Sports Picks & Predictions

*3 Star NFL Total DOMINATION* It should be no secret by now that the Indianapolis run defense is not any good. Jacksonville knows how to exploit this defense, as they have shown in recent meetings with the Colts. The Jaguars are averaging 179 yards per game on the ground in their last eight games against the Colts. At the same time, Peyton Manning has thrown for more than 300 yards in three of the last four meetings with Jacksonville's defense. The over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings between these two teams. The over is 10-3 in the Colts 13 games this year and 8-4-1 in the Jags games this season. There is a good chance some of the starters will be back for the Colts in this matchup and Manning will have some extra weapons. Both quarterbacks have thrown a lot of picks this year, so don't be surprised if the defense scores in this one as well. I like the over in this game.

*3 Star NFL Bookie CRUSHER* The Philadelphia Eagles have had the best offense in the NFL over the last five weeks. Mike Vick is throwing the ball as well as ever and McCoy is proving to be the real deal in the backfield. The Eagles are averaging 35.2 points per game in their last five games. The Giants defense is solid, but at this point I believe the Eagles can move and score quite a few on everyone in the league. Philadelphia's defense is allowing 26 points per game on the road this year. The Giants running game has gotten going of late and I expect them to be productive again on Sunday. This may well be the biggest game of the week as both of these teams enter at 9-4. The over is 8-1 in the Eagles last 9 and 8-3 in the Giants last 11 games at home. I expect the offenses to have the upper hand all throughout this game. Take the over here.

*3 Star NFL Total Knockout* The single biggest takeaway from the Ravens game with the Texans last Monday night for me was that this Ravens defense isn't even close to the level they used to be. The secondary is fairly weak, and the front seven wear down by the fourth quarter as well. The New Orleans Saints offense may have started a bit slowly this year, but they are absolutely on fire of late. The Saints have scored at least 30 points in each of their last five games. The passing attack ranks third in the NFL, and I think they'll exploit the Ravens secondary in this game. Baltimore has been a little better offensively at home this year, and I think their trio of great wide receivers will be a mismatch against the Saints as well. Ray Rice is bound to have a breakout game soon, and I think it could be here. I think the line is set too low here, and I'm taking the over.

*3 Star GUARANTEED Cash* The Jazz will have a full arsenal of weapons on Friday night as Mehmut Okur will make his season debut. Okur is a decent scorer and he'll give them another offensive option. The Hornets have had nine straight games go under the total, which has given us a great value on the over here. New Orleans averages just 89 points on the road, but they are scoring 97 per game at home. Utah puts up 100 points per game on the road. These teams have gone over 191 in six of their last eight meetings. I think the extremely low number makes this over an attractive play. Take the over here.

*3 Star NBA Bookie CRUSHER* The Charlotte Bobcats are playing terrible basketball right now. They simply can't put the ball in the hoop, and they'll be without arguably their best scorer, Gerald Wallace, tonight. The Hawks have been a different team without Joe Johnson in the lineup. They don't push the pace nearly as much, and they use up the shot clock frequently. Neither of these teams get to the line all that often, and we have a favorable referee crew in this one too, so I think free throw attempts will be limited. Friday night has been a nice night for unders in the NBA this year, and this is my favorite under of the night for Friday. I think we'll see a half-court game here and it wouldn't surprise me if the winner of this only gets to 88 or 90. I like the under here.

*3 Star College Hoops Best Bet* The Troy Trojans like to run and push the tempo, and their defense has a way of making the other team look very good offensively. Florida Atlantic is a team that I believe is fully capable of running and scoring a lot of points, but they have played several opponents lately who slow the tempo down quite a bit. These teams played twice last year and the games finished at 151 and 166 points. In fact, if you look farther back into history there has only been one of the last ten meetings between these two teams finish below this posted total. Typically one of the two has 85-95 points by the end of the game. These two teams are no stranger to running and gunning and I think we'll see that again tonight. Look for some easy layups and a lot of points in transition here. I like the over!

*3 Star NBA Guaranteed Cash* The Houston Rockets are without Aaron Brooks, but Kyle Lowry has done a great job at the point guard spot. Lowry seems to have sped up the team a little bit in his time at the point. The over is 5-2 in Houston's last 7 games, and they are averaging 110 points per game during that span. Oklahoma City is a solid 'over' team (16-9 so far this year), especially because they are easily the best free throw shooting team in the league. The Thunder are hitting 85% of their free throw attempts this year. The best news here is we have a referee crew that includes two of the top three 'over' referees in the NBA. I expect both teams to make plenty of trips to the line, and that will help the point total greatly. Look for Durant to have a huge game, but I also think Luis Scola could do quite a bit of damage against the Thunder. I like the over in this one.

*3 Star NBA Bookie BEATDOWN* The Los Angeles Clippers have slowly turned into a slightly better defensive team. Vinny Del Negro is a defensive-minded coach and this team seems to be committing to the defense much more than in recent years. On the offensive end they are all struggling, minus Blake Griffin. The Sixers have actually covered the spread nine straight times now, and they have allowed only one team (Boston) over 100 points during that span. In fact, three of those nine games have seen their opponent finish with less than 80 points. The under is 10-4 in Philadelphia's last 14 games overall. The under is 6-0-1 in the Clippers last 7 games overall. Marc Davis is the head referee in this game, and the under is 99-70 in games he has refereed in the last three years. I like the under in this one.

*3 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION* The over is 5-1-1 in Wake's seven lined games this year, and the over is 5-1 in UNC Greensboro's six games. These are two horrible defenses and they are two teams that like to push the tempo all game long. UNC Greensboro may have the worst defense in the nation. They are allowing 91 points per game, and opponents are shooting a staggering 52% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. Wake Forest has some great three point shooters, and they are third in the nation in three point field goal percentage this year. I expect plenty of wide open threes on Wednesday night. UNC Greensboro allowed 92 points and 97 points respectively to Virginia Tech and Florida State, two teams that usually have a ton of trouble scoring. Wake will have their track shoes on here, and Greensboro will get some easy buckets as well. It wouldn't surprise me to see 165 or 170 points scored here. I like the over.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Atlanta Hawks are short-handed right now as Joe Johnson sits out with an injury. The Hawks offense is only averaging 92.5 points per game over the last six games. The Pistons have one of the slowest paced offenses in the league right now. Because of the absence of Johnson and the Pistons slow tempo, I see this being a game where both teams stay at 75 or below in field goals attempted. Unless they shoot a very high percentage, this game should stay under the posted total. The recent trends between these two point to the under as well. The under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings between these two. The last three meetings have finished with a total of 176, 178, and 179 points. I think this will be a sloppy, low scoring game. I like the value on the under in this one.

*3 Star NFL Sunday Night Bookie BASHER* The Eagles and Cowboys probably have the two hottest offenses in the NFL right now. If you look back a few weeks it is hard to imagine saying the Cowboys offense is good, but they have averaged 33.25 points per game in their last four games. Jason Garrett is now the head coach and this team seems to have changed their game plan a bit since then. The Eagles continue to roll on the offensive end behind some terrific quarterback play from Mike Vick. The Eagles have scored 26 points or more in seven of their last eight games overall. The Cowboys defense is allowing 28 points per game. The over is 7-1 in the Eagles last eight games. The over is 8-0 in the Cowboys last 8 games. This is a pretty high number, but I think we'll see a game that hits at least the mid 50's. Take the over here.

