

* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Saints are 0-6 ATS in their last six road games.
* Eagles are 1-5 ATS in their last six games in January.
* Under is 6-0-1 in Eagles last seven playoff home games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Only one team in the NFL (Seattle) created more turnovers than Philadelphia this season. The Eagles forced 31 turnovers - 19 interceptions and 12 fumbles - including three turnovers in their season-ending, do-or-die win at Dallas.

2. The game-time temperature could be in the 20's, but Saints running back Pierre Thomas isn't concerned. “I’m not worried about the cold,” said Thomas, who led the team with 549 rushing yards. “Actually, out there playing, I’m sweating so much my body’s overheating, I kind of need that cool air to cool me down.”

3. Since the NFL expanded to a 12-team playoff format in 1990, a No. 6 seed has made it to the Super Bowl only twice - the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 2010 Green Bay Packers, both of whom won it all.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tale of the Tape: Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts

The Kansas City Chiefs look to extend an amazing bounceback season as they visit the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC wild-card showdown Saturday afternoon.

The Chiefs, who won just two games a season ago, got off to a 9-0 start before running out of steam down the stretch. They'll face a Colts team that rolled to the NFC South championship and has caught fire at the right time with three straight victories to end the regular season.

Here's the breakdown in our betting Tale of the Tape:

Offense

The Kansas City pass attack was predictably conservative behind quarterback Alex Smith, ranking 24th in yards (3,340) but with 24 touchdowns against just eight interceptions - tied with San Francisco for the fewest in the league. The Chiefs' offensive line surrendered 41 sacks totaling 221 yards. The rushing game was far more potent, with superstar Jamaal Charles pacing an attack that ranked 10th in yards (2,056) and racked up 17 touchdowns.

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck stagnated in his second NFL season, a development due at least in some part to a season-ending leg injury to All-Pro receiver Reggie Wayne. Luck threw for 550 yards fewer than he had in his sensational rookie campaign, though he did match his 2012 touchdown total (23) while throwing just nine interceptions - nine fewer than the previous year. The Colts rush attack finished 21st in yards per game (108.9) with 15 touchdowns.

Edge: Indianapolis

Defense

The Chiefs rode the league's stoutest defense to a season-opening nine-game winning streak, but the unit had its share of struggles in the second half of the season. Kansas City allowed the seventh-most passing yards in the league (3,962) while surrendering 25 touchdowns, but it did snag 21 interceptions - good for third in the NFL. The Chiefs were 22nd in rushing yards allowed (1,923) but was strong in the end zone, giving up just nine TDs on the ground.

The Colts' pass defense performed well for most of the season, allowing the 11th-fewest yards (3,711) with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Indianapolis has compiled 42 sacks for 248 yards, led by standout defensive end Robert Mathis (league-best 19 1/2 sacks). The Colts have struggled with the run defense, getting torched for just over 2,000 yards on the ground - the seventh-highest tally in the league - on 4 1/2 yards per carry with 14 scores against.

Edge: Kansas City

Special Teams

The Chiefs' return team was the best in football during the regular season, leading the NFL in average kickoff return (29.9) and sixth in punt return average (11.8) with four total return touchdowns. Kansas City allowed 24.4 yards per kickoff return - the 11th-highest tally in the league - but limited opponents to just 6.5 yards per punt return. Kicker Ryan Succop had a rough season, connecting on just 22 of 28 field-goal attempts - including 1-of-4 from 50 yards or more.

The Colts enjoyed a productive season in the return game, ranking 14th in the NFL in both kickoff return average (23.5) and punt return average (9.9). Indianapolis wasn't as effective when it came to special teams defense, allowing the sixth-highest kickoff return average (25.2) while ranking second-last in punt-return yards allowed per attempt (13.7). Kicker Adam Vinatieri had a terrific season, converting 35 of 40 field-goal opportunities on the season.