*3 Star Hoops Total Terrorizer* The Wake Forest Deamon Deacons aren't a very good team this year, but they sure do push the tempo. Wake Forest loves to run and shoot three pointers, and I expect them to keep that trend going today against UNC Wilmington. A couple of Wake's players that have been sitting out will be back today after eligibility problems, which should give them more depth. UNC Wilmington can hit the three pointer and Wake Forest struggles to defend the three. I like the over in this one.

*3 Star NFL Bookie CRUSHER* The Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills are no strangers to ugly low-scoring games. Last year the Browns beat the Bills 6-3 in what may have been the worst game of the year to watch. This year there is a major weather system that will impact this game. Buffalo is expected to be getting snow and 15-20 mph winds during this game. Since it is right by the lake, the conditions can deteriorate rapidly here. I fully expect this to be a game where both teams rely on their running game, because the conditions won't allow much passing. The under is 5-1 in the Bills last 6 home games in December, largely because of the poor weather that occurs here. This weekend we have two teams with suspect offenses and bad weather conditions. I'll take the under.

*3 Star NFL Total DOMINATION* The Pittsburgh Steelers have the best run defense in the NFL. Pittsburgh is under a winter storm watch for Sunday because they are expected to receive several inches of snow and high winds. The Bengals rushing game is not impressive at all, and I think Cincinnati will struggle to score in this game. Inclement conditions will likely make the Steelers willing to just run the ball and methodically score on the Bengals, eating up a lot of time in the process. With winds of 15-20 mph and heavy snow at times, I fully expect this to be a low scoring game. The Steelers defense will flex their muscles against a weak Bengals running game and this one will likely be a snoozer. Take the under and expect the weather to impact this game in a major way.

*3 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION Play* The Georgetown Hoyas aren't a slow it down type of team this year. They have scorers all over the court, especially in the backcourt. Chris Wright is a very good point guard who can drive and shoot the three. Austin Freeman can score it as well as anyone in the Big East. Jason Clark is a terrific outside shooter. Appalachian State only knows how to play at one speed and that is fast. Donald Sims is their star guard, and he is averaging 27 points per game this year. I expect Sims to have a good game and his team to run all game long. Georgetown shouldn't have much trouble scoring against the Mountaineers, who allow 78 points per game so far this year. I expect Georgetown to be pushing 85 or 90 points by the time this one is finished. I like the over.

*3 Star Army/Navy Bookie CRUSHER* The great rivalry between Army and Navy will be played on Saturday and I expect a hard hitting battle. These two teams have the utmost respect for each other, but they love nothing more than to defeat the other squad. Both teams run the football extremely well, and neither of them throw it much at all. That fact alone helps the under since the clock will be rolling almost all game long. Additionally, Army is much better this year than in the past, and their run defense is in the top 35 nationwide, so I expect a closer game than in past years. The fact that both teams understand the triple option very well helps them defend it better than the average team. The under is 4-0 in the last 4 games and I believe the under is the best play for Saturday as well.

*3 Star NBA Late Night Bailout* The Miami Heat have started to put it together of late. It seems that the team has finally started to discover that they have the ability to get out and run, and they have been very successful when they do just that. Against Cleveland they ran often, and it worked out very well. Against Utah they pushed the tempo and beat the Jazz down the floor for many layups, especially in the fourth quarter. Golden State will be without Stephen Curry, which will hurt, but I still think the Warriors will keep pushing tempo. Golden State doesn't know how to play any other way, especially at home. Monta Ellis should have a big game, and Reggie Williams showed that Golden State has some guys on the bench capable of busting out in a big way with his 31 point effort two days ago. I think Miami will score at will here and push this one over the posted total.

*3 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION* The Michigan Wolverines are shaping up to be a great 'under' team this year. Their system is one in which they use the clock and play solid defense, and there really aren't many guys on this team who can score 15 or 20 points on a nightly basis. Utah is a team that pushed the pace some in their early games at home, but of late they have had some low scoring contests. The under is 13-3-1 in Michigan's last 17 home games. Michigan's games against Syracuse and UTEP two solid offensive teams, finished at 103 and 121 points respectively. I think this is a great number to take the under here. Expect a half-court type of game and some poor shooting numbers. Take the under.

*3 Star College Hoops Play of the Day* The Georgetown Hoyas and the Temple Owls should be a terrific matchup on Thursday night. Last year these two teams met in a game that finished with Georgetown winning 46-45. I think this is the type of game that you will appreciate if you like defense. Temple allows just 55 points per game, and they are holding opponents to just 37% shooting from the floor. Georgetown is shooting 51% on the year, but I would be very surprised if they shoot that well in this game. Temple is one of the slowest paced teams in the nation, and Georgetown is actually much slower than one might think. I don't think the Hoyas will try to turn this game into a track meet and even if they do try, I don't expect Temple to allow it. Look for the defenses to step up and make this a hard-fought game where every score is difficult. I like the under here.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Total Play* The Arizona Wildcats are a very solid team on offense this year. Derrick Williams is playing great basketball for this team, and they have a solid amount of balance on the perimeter and down low. CS Fullerton is a team that plays virtually no defense and they simply 'run and gun' all game long. The Titans allowed 84 points to Hawaii, 80 points to Montana State, and 81 points to USC; all teams that aren't that terrific offensively. Arizona is easily the best offense they have faced yet, and I think Arizona has a very good chance of scoring more than 90 points in this game. Fullerton will get some fastbreak layups as well, but this game shouldn't be close. Don't be shocked if Arizona is pushing 100 by the time this one is finished. I like the over in this one!

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Oklahoma City Thunder are finally healthy once again and they have the perfect opponent to flex their offensive muscle against tonight. The Timberwolves allow 109.3 points per game, and Oklahoma City scored 117 on them just a couple weeks ago. The Thunder are first in the NBA in free throw percentage, thanks to Kevin Durant's great shooting from the line. I expect Durant to attack this weak Minnesota defense and get to the line very often. Darko might not play tonight for Minnesota, which actually helps the over. Darko is probably the Timberwolves best defensive player, and without him there will be no one to clog the lane at all. Minnesota will get plenty of points by running and gunning as well. The three referees for this game average more fouls than the NBA league average, so that bodes well for the over too. Take the over here.

*5 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION* The Seton Hall Pirates an interesting team that I don't believe the books have much of a handle on just yet. Jeremy Hazell is out right now, which leaves the team without their top scorer. In their first three games without Hazell they haven't put up many points, but we must realize that all three of those opponents were slow tempo teams. Arkansas likes to put pressure on and force the tempo, which should get Seton Hall back to their running ways. Eniel Polynice is starting to get used to the offense, and he should be a nice player for them this year. Arkansas has Rotnei Clarke, a great shooter who can light it up on any given night. I expect the teams to get up and down in this one. This number is set so low that I believe the over is a very good value.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Play of the Day* The Purdue Boilermakers have struggled quite a bit offensively over the last few games. The Boilers played Richmond, Virginia Tech, and Alabama. All three of those teams play solid defense. Now most people think Purdue simply can't score, which really isn't true. In their first five games, Purdue averaged 84.2 points per game. Valparaiso is a team that shoots the ball well from the floor, and they have several options offensively. I think the line being set so low is an overreaction to the recent past of Purdue. Purdue does have JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore and I expect both to have a big game on Tuesday night. I like the over in this game.