Edge: Kansas City

Notable Quotable

"I'm ready to go. Games like this ... big-time players make big-time plays, and there are games I mostly show up in ... everything on the line and great preparations all week. It's win or go home." - Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe

"It was a lot of guys who are older and that are in the position of being a leader to speak up. Actually, anybody that wanted to say anything, the floor was open. We got good results from it." - Mathis on the Colts' player-only meeting after a Week 12 loss to Arizona; the Colts went 4-1 the rest of the way

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tale of the Tape: New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles

There should be no shortage of offensive fireworks Saturday night when the New Orleans Saints visit the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC wild-card playoff showdown.

The Saints roll into the postseason as the sixth seed despite posting an impressive 11-5 record fueled by Drew Brees' passing prowess and a stingy defense. That unit will be put to the test against an Eagles offensive attack that ranked among the league elite.

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

Offense

With Brees still operating like one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, the Saints once again boasted a top-5 passing offense. New Orleans ranked second in the NFL at 307.4 passing yards per game, while racking up 39 touchdowns and throwing just 12 interceptions. The bloated passing numbers once again came at the expense of the rush attack, which finished 25th in the league in yards per game (92.1) on 3.8 yards per carry but did compile 10 touchdowns.

There were questions coming into the season about how Chip Kelly's offensive wizardry would carry over from college to the pros. Nobody is asking those questions anymore: Kelly oversaw an Eagles passing game that exploded under quarterback Nick Foles, racking up the ninth-most yards (4,110) with 32 TDs and just nine interceptions. The running game was even more impressive, leading the NFL in yards (2,566) behind rushing champion LeSean McCoy.

Edge: Philadelphia

Defense

The Saints haven't been known as a defensive juggernaut in recent years, but that changed in a big way this season. Only the Seattle Seahawks permitted more passing yards than New Orleans (3,105), which limited the opposition to 20 passing touchdowns while nabbing 12 interceptions and racking up 49 sacks. The Saints weren't nearly as effective in run defense, allowing 1,786 yards on 4.5 per carry, but gave up just 11 scores on the ground.

The effectiveness of the Philadelphia offense was negated somewhat by a truly porous pass defense. The Eagles surrendered the most passing yards in the NFL (4,636), allowing 25 touchdowns while racking up 19 interceptions and 34 sacks. Philadelphia had an easier time defending opposing running games, giving up the 10th-fewest yards on the ground (1,671 on 3.8 per carry) while limiting teams to 10 touchdowns and forcing a league-high 15 fumbles.

Edge: New Orleans

Special Teams

The Saints have averaged 23 yards per kickoff attempt - ranked 17th in the league - but have managed a paltry 6.1 yards on 32 punt returns, one of the worst rates in the NFL. That puts New Orleans behind in both categories, as it surrenders 25.2 yards per kickoff return and 7.5 yards per punt return. Veteran kicker Shayne Graham, taking over for the struggling Garrett Hartley, hasn't been busy over two weeks of action but has made both of his field-goal chances.

Philadelphia's return game has been one of the lone weak spots of the NFC East champions, averaging just 21.4 yards per kickoff return attempt and 6.6 yards per punt return try. The return defense has been even worse, allowing 23.6 yards per kickoff return, eight yards per punt return and three total touchdowns. Placekicker Alex Henery had an up-and-down regular season, making 23 of 28 attempts - including three from over 45 yards in the final three weeks.

Edge: New England

Notable Quotable

"Our running back situation is outstanding. Obviously we have a starter but when we put Bryce (Brown) and Chris (Polk) in there, they have done a really, really good job. They both can run the ball, they both can catch the ball well and they certainly both can pass protect." - Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shumur

"You can't really look at the (pass defense) rankings and think you're going to have your way with them. Each game is different. They're playing at home. It'll be tough for us." - Saints WR Lance Moore

[Can'tPickAWinner]

BBVA Compass Bowl: What bettors need to know

Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Houston Cougars (+2.5, 52.5)

Game to be played at Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama

BBVA COMPASS BOWL STORYLINES

1. Houston and Vanderbilt meet at the BBVA Compass Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., on Jan. 4 without important pieces of the offense. Commodores senior quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, who started the last three regular-season games, will not play after having surgery on his left knee. Houston offensive coordinator Doug Meacham took the same position at Texas Christian after the regular season, leaving assistant head coach Travis Bush to return to play-calling duties.

2. Vanderbilt extended its streak to nine straight November wins, finishing the regular season with four straight victories - including the last two by a combined six points. The Cougars lost all four of their games by seven points or fewer, including three straight in November before ending the season with a 34-0 victory over Southern Methodist.

3. The Houston defense - ranked first in the country in takeaways (40) and turnover margin (plus-25) - will have its hands full with Jordan Matthews, the SEC's record-breaking receiver. The Cougars also have a 1,000-yard receiver in Deontay Greenberry.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Vanderbilt opened as a 3-point fave but is now -2.5. The total is down to 52.5 from the opening 54.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-40s with sunny skies. Wind will blow toward the N endzone at 8 mph.

TRENDS:

* Cougars are 6-0 ATS in their last six non-conference games.
* Over is 5-2 in Commodores last seven non-conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in Cougars last four games overall.
* Commodores are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a ATS loss.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (8-4, 4-4 SEC): Redshirt freshman Patton Robinette (40-of-69, 488 yards, two touchdowns, six rushing scores) made two starts for the Commodores, who are playing in their third straight bowl game for the first time in school history. Matthews broke his own single-season school record with 1,334 yards and owns Vanderbilt and SEC marks for career receptions (257), career yards (3,616), 100-yard games (18) and single-season receptions (107). Carta-Samuels, who injured his knee Oct. 19 and missed two games before returning, had the surgery after the regular season ended so he would be ready to participate in this spring's pro day activities.

ABOUT HOUSTON (8-4, 5-3 American Athletic Conference): Freshman John O'Korn, who started the last 10 games, went 239-of-399 for 2,889 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Adrian McDonald had five of the team's 23 interceptions and Trevon Stewart recovered six of the 17 fumbles. Bush called plays for 11 games in 2012 and was promoted to offensive coordinator - the Cougars' seventh in six years - Dec. 6.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Saturday's Top 25 NCAAB cheat sheet: Early games

College football's bowl season might be winding down, but there is still a jam-packed slate of college hoops. Here's a look at all the Top 25 betting action Saturday:

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Memphis Tigers

The Bearcats have bounced back nicely from losses to New Mexico and Xavier to win five straight, including a 65-57 triumph over Southern Methodist in their American Athletic Conference opener. They find themselves on the fringe of the Top 25, and beating Memphis would prove they are for real. For that to happen, they'll need a better performance from leading scorer Sean Kilpatrick, who shot 5-for-25 in consecutive victories over Nebraska and SMU. They'll also need a solid defensive effort against a Memphis team averaging 82.8 points and 16.9 assists.

Tigers head coach Josh Pastner was pleased with his team's 8-for-20 performance from beyond the arc in the win over South Florida. "We made 3s," he told reporters after the game. "That was a big thing. When you make 3s, coach looks good. Making 3-point shots are important." Memphis is led by guard Joe Jackson, who averages 15.2 points and has hit double figures in 10 straight games.

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio State Buckeyes

The Cornhuskers outrebounded Iowa and limited the Hawkeyes to a season-low 67 points before dropping a 10-point decision. Texas Tech transfer Terran Petteway recorded his first double-double and has scored at least 20 points six times to lead the team in scoring at 17.5 per contest.

Ohio State continues to roll along, winning 13 of its first 14 games by at least nine points, as it prepares to play Nebraska in its Big Ten home opener Saturday. LaQuinton Ross looks to extend his streak of double-double efforts to four after the third-ranked Buckeyes showed their experience to beat back a challenge at Purdue on Wednesday in a 78-69 victory.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Cornhuskers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games.
* Buckeyes are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Buckeyes last seven home games.

Iowa State Cyclones at Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Cyclones have reeled off 12 consecutive wins to start the season and are coming off a 99-63 victory over Northern Illinois just hours after learning about the death of former coach Johnny Orr. The Cyclones are ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring and assists and hope to record a win in their Big 12 opener without peeking ahead to the showdown with No. 11 Baylor on Jan. 7.