*3 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION* The Georgia Bulldogs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will square off in their intrastate rivalry game on Tuesday evening. Georgia Tech's defense has been horrible of late. Northwestern shot 65% from the floor against Georgia Tech, and they hit 12/19 three pointers, mainly because they had so many wide open looks. Both teams do quite a bit of fouling, so I expect the trips to the line to be frequent in this game. Rivalry games like this often have more free throw opportunities, because both teams are looking to be more physical than normal. I expect some open looks from the floor and lots of trips to the charity stripe in this one. Take the over.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Indiana Pacers have looked like a different team this year, and it starts with their improved defense. O'Brien has this team believing they can shut down their opponent, and they are third in the NBA in field goal % defense. The Pacers also have slowed their tempo down quite a bit. Toronto is a team that can run, but I don't think they'll dictate the tempo in this one. The line is set fairly low, but I think that is to try to pull in money on the over here. The trends say over because Indiana and Toronto have scored bunches of points in their last few meetings, but that was a very different Indiana team. This referee crew is a nice 'under' crew as well, so that should cut down on free throw attempts. I like the under here.

*3 Star NFL Bookie CRUSHER* The Dallas Cowboys have definitely played better football since Jason Garrett took over as Head Coach. The Cowboys offense seems to have found their rhythm once again. Dallas has scored 33,35, and 27 points in their last three games. Indianapolis is now just 6-5, and they need this game badly. The Colts have the #1 passing attack in the NFL, which should be good for them in this matchup. Dallas is 23rd in the NFL against the pass. The Cowboys defense has been terrible this year. The over is 8-0 in the last 8 Cowboys games, mainly because they are giving up 32 points per game over their last six games. Peyton Manning will be ready for this game, and I think the Colts will move the ball quite easily against this Dallas defense. At the same time, the Colts defense is not great, and I think this improved Cowboys offense will find some success against Indianapolis. I like the over in this one.

*3 Star NBA Bookie BEATDOWN* I really like playing an 'under' on early Sunday afternoon games. This is the classic early Sunday afternoon opportunity for a lethargic game of basketball between the Raptors and the Knicks. The Knicks have been playing quite well of late, and they have actually held four of their last five opponents to 100 points or fewer. The Raptors are allowing only 97.9 points per game at home so far this year. The under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings between these two teams, and it is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Toronto. I think the shooting percentages will be fairly low here and we'll see a sloppy game, which should be good for the under, especially when the number is set this high. Take the under.

*3 Star NFL Total DOMINATION* The Denver Broncos have been giving up points by the bunches in the last few games. In fact, they are allowing an amazing 36.6 points per game over their last five contests. Kansas City has found their offense of late, and they have scored 29, 31, and 42 points in their last three games. The Chiefs have the top ranked rushing attack in the NFL, and Denver is 30th in the NFL at stopping the run. Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe have heated up of late too, so this KC offense is becoming balanced. Denver's pass offense is fourth in the NFL, and the Chiefs are 24th in pass defense. The over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings between these two teams. In the last three meetings, the finals have been 44-13, 44-24, and 49-29. I think there is a good amount of value on the over in this one. Take the over here!

*3 Star Nebraska/Oklahoma Play* This will be the Nebraska Cornhuskers final game in the Big 12 Conference. Nebraska will definitely be looking to complete some unfinished business after their last second loss to Texas in this game last year. Oklahoma is a team that looks much better in their last few games. There are some key injuries in this game. Taylor Martinez and DeMarco Murray are both questionable in this one. My guess is that both will play at least some, but they are both hurt pretty badly and I think that will make them less effective than normal. Oklahoma is very reliant on their passing attack, and Nebraska has the second best pass defense in all of college football. I expect Nebraska to pressure Landry Jones and make things difficult for him. On the other side, Nebraska relies on their running game. I think Oklahoma will do their best to stack the box and make Nebraska throw it in this one. A hobbled Martinez will make it more difficult for Nebraska to be effective running the ball. These two teams played to a 10-3 final last year. A game of this magnitude often stays lower scoring as well, as the Texas/Nebraska game last year did. I like the under in this one.

*3 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION* The Minnesota Golden Gophers have been pushing the tempo much more this year. Tubby Smith's team is talented and they are getting up and down the floor very often. Cornell isn't nearly the team they were a year ago, but they are still playing at a quick tempo. I expect the Gophers to use their size advantage to get quite a few easy baskets in this one. Minnesota is one of the worst teams in college basketball at guarding the three point line, so expect Cornell to bury some threes in this game. I think this one gets into the 140's. Take the over here.

*3 Star College Football Bookie BEATDOWN* The Washington Huskies and the Washington State Cougars will battle for the Apple Cup in Pullman on Saturday night. It has been cold and snowy all week in Pullman, and it is expected to be very cold again Saturday night. This is a pretty good rivalry game that most people don't follow very closely. The Huskies offense has struggled of late, scoring just 14 points per game in their last five overall. Washington State relies on the passing game, and Washington's secondary is solid. The Huskies are allowing only 193 passing yards per game this year. In the last two years the total has finished at 30 and 29 points when these two have met. I expect this to be a close hard-fought game, and I think the value is on the under.

*3 Star Total Annihilation* The Penn State Nittany Lions only scored 39 points against Maryland in their last game, so it seems strange to pick an over in their next game. Penn State shot a miserable 14/68 from the floor last game, including 3-27 from downtown. It wasn't that the pace was slow, but rather they just couldn't throw a rock in the ocean. Duquesne is one of the quickest tempo teams every year in college basketball. They are averaging 86 points per game so far this year. I fully expect them to put up a large amount of points against Penn State. The Duquesne defense isn't very good, and I think Talor Battle and the Nittany Lions will fare much better from the floor in this one. Last game's cold shooting has given us a good value on the over here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Play of the Day* The NC State Wolfpack have decided to make it a huge issue to push the tempo this year. The Wolfpack did so successfully through much of their first few games, before falling flat against Wisconsin offensively. Syracuse is a team that has the athletes to run, and I don't think they'll try to slow this one down very much. The over is 4-0 this year in NC State's games, and I think this is another one where the over is the play. I don't think NC State wins this game, but I do think they'll push the tempo enough for us to cash in on the over.

*3 Star College Football Total DOMINATION* The Oregon Ducks have the highest powered offense in college football. Oregon State's defense has been terrible this year, especially of late. Oregon will definitely want to keep putting up the points in this rivalry game, and I think they could easily get to 45 or 50 points in this one. Oregon State will playing in front of the home crowd, and I expect Quizz Rodgers and the rest of the offense to put some points up against Oregon. The history between these two is for this game to be an absolute shootout. The over is 8-0 in the last 8 meetings between these two teams. Oregon State's poor rushing defense should get exposed by the Oregon Ducks amazing running game. I think this is the type of game where there will be a ton of huge plays. I like the over here.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Indiana Pacers have been on a nice run to the under, which has made this number a nice value. Phoenix is last in the NBA in field goal percentage defense. The Suns are also first in the league in points per game. Indiana has struggled from the floor this year, but I expect them to get plenty of open looks against Phoenix. The Suns really push the pace at home, and the over is 12-4 in their last 16 home games. If you look at the last six meetings between the Pacers and Suns, every single game has gone over this number. The Suns are averaging 119 points per game over their last five games, and I think Indiana's slightly improved defense is likely to be exposed tonight. It doesn't hurt that this officiating crew has a nice lean to the over as well. Look for plenty of free throws and some wide open looks for both teams. I like the over in this one.