Texas Tech has lost three out of its last five games and is still looking for consistency under first-year coach Tubby Smith. The Red Raiders haven't won more than two games in a row this season and will have their hands full against an Iowa State team firing on all cylinders.

TRENDS:

* Cyclones are 2-7 ATS in the last nine meetings in Texas Tech.
* Red Raiders are 7-0 ATS in their last seven home games.
* Under is 4-0 in Cyclones last four road games.
* Over is 6-1-1 in Red Raiders last eight home games.

Michigan State Spartans at Indiana Hoosiers

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo lashed into his team at halftime of the 79-63 victory over Penn State, a contest in which the Spartans outscored the Nittany Lions 39-16 in the second half. Guard Gary Harris leads a balanced scoring team with a 17.8 average while floor leader Keith Appling is averaging 15.8 points and a team-leading 4.8 assists.

The Hoosiers are 5-4 after winning their first five games. They received a career-best 30 points from guard Yogi Farrell against Illinois before succumbing 83-80. Ferrell has emerged as a big-time scorer as a sophomore and has five games of 20 or more points after the career-high tally against the Fighting Illini - when he made five 3-pointers for the second time this season.

TRENDS:

* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Spartans are 3-9 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Indiana.
* Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.
* Over is 4-1 in Hoosiers last five vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.

Miami Hurricanes at Syracuse Orange

The Hurricanes have shot 52.3 percent from the field and made 18-of-45 from behind the 3-point line combined the last three games after consecutive disappointing losses to Nebraska and Virginia Tech. Swingman Rion Brown is the go-to player for Miami, averaging 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds, and Garrius Adams is the only other player scoring in double figures (10.7).

After an impressive first 13 games, Syracuse begins its maiden voyage in the ACC when Miami (Fla.) visits Saturday. The second-ranked Orange boast wins over California, Villanova, Baylor and Indiana as they join one of the toughest conferences in the country with a well-balanced offense led by senior forward C.J. Fair.

TRENDS:

* Road team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
* Hurricanes are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Orange are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games.
* Under is 6-1 in Hurricanes last seven overall.

Washington Huskies at Arizona Wildcats

Washington, which opened Pac-12 Conference play with a surprisingly lopsided 76-65 victory at Arizona State, tries to complete a sweep of the Arizona schools when it takes on top-ranked Arizona on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies are 1-1 when facing a No. 1 ranked team under 12th-year head coach Lorenzo Romar.

Nick Johnson leads the Wildcats in scoring (15.4) and is an explosive leaper and dunker. Freshman forward Aaron Gordon, considered a future NBA lottery pick, is third in scoring (12.0) but leads the team in rebounding (7.8) and also has 15 blocks. Point guard T.J. McConnell, a transfer from Duquesne, has 86 assists to just 27 turnovers.

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Huskies are 2-6 ATS in the last eight meetings in Arizona.
* Wildcats are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 home games.
* Under is 8-1 in Wildcats last nine overall.

Connecticut Huskies at Southern Methodist Mustangs

After appearing to break out of a long slump with 12 points against Eastern Washington on Dec. 28, Omar Calhoun was held scoreless for the second time in his career while playing a career-low seven minutes versus Houston. The sophomore guard was benched following the Huskies’ loss to Stanford on Dec. 18 after shooting 25.5 percent from the floor over his previous seven starts. Connecticut has converted 65-of-74 free throws over its last three games and ranks tied for 10th in the country in free-throw percentage (76.4).

The Mustangs have shown a knack for winning the battle inside, finishing with the rebounding edge in all but one contest while outscoring the opposition in the paint 460-246. While SMU’s reliance on getting inside scoring has led to some good looks beyond the arc (41.3 percent, 17th-best in the country), the team ranks 339th in the country in 3-point attempts (155). The Mustangs have held 11 of their foes under 40 percent shooting and rank third overall in the country in field-goal percentage defense (35.7).

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall.
* Mustangs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games.
* Under is 7-2 in Huskies last nine overall.
* Over is 4-1 in Mustangs last five Saturday games.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Saturday's Top 25 NCAAB cheat sheet: Late games

College football's bowl season might be winding down, but there is still a jam-packed slate of college hoops. Here's a look at all the Top 25 betting action Saturday:

Richmond Spiders at Florida Gators

The Spiders, who blew an 11-point lead with six minutes left in the loss at Wake Forest, lost a double-digit lead late before beating Northeastern 70-66 on Tuesday. Cedrick Lindsay has paced the offense since returning from a knee sprain, averaging 20 points in his first three games back. The Spiders shot a season-best 55.1 percent against Northeastern and hit 9-of-16 from 3-point range.

The Gators likely will face a stronger challenge from Richmond than Savannah State offered up Sunday, a game in which Florida led 34-11 at halftime en route to a 76-34 rout. Casey Prather leads the SEC in field goal percentage at 62.4, and paces the Gators in scoring at 17.8 points. Florida is third in the conference in 3-point shooting at 37.5 percent.

TRENDS:

* Under is 6-0 in Gators last six Saturday games.
* Spiders are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games.
* Under is 3-0-1 in Spiders last four vs. Southeastern.
* Under is 4-1 in Gators last five home games.

Duke Blue Devils at Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Blue Devils ended December with five straight wins - all by double digits - including a 38-point rout of Elon on New Year's Eve. While freshman sensation Jabari Parker (21.4 points) gets most of the attention for Duke, several of his teammates have had notable performances of late. Senior guard Andre Dawkins made five 3-pointers against Elon and is now 11-of-17 from behind the arc over his last two games, and sophomore forward Amile Jefferson notched a career-high 14 rebounds against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 28.

The Fighting Irish, meanwhile, blew an eight-point lead in the final minute of a crushing loss to Ohio State on Dec. 21 before sneaking past Canisius in overtime eight days later. Even worse, Notre Dame's leading scorer, senior guard Jerian Grant, withdrew from school due to academics and redshirting forward Cam Biedscheid announced that he was transferring from the program.

TRENDS:

* Blue Devils are 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Fighting Irish are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games.
* Blue Devils are 4-1 ATS in their last five games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Fighting Irish are 0-4 ATS in their last four vs. Atlantic Coast.

Oklahoma State Cowboys at Kansas State Wildcats

Oklahoma State has faced a series of difficult developments this week but will try to continue its impressive play when the sixth-ranked Cowboys travel to Kansas State to open Big 12 play Saturday. The Cowboys are in the midst of a five-game winning streak, but they've had a rough week nonetheless. Starting center Michael Cobbins (4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds) was lost for the season to a torn Achilles on Tuesday and backup point guard Stevie Clark (7 points, 3.7 assists) reportedly was arrested for possession of marijuana Wednesday morning and the freshman could be facing his second suspension of the season.

The Wildcats stumbled out of the gate but have won eight straight including a victory over then-No. 15 Gonzaga and a 72-55 rout of a solid George Washington team on Tuesday. "We had given the guys a goal when we left Puerto Rico to go unbeaten in December," Kansas State coach Bruce Weber told the school's website. "It was our opportunity to play ourselves back in the conversation for postseason play, so it was great to get it done."

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Cowboys are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.
* Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall.

Long Beach State 49ers at Missouri Tigers

The Tigers return home after a pair of close contests - a 65-64 loss to Illinois in St. Louis and a 68-64 win at North Carolina State last Saturday - and look to continue their dominance at Mizzou Arena. Tulsa transfer Jordan Clarkson (20 points, 4.3 assists) continues to carry the Tigers and picked up his third SEC Player of the Week honor this season after putting up 20 points at N.C. State.

Long Beach State is wrapping up a brutal non-conference schedule that included losses to Arizona, Kansas State, Michigan, Virginia Commonwealth, Washington, Creighton and N.C. State. The 49ers have one win against a major-conference opponent - a 72-71 home victory over Southern California to start their three-game winning streak.

TRENDS:

* 49ers are 4-0 ATS in their last four road games.
* Tigers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight Saturday games.
* 49ers are 0-6 ATS in their last six games following a ATS win.
* Tigers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven non-conference games.