*3 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION* The Missouri Tigers lost a heartbreaker against Georgetown on Tuesday night, but they face a much less talented opponent on Thursday in Oregon. The Ducks have struggled quite a bit this year, and I think Missouri's full-court press and trapping style will bother Oregon a lot. Malcolm Armstead is the point guard for Oregon, and he has had some significant trouble with turnovers already this year. Armstead has at least four turnovers in each of the last five games, and he has had six turnovers twice. Now he and his team face an opponent that forces more turnovers than anyone, and I think it will be a big problem. Missouri can shoot the three, and Oregon is one of the worst in the nation at defending behind the arc. Missouri does force a ton of turnovers, but their opponents also shoot a good percentage from the floor. I expect Missouri to push the tempo here and I look for both teams to get a lot of easy looks. Take the over.

*3 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION* The Duke Blue Devils have sped up their game this year, largely due to their sensational point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving is a one man fastbreak when he touches the ball, and that gets guys like Singler and Smith wide open jumpers. Michigan State is the type of team that can run with just about anyone in basketball if they want to, and even they I suspect they might try to slow the pace at the start, I think they'll be forced to speed up later on as I believe Duke will be leading in this one. Michigan State will pick up the tempo if they are losing, which I think could this game into a track meet at times. The Spartans also commit a lot of fouls and Duke is shooting 73% from the free throw line. Both teams are in the top 26 in the country in 3 point shooting percentage, so I expect quite a few three's to fall tonight. I believe the posted total here is giving us a nice value on the over in this one. Take the over.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Minnesota Timberwolves have been an "over" machine on the road. The over is 27-12 in their last 39 road games. Dallas has been an under team at home, but they have put up big points against Minnesota in their last few meetings. The Mavericks are also healthy now, with Caron Butler adding another primary scorer. Dallas has scored at least 100 points in four straight games, and Minnesota allows 110 points per game. In the three meetings late last year between these two teams, the over was 3-0, and the lowest total score was 221 points. I expect Dallas to shoot a good percentage from the floor in this one, and Minnesota to constantly push the tempo of the game. The over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two in Dallas, and I expect tonight's game to go over the posted total as well.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* Over the years the Golden State Warriors have always scored bunches of points at home. This year the San Antonio Spurs have decided to push the tempo more than ever, and they are actually third in the NBA in points per game at 107.2. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry both are capable of putting up 30 points in any given game for the Warriors, and I expect one of them to have a huge night tonight. Manu Ginobili is playing great right now, and Richard Jefferson is having a huge comeback season for the Spurs. How about the recent trends? The over is 5-0 in the Spurs last five games overall. The over is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings between these two teams. Last time the Spurs went to Golden State they scored 147 points. I don't expect that kind of output, but 115 points from the Spurs seems fairly likely. I like this one to go over the posted total.

*3 Star College Hoops Total DOMINATION* The Wisconsin Badgers are always a team that plays at a slow tempo and they play great defense. I think that is magnified this year because they don't have many guards that are capable of driving the lane. This is a Badgers team that will give 100% effort every time out, and you won't get many easy shots at all. Notre Dame underwent an interesting change in strategy last year where Mike Brey's team decided they were going to use the clock and play solid defense instead of pushing the pace. I don't think the oddsmakers have ever caught up with the change in the Fighting Irish offense. The under is now an amazing 16-5 in Notre Dame's last 21 games. How about Wisconsin? The under is 20-7 in their last 27 games. I think there will be a very slow pace here, and as long as they don't shoot a very high percentage on three pointers, this one should stay under the total. Take the under here.

*3 Star NFL Total Domination* It's tough to put into words just how bad this Houston secondary is, but I'll give it a try. Houston is allowing 308 yards through the air each game. That is 17 yards per game more than the Atlanta Falcons allowed in 1995. Those Falcons are currently in the record books as having allowed more passing yards than anyone in NFL history. The Texans look like they will shatter that mark. Rusty Smith is making his first start here, but he is a better passer than Vince Young. I think Randy Moss will make his presence felt in this game, against a terrible secondary. On the other side, the Texans have a very good offense, and they should be able to move the ball consistently against a mediocre Titans defense. Houston has allowed at least 27 points in every single game this year, which is quite amazing. I think we're getting a good value on the over in this one.

*3 Star NCAA Football Total DOMINATION* The Vanderbilt Commodores have done a nice job competing this season. Their head coach quit just days before the season and the team has very little offense, but the defense fights hard. Wake Forest and Vanderbilt both are lacking quite badly at the skill positions on offense, as evidenced by their recent offensive outputs. In their last three games, Vanderbilt is averaging 14.7 points per game. Wake Forest is averaging just 8.7 points per game in that time span. I don't expect either team to establish much of a consistent offense in this one, but there will probably be some points scored because of turnovers. I think the oddsmakers set this one too high. A game with two teams that are dreadful offensively looks like a nice opportunity on the under to me.

*3 Star Early Bird Special* The Clemson Tigers have had an interesting season. The defense has risen up and played extremely well. The offense has been disappointing. This combination has led to seven straight Clemson games going under the posted total. In fact, the highest total score of those seven games was 40 points. South Carolina has struggled badly against good passing offenses, but Clemson doesn't have the weapons to air it out consistently against the Gamecocks. I look for both teams to try to establish the running game in this one, which will keep the clock rolling. South Carolina has already wrapped up the SEC East, and Clemson will be fired up for this one, so I expect a close game that goes down to the wire. The books still haven't adjusted enough for Clemson's recent trends toward the under. Take the under here.

*3 Star CFB Hidden GEM* The Rice Owls are the best 'over' team in all of college football over the last few years. The over is 57-18 in their last 75 games overall. It's hard to believe a trend could continue that long for one team, but it just keeps on going. The over is 31-8 in their last 39 conference games. Taylor McHargue has taken over as the Owls starting quarterback, and he looked great in his first start last week. McHargue was a highly touted recruit, and much is expected of him. Rice racked up more than 600 yards of offense last week and scored 62 points. The UAB offense is all about the passing game, which is a good thing against Rice. Rice has the single worst pass defense in college football this year. The Owls are allowing 309 yards per game through the air. The Rice defense has allowed at least 38 points in each of their last four games. UAB will be able to put up a lot of points here, and Rice's new quarterback should help them make this game an all out track meet. Take the over.

*3 Star CFB Bookie CRUSHER* The Kentucky Wildcats have been impressive on offense this year. Kentucky is averaging 35 points per game. Mike Hartline has done a nice job at the starting quarterback position, and Randell Cobb and Derrick Locke give the offense two great play makers. Tennessee has improved a lot on the offensive side as the season has gone along. They have put up more than 38 points per game in the last three contests. Neither team has a defense that has proved it can stop many teams for an entire game. I expect a lot of big plays in this game. The over is 9-2 in Kentucky's 11 games this year. The over is 9-2 in Tennessee's 11 games this year. The over is also 6-0 in Tennessee's last 6 games at home. Take the over in this one.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Oklahoma City Thunder had a couple very low scoring games when Durant and Green were injured. The Pacers have been playing at a little slower tempo of late. These factors have contributed to the line being much lower than it would have been a week or two ago, and I believe the value is on the over in this one. The last five meetings between these two have all gone over this total. Durant should be able to get to the line a ton in this game, and I expect Granger and Dunleavy to have a big game for Indiana. It doesn't hurt a bit that the referee crew here is noted for their quick whistles and games that go 'over' the posted total. I love the value on the over in this one!