Louisville Cardinals at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Louisville will try to avoid looking ahead when it continues its early American Athletic Association slate at Rutgers on Saturday. The 10th-ranked Cardinals, who throttled Central Florida 90-65 in their AAC opener New Year's Eve, have a home matchup with No. 18 Memphis - one of the few teams given a chance to contend with Louisville in the league - on the horizon.

While they can hang on the offensive end with most teams due to the play of Kadeem Jack and fellow standout Myles Mack, the Scarlet Knights have given up points in bunches at times, much of it when teams exploit them on the perimeter. Rutgers has allowed opponents to hit 116 3-pointers at a 38.2 percent clip, easily the highest numbers in those categories among AAC teams and a troubling trend against a Louisville squad that ranks among the nation's leaders in 3-point tries.

TRENDS:

* Cardinals are 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings in Rutgers.
* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Rutgers.
* Cardinals are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a ATS win.
* Scarlet Knights are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Miami (OH) Red Hawks at Massachusetts Minutemen

The Red Hawks received some bad news prior to their most recent game against Southern Illinois when second-leading scorer Reggie Johnson decided to transfer. Johnson, a sophomore, was averaging 11.8 points and 2.1 assists while playing 28.1 minutes per game. The loss leaves coach John Cooper with nine players, including leading-scorer Will Moore (14 per game) and Will Felder, who averages 13.2 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds.

The fickle Western Massachusetts fans appear to be firmly behind No.22 Massachusetts, but the task now will be to keep them there, beginning with Saturday's game. Coming off their first sellout crowd at home in seven years, the Minutemen seem to have momentum on their side heading into one of their final non-conference games and the Atlantic 10 Conference schedule that follows.

TRENDS:

* Minutemen are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games.
* Red Hawks are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games following a S.U. win.
* Under is 7-1 in Red Hawks last eight road games.
* Over is 5-2 in Red Hawks last seven vs. Atlantic 10.

Pacific Tigers at Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Tigers boast six players averaging at least 7.8 points and nine at 11 minutes or more. Senior guard Sama Taku leads the way with 12.4 points per game and is second to senior forward Tony Gill (10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds) on the boards at 4.5. The Tigers, ranked 10th in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 but selected to finish seventh in the WCC preseason poll, lost to Saint Mary's 88-80 at home Dec. 30 in its first WCC game.

Gonzaga again proved it was capable of hanging with the boys by going 3-1 against major-conference teams during its non-conference season and its No. 21 ranking in the USA Today Coaches' Poll validates that belief. The Bulldogs have plenty of offensive weapons (23rd in the nation at 82.7 points per game) and are led by Pangos (17.5 points), but it was the defense that pleased coach Mark Few Thursday. “We took a really good basketball team and guarded them great,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few told reporters. “It was probably our best all-around effort of the whole year.”

TRENDS:

* Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last four vs. West Coast.
* Bulldogs are 0-6 ATS in their last six Saturday games.
* Bulldogs are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine vs. West Coast.
* Under is 13-5 in Tigers last 18 Saturday games.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NBA

Hot teams
-- Indiana won five of its last six games (7-2 last nine HF). Pelicans won four of last six games (2-4 last six AU).
-- Heat won eight of last ten games (0-4 last four AF).
-- Hawks won six of their last nine games.
-- Minnesota won three of its last four games (3-1 last four HF).
-- Clippers won three of last four games (5-1 AU). Spurs won three of their last four games (2-10 last 12 HF).
-- Suns won five of last seven games (10-5-1 vs spread at home).
-- 76ers won last three games, all as underdogs of 7+ points. Portland won seven of its last ten games (2-4 last six HF).

Cold Teams
-- Magic lost five of its last seven games (1-5 last six HU).
-- Cavaliers lost six of their last seven games (4-2 last six AU). Nets lost six of last eight games (4-6 HF).
-- Bulls lost four of last six at home (6-9 vs spread at home).
-- Thunder lost last two games by total of six points (2-3 AU).
-- Bucks lost four of their last five games (3-6 last nine AU).
-- Bobcats lost their last five games (11-3-2 vs spread on road, 0-2 in last two games). Kings lost six of last nine games (0-9 as HF).