*3 Star CBB Totals Play of the Day* Notre Dame fundamentally changed the way they played during the middle of the year in 2009-2010. The team slowed down every game and used up the shot clock, which helped them go on a great run to finish out the season. I fully expect the Fighting Irish to keep that trend going, which for the time being means that the value is still on the under in most of their games. Yesterday against Georgia their game went well over, but that was because of two overtime periods. California is a solid team, but they lost their primary scorers as well. I don't expect either team to shoot a high percentage in this one, and I believe the tempo will be slower than most would expect. I like the under in this game.

*3 Star Turkey Trimmings Totals Winner* The UCLA Bruins have had a long season, and that is largely due to their one dimensional offense. Johnathan Franklin is a very good running back, but it is tough to find room to run when you virtually never get anything going through the air. UCLA ranks 117th in the nation in pass offense, averaging just 117 yards per game. Arizona State's defense is stout against the run, which should mean the Bruins will struggle to score in this one. The Sun Devils are allowing only 122 yards per game on the ground this year. UCLA's defense is weak against the run, but solid against the pass. Arizona State is pass first type of offense, so once again I see the defense holding up fairly well here. The trends are very strong for this one as well. The under is 21-6-1 in UCLA's last 28 PAC 10 games. The under is 32-15 in Arizona State's last 47 games overall. The under is also 4-0 in their last 4 meetings with each other. Take the under here.

*3 Star Friday Totals Feast* The East Carolina defense is as bad as any defense in all of college football. In fact, East Carolina is dead last in Division I in points allowed at 43 per game. Rice put up 62 points on them last week, and Rice had been struggling offensively. Navy put up 76 points on them earlier this year as well. SMU hasa very solid offense and I fully expect them to score a bunch. On the other side, East Carolina has a terrific offense. Dominique Davis leads a high powered passing attack for the Pirates. They average 319 yards per game through the air, and the offense as a whole puts up 38 points per game. The weakness of the SMU defense is their secondary, which should mean ECU will pile up the yards and points in this one as well. This one could be a very high scoring game. I like the over in this one.

*3 Star Turkey Day Tasty Total* The New England Patriots have their offense firing on all cylinders right now. In the last two games they have played Pittsburgh and Indianapolis and have put up 39 and 31 points respectively. The over is 8-2 in their last 10 games. The Detroit Lions are without Matt Stafford, but they still have some nice pieces on offense. Calvin Johnson is having a big year, and I think he'll give this Patriots secondary some problems. New England is second to last in the league in pass defense, so they are capable of giving up yards through the air. The over is 6-1 in Detroit's last 7 games overall. The over is 6-0 in the Lions last 6 home games. The over is 5-1 in the Patriots last 6 road games. I think there will be several big plays in this game, which should lead to this one going over the posted total.

*3 Star NBA Total DOMINATION* The San Antonio Spurs are 12-1 and much of their success this season is due to their efficiency on the offensive end. San Antonio has decided to get up and down the floor, and they are doing it very successfully. They put up 117 against Oklahoma City and 116 against both Philadelphia and Cleveland in the last couple weeks. Minnesota is by far the worst defense in the NBA. The Timberwolves are giving up 110.4 points per game on the season, and they have given up at least 111 points in the last five games. The Timberwolves also play at the fastest pace of any team in the NBA. At the end of last year the Spurs put up 133 points in Minnesota. While I certainly don't expect that again, 115 to 120 is very doable. I think the over is the play in this one.

*3 Star Monday Night Football Bookie CRUSHER* The Denver Broncos defense has been absolutely terrible of late. How bad have they been? The Broncos are allowing 37 points per game over their last three game. Champ Bailey is still here, but he isn't what he used to be. Brian Dawkins is aging as well, and he simply hasn't produced very well this year. San Diego has been putting up the points in bunches at home this year. The Chargers are averaging 33 points per game at home so far this season. Phillip Rivers has gone without his main receiving targets much of the year, but he's still had a fabulous season. The Chargers are first in passing offense in the NFL, and Ryan Matthews helps keep them balanced. Denver should be able to put up some points as well, as this Chargers team struggles badly on special teams. The over is 12-2 in Denver's last 14 games. The over is 6-2 in San Diego's last 8 games. The over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings between these two. Take the over in this MNF matchup!

*5 Star Sunday Night Top Play GUARANTEED Cash* The Giants and the Eagles have been accustomed to playing high scoring games, and both offenses are humming along right now. Everyone knows about Mike Vick and the Eagles terrific performance from last week, but New York has been putting up points in bunches as well. Over the last five games they have averaged 32.8 points per game. The over is 5-0 in the Giants last five games. The over is also 5-0 in the Eagles last five games. Look for Vick to continue to create for the Eagles offense, and Manning and his wideouts to beat a questionable Eagles secondary. The over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings between these two teams. This game has over written all over it. I'm making this one a five star top play on the over.

*3 Star NFL Total Domination* The Minnesota Vikings have had a terribly disappointing season. The offense has been bad. The fact that they have underperformed so much allows us to get a nice number on the over in this game. In Brett Favre's three games against Green Bay in the last couple years, the Vikings have scored 24, 38, and 30 points. The total has gone over in the last five meetings between these two teams. Green Bay's defense is depleted in a big way because of injuries. Minnesota's defense is pretty good, but they haven't played up to expectations. I think Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense will be able to move the ball consistently against Minnesota in this one. The over is 5-1 in Minnesota's last 6 games overall. The over is 15-5-1 in the last 21 meetings between these two teams. The value is on the over in this game.

*3 Star Hidden GEM Total* The Navy Midshipmen have gotten their ground game working once again this year. They started off a little slowly, but they have been racking up the yards in the last few games. They average 303 yards per game on the ground. Arkansas State's defense is absolutely terrible. The Red Wolves are allowing 206 yards per game on the ground this year, which is 110th in the nation. On the other side, Arkansas State has a pretty good passing game. They are 22nd in the nation in passing yards. Navy has struggled against solid passing teams this year. Navy is allowing 234 yards per game on the ground. The last three games for Navy have finished with totals of 65, 101, and 75. The last four games for Arkansas State have finished with totals of 70, 53, 75, and 71. The over is 4-0 in both teams last 4 games. I like the over a lot in this one.

*3 Star SEC Showdown Total* Ole Miss has been a big disappointment this year. Their defense was supposed to be solid this year, but they have been pretty bad. LSU's defense is one of the very best in the country. LSU ranks sixth in the nation in points allowed at just 14.6 points per game. The LSU offense has struggled all year, especially when it comes to throwing the football. Mississippi has been decent against the run, but LSU should be able to get plenty of yards on the ground. I am counting on LSU's defense to rise up at home like they have consistently for the last few years. The under is 12-2 in their last 14 home games. 10 of their last 11 games at home have finished at 51 points or less. I think it will be difficult for the Rebels to consistently move the ball against this defense. I like the under in this one.