Series records
-- Pacers won last four games with New Orleans, winning last three here either by one point or in OT.
-- Heat won last three visits to Orlando by 2-14-28 points.
-- Nets won eight of last ten games with Cleveland.
-- Bulls won nine of last twelve games with Atlanta.
-- Thunder won 15 of last 17 games with Minnesota.
-- Clippers lost 16 of last 20 games with San Antonio.
-- Bucks swept Phoenix 2-0 LY, after going 1-8 in previous nine against the Suns.
-- Trailblazers won four of last five games with Philly.
-- Kings won three of last four games with Charlotte.

Totals
-- 12 of 16 Indiana home games stayed under.
-- Eight of last ten Miami games went over the total.
-- Eight of last eleven Cleveland road games went over.
-- Under is 12-3 in Chicago home games. Six of last seven Atlanta road games went over.
-- Last four Thunder games stayed under the total; four of Minnesota's last five games went over.
-- Over is 11-2-1 in last four San Antonio home games.
-- Seven of last nine Milwaukee road games went over.
-- Last nine Portland home games went over total.
-- Five of last seven Sacramento home games went over.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Boston won nine of its last ten home games. Jets won three of their last four games.
-- Sharks won five of their last six games. Colorado won its last two games, after losing six of its previous eight.
-- Devils are 8-6 in their last fourteen road games.
-- Toronto won its last three games, allowing seven goals. Rangers won four of last six tilts.
-- Senators won four of their last five games. Montreal won seven of last nine at home.
-- Islanders won their last three games, scoring 13 goals. Carolina won last two games in OT, after losing seven of previous eight.
-- St Louis won six of its last seven games. Blue Jackets won three of last four road games.
-- Dallas Stars won five of their last eight games.
-- Flyers won six of their last eight games.

Cold teams
-- Sabres lost three of their last four games.
-- Predators lost six of their last eight games. Florida lost four of last five.
-- Red Wings lost three of their last four games.
-- Minnesota lost six of its last seven games. Washington lost five of its last six.
-- Coyotes lost seven of their last nine games.
-- Los Angeles lost its last five games, scoring a total of six goals. Canucks lost their last two games, 4-2/4-3so.

Totals
-- Over is 6-1-3 in last ten Boston games.
-- Four of last five San Jose games went over total.
-- Three of last four New Jersey games stayed under.
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Ranger-Toronto games.
-- Over is 5-2-1 in last eight Ottawa games.
-- Over is 4-1-2 in last seven Nashville games.
-- Last five Carolina games went over the total.
-- Five of last seven Columbus games went over total.
-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Detroit games.
-- Four of last five Washington games stayed under.
-- Over is 6-2-1 in last nine Philadelphia games.
-- Under is 11-4-3 in last eighteen LA-Vancouver games.

Series records
-- Jets lost their last eleven visits to Boston.
-- Sharks won eight of last ten games with Colorado.
-- Devils are 6-4 in their last ten visits to Buffalo.
-- Rangers won four of last five games with Toronto.
-- Senators won their last four games with Montreal.
-- Panthers lost five of last six games with Nashville.
-- Islanders lost their last five games with Carolina.
-- Blues won four of last five games with Columbus.
-- Red Wings won six of their last eight games with Dallas.
-- Minnesota lost three of its last four games with Washington.
-- Coyotes are 5-3 in their last eight games with Philly.
-- Kings are 2-0 vs Vancouver this season, 5-1/3-2ot.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

RICH ALLEN BETTING PROFESSOR NCAFF FOOTBALL

Vanderbilt -2.5 C BET

[Can'tPickAWinner]

2Halves2Win:

SAT, 01/04


(GAME: 1*): Colts PK (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)


(GAME: 1*): Eagles -2.5 (-115: Risking 1.15 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Chicago Syndicate

CFB
Houston
North Dakota State

NFL
Over Colts
Under Eagles

[Can'tPickAWinner]

LA Syndicate

CFB
Over Houston

NFL
Saints

[Can'tPickAWinner]

H&H Sports

CFB
Triple Dime Houston

NFL
Double Dime Chiefs
Dime Saints