*3 Star CFB Totals Terrorizer* At first glance you might think it is crazy to be playing an over on a total set at 72 points. Look at the numbers though, and you'll see this is a very good value. East Carolina's offense is extremely productive, and they run an uptempo offense. The Pirates have scored at least 35 points in each of their last four games. They have the #5 passing attack in the nation. Rice's secondary is horrible, in fact they are the second worst in the country against the pass. East Carolina could very well put up more than 50 points in this one. At the same time, Rice should be able to put up plenty of points as well against an East Carolina defense that is allowing 41 points per game for the year. This one should be one heck of a shootout. Take the over here.

*3 Star CFB Early Bird Special* The Troy State Trojans have a great offense, but their defense is horrible. South Carolina's offense has been very good this year, but they have struggled defensively against teams with a solid passing attack. South Carolina is ranked 107th in the nation in pass defense, and Troy is ranked 13th in the nation in passing. Troy should be able to score several points in this game. On the other side, Troy has allowed 35 and 52 points against North Texas and FIU respectively in their last two games. The Gamecocks have a better offense than both of those teams, and even if they are a bit flat after last week's big win they should be able to score more than 40 in this one. How about a couple great 100% angles for this game? The over is 8-0 in Troy's last 8 games against an SEC opponent. The over is also 4-0 in South Carolina's last four home games. Take the over here.

*3 Star TGIF Style Bookie Basher* The Boise State Broncos are on a mission to prove to the public that they are worthy of a BCS National Title berth. The team knows they not only need to win, but they must win big from here on out. This is one of their best chances to do it on a national stage against a Fresno State program that has a quality reputation in college football. Fresno allowed 55 points against Ole Miss earlier this year, and 34 against Louisiana Tech. Boise State has a better offense than both of these teams. Fresno State's offense has scored at least 33 points in each of their last four games, and the over is 6-2 in their last 8 overall. I think Boise State puts up at least 45-50 points by themselves, and Fresno should be able to put up the rest. I like the over in this game.

*3 Star CBB Total Domination Play* The Illinois Fighting Illini have the ability to score from all over the floor this year. Demtri McCamey, D.J. Richardson, and Brandon Paul are terrific in the backcourt. Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale are also good options down low. Texas is full of athletes and it appears they have decided to run early and often this year. They put up 83 against a Navy team that slows the tempo, and then scored 89 against La. Tech. Illinois has a better defense than either of those teams, but with Texas pushing it and driving to the basket I see plenty of points being scored. There should be plenty of free throw attempts in this game and a highly competitive like this should be is always a good sign for the over with fouls coming at the end of the game. I like the over here.

*3 CBB Totals Early Bird* The Wofford Terriers are a high quality basketball team. Wofford plays great defense and runs a solid halfcourt offense. South Carolina Upstate is a team that has difficulty scoring against teams with a strong defense. In their two games so far this year they scored 35 against Michigan and 54 against Virginia. These two schools are just miles apart and the kids will be fired up to play a crosstown rival. The court is a neutral site, which usually means the shooting percentages will be a bit lower. I expect a slow paced game where Wofford's defense controls the game overall. USC Upstate will struggle mightily to score and Wofford isn't the kind of team to push the tempo at all. Take the under here.

*3 Star NBA Totals Terrorizer* The Miami Heat have struggled against teams with good point guards this year, and Steve Nash certainly qualifies. Nash and the Suns will push the basketball all game long and test the Miami transition defense that has looked shaky in their last few games. At the same time, the Heat should be able to torch this Phoenix defense. The Suns lone shot blocker, Robin Lopez, is out right now. Expect James and Wade to get to the basket with ease in this game. The books have yet to catch up to the fact that Miami is starting to run much more often over the last few games. The over is 6-0 in the last six games for the Heat. I don't expect either team to slow the pace down in this one. Take the over here.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Charlotte Bobcats are one the slowest paced teams in the NBA, and they also play some of the best defense in the league. Minnesota is a team that likes to push the tempo, but the don't shoot the ball well. I think Charlotte will be able to slow down Love and Beasley fairly well, which will force Minnesota to look to other people for scoring help. The Timberwolves have seen 4 of their last 5 go under the posted total, and the Bobcats have only had one game finish with a total higher than 197 so far this year. I expect Charlotte to stick to their guns and play a solid halfcourt game, while Minnesota will try to push the tempo. I'm counting on Minnesota shooting a poor percentage in this one. I also like that the referee crew is quite helpful to the 'under' cause based on their past. I like the under in this one.

*3 Star NFL Total of the Week* The San Francisco 49ers will start Troy Smith again in this game. Smith played well in his start against Denver. Expect the Niners to keep the offense pretty vanilla and run the football quite often. The Rams are one of the biggest surprises in the NFL at 4-4 right now. The defense is much better than almost everyone thought they would be. They are 8th in the NFL in rushing defense, and I think they'll do a solid job of stopping Frank Gore in this game. Sam Bradford is very good, but his wide receivers have been decimated by injury and I think that will be a problem this week. The trends point strongly toward the under in this game. The under is 9-2 in the Rams last 11 games overall. The under is 6-2 in San Francisco's last 8 home games. The under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings between these two. I like the under in this game.

*3 Star NFL Total Domination Play* The Kansas City Chiefs are a much improved football team, but they still have plenty of weaknesses. The Chiefs pass defense is weak, and Denver should be able to exploit that. Kansas City's offense has been improving greatly over the last few weeks, and they are now the #1 rushing team in the NFL. The Broncos have struggled mightily to try to stop the running game. Take a look at the recent history between these two teams. The over is 5-1 in the last 6 games. Last year's two meetings finished at 57 and 68 points. Turnovers are likely to happen here as both defenses are opportunistic, and the Broncos especially are prone to turning it over. I expect the Broncos offense to have a good game plan as they come off the bye week. I like this one to go over the posted total.

*3 Star ABC Showdown Moneymaker* The Texas Longhorns are having a terrible season. Mack Brown's team is now 4-5 overall and 2-7 ATS this year. Oklahoma State is 8-1 overall and 7-2 ATS. There is one thing that stands out to be about the line that the oddsmakers have set on this game. The posted total is 56 points. Texas has yet to have a game this year finish with a total score of more than 53 points. Sure Oklahoma State has a great offense, but this Texas defense is very good. Oklahoma State has a weak defense, but Texas' offense has been awful this year. Oklahoma State is the third ranked passing attack in the nation, but Texas ranks second in the nation in pass defense. Oklahoma State is particularly weak in the secondary, but I don't think Texas has the weapons to beat them deep. The under is 16-5 in Oklahoma State's last 21 road games. The under is 6-2 in Texas' last 8 home games. Take the under here.

*3 Star CFB Total Domination Play* The Stanford Cardinal are playing very solid football. Andrew Luck is a great quarterback and the Cardinal have a solid running game as well. Arizona State has been a bit of a surprise in the Pac 10, and their offense is much better this year with Steven Threet under center. The thing about Threet is he is a high risk/high reward type of quarterback. He has 17 touchdown, but he also has 15 interceptions. Don't be surprised if Stanford picks him a couple times and gets a quick score or two that way. The Arizona State secondary has has serious trouble against good quarterbacks this year, and this is the best quarterback they have played yet. I like Arizona State to be able to score on their home field and keep this one close, but the offenses should have the upper hand the entire way in this one. Take the over.

*3 Star Total Domination Play* The Baylor Bears were throttled last weekend at Oklahoma State. They'll go home this week to a more friendly environment, where they are 4-0 this year. I expect Baylor's offense to play better, as they average 42.5 points per game at home. On the other hand, the defense has been allowing 40 points per game in their last three outings. Ryan Tannehill has taken over the quarterback duties at Texas A&M, and he has done a great job thus far. Tannehill is completing 68.6% of his passes and he has nine touchdown passes in just three games. In those three games the Aggies are averaging 41 points per game. Texas A&M has a solid rushing defense, but they can't stop the pass. Baylor averages 300 yards per game through the air. Baylor's defense can't stop the pass, and the Aggies have the ninth ranked pass offense in the nation. What about the trends? The over is 5-1 in Baylor's last six. The over is 28-10-1 in the Aggies last 39 road games. Both teams will it air it out early and often in this one. Expect a bunch of points and a good game. I like the over in this one.

*3 Star Georgia/Auburn Guaranteed Play* The Auburn Tigers are in the driver's seat for a national title berth, but the road is far from easy the rest of the way. Georgia is a team that is definitely getting its act together over the last few games. Auburn's defense has proven susceptible this year, and I think Georgia will be able to exploit some of those weaknesses. At the same time, Georgia's defense is weak, and Auburn should roll up a ton of yards in this one. Cam Newton is the Heisman front runner right now, and this Auburn offense is firing on all cylinders. The Tigers are averaging 48.5 points per game in their last six games. Georgia's defense gave up 31 points to Kentucky and 34 to Florida, and Auburn is a much better offense than those two teams. How will Georgia do it on offense? Aaron Murray and the passing game will go after Auburn's weak secondary. The over is 5-1 in Georgia's last 6. The over is 4-1 in Auburn's last 5. The over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two. Take the over in this huge matchup!

*5 Star TGIF Top Play DOMINATOR* The Boise State Broncos are obviously going to be looking to keep their foot on the gas to impress the voters the rest of the way. This team isn't likely to lose, but they might not get into the BCS Title game unless things fall their way. Idaho is the perfect team for Boise State to run up the score on. The teams don't like each other at all, and Idaho has one of the worst defenses in all of football. Take a look at the stats from last week: Idaho allowed 844 yards to Nevada. Yes that's right 844 yards in one game. If a defense allows 844 yards in two games they are pretty bad, but allowing that in one game is ridiculous. Last week Boise State rolled up 737 yards against Hawaii, who actually has a much better defense than Idaho. Kellen Moore will have a field day in this game, and the Broncos running game will go nuts as well. Idaho's passing game will probably get them a couple touchdowns in this one, which should be plenty to push this one over the posted total. In the last six meetings between these two, the total has finished at 68 points or higher five times. Take the over in a big way in this game.

*3 Star NBA on TNT Celtics/Heat Cash* The Heat and the Celtics will meet Thursday night for the second time this season. In the first game, Boston won 88-80, but Miami shot very poorly. Expect Miami to come ready to play in this one. The Heat are coming off a very disappointing loss to Utah on Tuesday, and I fully expect them to turn up the intensity in this one. Where will that show up the most? I think it will show up on the defensive end. The Heat have allowed the least points per game in the NBA so far this year. Boston isn't a team that will push the pace, as they are one of the older teams in the league. Boston's games have been particuarly slow paced and low scoring on the road, and I think that trend will continue in this game. Look for this one to be a defensive battle that is won in the half-court. I like the under.

*3 Star NBA Late Night Bailout* The Minnesota Timberwolves are terrible this year. This team plays absolutely no defense and has given up at least 117 points in 4 of their first 8 games this year. Kurt Rambis has the Timberwolves pushing the ball at any chance they get, which should play right into the hands of the Kings, who also like to run and gun. Tyreke Evans and this Kings offense can score early and often, especially on their home court. Earlier this year these two teams met and the final was 117-116. The over is 5-0-1 in the last 6 meetings between these two in Sacramento. The over is 24-11 in Minnesota's last 35 road games. The over is 9-1 in the Kings last 10 home games. Take the over in this one and expect a track meet between two teams who play almost no defense.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Denver Nuggets and the Chicago Bulls both like to push the tempo. The Bulls have proven they are a faster team this year now that Vinny Del Negro has moved on. Derrick Rose is having a superb season and this team is scoring in bunches. Carmelo Anthony is out to prove a point right now, and I don't think the Bulls have anyone who can guard him one on one. The over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings between these two teams. The referee crew sets up very well for an over play in this one. All three of the referees who were assigned to this game have called a high percentage of games that have gone over the posted total in the last couple years. Expect a lot of free throws and a night where defense is optional. Take the over here.

*3 Star NFL Total Domination Play* The San Diego Chargers are the number one ranked passing offense in the NFL. The Houston Texans are easily the worst defense in the NFL against the pass, allowing a staggering 299.4 yards per game. The Chargers have struggled horribly on the road this year, but they still put up points. The Texans are averaging 24 points per game as well, and they have a balanced offense that should give the Chargers beaten up defense some trouble. Expect San Diego to throw the ball early and often in this one, and they should have quite a bit of success. This is the type of game where a special teams touchdown or a defensive touchdown is fairly likely, which is a nice boost to the chances of the over. The over is 5-2 in San Diego's last 7 games overall. I like this one to go over the posted total.

*3 Star NFL Bookie Crusher* Raheem Morris says his Tampa Bay Bucs team is the best in the NFC. They'll get a chance to prove a point in Atlanta on Sunday. The Falcons are 5-2 and they are one of the most balanced teams in football. Tampa Bay is also 5-2, but I sincerely doubt they will finish with one of the best records in the NFC. Tampa Bay's offense is simply not very good. Josh Freeman has had a better year, but he still isn't a prolific passer. Cadillac Williams has struggled a lot this year, which has led to Blount getting more carries. I fully expect Atlanta to gear up for the run and make Freeman and the Bucs passing game beat them. Tampa Bay's defense has been opportunistic, including three INT returns for a touchdown, which has inflated their scores a little so far this season. I think Matt Ryan takes good care of the ball Sunday and this one stays fairly low scoring. The trends are also behind this one. The under is 11-3 in Tampa Bay's last 14 games overall. The under is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these teams. Take the under here.

*5 Star Hidden Gem Total Play* Louisiana Lafayette has had some ridiculously high totals in their games this year. The team plays at a very quick tempo and they have absolutely no defense at all. Four of their last five games have gone over the posted total, and the least amount of points they have given up in that span is 31. This team even allowed 54 points against a Western Kentucky team that went winless last year. Mississippi has been putting points up in bunches of late as Jeremiah Masoli seems to be getting accustomed to the offense. In their last three home games they have averaged 43 points per game. The Rebels pass defense is allowing 244 yards per game through the air, and UL Lafayette has a good passing attack. The over is 6-1 in Mississippi's last 7 home games. The over is 4-1 in Lafayette's last 5 games overall. Get ready for a shootout in this one. Take the over in a big way!

*3 Star ESPN Saturday Night Bookie Crusher* Ryan Mallett and Arkansas will bring the top ranked passing attack in the SEC into South Carolina this Saturday night. The Gamecocks are ranked dead last in the SEC in pass defense and they have been giving up the yards in bunches over the last few games. The South Carolina offense is balanced and they have averaged 31 points per game this season. Arkansas' defense is better than last year, but they have a lot of room for improvement. I expect Lattimore and the running game of South Carolina to really hurt Arkansas in this one. The over is 5-1 in South Carolina's last six games overall. The over is 6-2 in Arkansas' eight games this year. Both of these offenses will be ready to go, and I look for plenty of points in this one. Take the over here.

*5 Star Top Play Oddsmaker Line Error* It's a matchup of the Bulldogs from the south and the bulldogs from the west coast in this one. I believe the oddsmakers have made a significant error when setting this total. Fresno State is averaging 34 points per game on the year. Fresno State is averaging 41 points per game in their last four road games. Louisiana Tech's defense is allowing 298 yards per game through the air, and Ryan Colburn from Fresno has the skills to take advantage of that. On the other side, Fresno State's defense is weak against the run. They rank 62nd in the nation in run defense, while Louisiana Tech has been running the ball very well of late. Lousiana Tech even moved the ball pretty well last week against Boise State. This one is all about matchups, and both offenses have the firepower to exploit the weakness of the defenses. The trends also point to the over. The over is 4-0 in Fresno's last 4 road games. The over is 6-1-1 in La. Tech's last 8 conference games. The over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two. This number is set too low. Take the over here!

*5 Star HUGE CFB Play of the Week* The Navy Midshipmen have the 10th best rushing attack in the country. East Carolina has the 92nd ranked rushing defense in the nation. East Carolina's offense is averaging 37 points per game, and Navy is coming off a game where they gave up 34 points to the Duke Blue Devils. This is your classic game of mismatches on both sides, and the offense will have the leg up constantly. Ruffin McNeill has turned the Pirates into an uptempo team like Texas Tech has been for many years. The over is 5-3 in East Carolina's eight games this year. Three of Navy's last four games have gone over the posted total as their defense seems to be breaking down and the offense continues to run the option efficiently. This is a game where I expect both teams to be able to score early and often. I am making the over in this game my five star play of the week.

*3 Star TGIF NCAA Football Blowout* The UCF Knights are at the top of the Conference USA East Division, while Houston is at the top of the West Division. Houston has had all kinds of injury problems, but they have started playing good football again the last couple weeks. Houston is averaging 44 points per game in their last three meetings. UCF has the best defense in the conference, but they did allow 37 points against Houston at home last year. On the flip side, Houston's run defense is terrible. There is only one thing UCF can do, and that is run the football. Expect the Knights to break some huge runs in this matchup. Also, both of these teams commit quite a few turnovers, so I expect the offenses to get a short field fairly often. This Friday night game on ESPN looks like a high scoring affair to me. Take the over.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Oklahoma City Thunder have really sped up their pace so far this year. The Thunder have multiple options on offense, and they can score with the best of them in the NBA. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Jeff Green are all great scorers. The emergence of Serge Ibaka down low is really helping them as well. The Clippers have started 0-4 and the under is 4-0 in their games. Right now the Clippers are 2nd to last in the NBA in field goal percentage at a miserable 39.9%. I have to think this team will start shooting a little better than this. The Thunder will push the tempo in this one and if the Clippers want to hang around at all, they'll need to score. The referee crew includes a couple refs who tend to call fouls frequently, so I expect a lot of free throws. The oddsmakers have lowered this one too much because of the Clippers shooting problems, and I think the value is on the over.

*3 Star Break the Books NBA Winner* The Milwaukee Bucks have the most defensive-minded coach in the entire NBA. Scott Skiles preaches defense like no other, and it seems his team has started to listen. The highest total in their three games this year is 186. Milwaukee will keep the tempo fairly slow and work for good shots, while playing solid defense. Portland is also a team that plays at a slow tempo. The Blazers are a half-court offense type of team. Marcus Camby gives them a great shot-blocker down low, so don't expect Brandon Jennings to be able to get to the rim as often as normal tonight. The lead referee for this game is Steve Javie, who is one of the more reliable "under" referees in the game. It all adds up to a tightly contested game that stays under the posted total.

*3 Star NFL Total Domination* Don't look now, but the Kansas City Chiefs have been very good on offense of late, especially at home. The Chiefs are averaging 31 points per game at home this year. The Bills defense is BY FAR the worst in the league statistically. The Bills are giving up an astonishing 33 points per game for the season. The Chiefs have the #1 ranked rushing game in the NFL right now, and the Bills are dead last in run defense. The Bills offense has actually been very good of late. Buffalo has scored 26 points per game over their last four games. The Chiefs defense is improved from last year, but they are still not a shutdown unit. This is the type of game that before the season I would have thought would be low scoring, but given the trends for this season and the pathetic defense from Buffalo, I like the over in this one.

*3 Star NFL Bookie Crusher* The Saint Louis Rams defense has been surprisingly decent this year. They are starting to build a nice young nucleus on the defensive side. Carolina's offense is terrible. The Panthers are back to starting Matt Moore at quarterback, but they'll likely be without their leading rusher in this one. DeAngelo Williams has a sprained foot and will likely miss this game. On the other side, Carolina's defense has been pretty good overall, as they rank 7th in the NFL in total defense. The under is 5-1 in the Rams last 6 home games. The under is 4-1 in Carolina's last 5 games overall. This won't be a pretty game, and I expect both offenses to struggle in the red zone. Take the under here.

*3 Star Hawaiian Style Bookie Beatdown* Idaho will visit Hawaii Saturday night in what should be a very entertaining WAC Conference matchup. The Idaho Vandals have improved a ton over the last couple years, and they have a great quarterback in Nathan Enderle. Enderle already has 2,053 yards through the air this year, and I fully expect Idaho to be able to throw the ball on Hawaii. The Hawaii pass offense can throw the football on anyone, and Idaho's defense isn't very good at all. Hawaii is averaging 401 yards per game through the air, and I think they'll top that number in this game. This game should be an all out aerial assault from both teams. The over is 12-5 in Idaho's last 17 games overall, as the books have yet to catch up with the Vandals improvement on offense. The over is 3-1-1 in Hawaii's last 5 home games. The winner in this one will probably need to score at least 40 points. Take the over here.

*3 Star Hidden Gem Total* The San Jose State Spartans and the New Mexico State Aggies are both absolutely terrible football teams. Both of them come into this game with just one win. San Jose State averages 10 points per game on offense and New Mexico State averages 12.4 points per game. These two are 117th and 119th in the nation in total offense. Remember, there are only 120 teams in Division One NCAA Football. Basically, you couldn't find a matchup of two worse offenses than this one. Last year these teams played to a horribly ugly 13-10 final score. I think something similar is quite likely again this year. The under is 41-19-2 in San Jose State's last 61 games. The under is 4-0 in New Mexico State's last four. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two. Take the under here.

*3 Star Oddsmaker Line Error Totals Winner* If you look at Texas A&M's offensive statistics you'll see that they rack up the yards, but often fail to punch it in the end zone. The Texas Tech defense is likely just what the doctor ordered for this team. Texas Tech has allowed 24, 34, 38, and 52 points in their last four games. The Red Raiders offense is pass happy as always, with Taylor Potts leading the show. They average 311 yards through the air and Texas A&M is ranked 85th in the nation in pass defense. Both of these teams love to air it out, and both defenses struggle to stop the passing attack, so I think 65 or 70 points is quite likely here. In 2008 these two put up 68 points and last year they totaled 82 points in their meeting in Lubbock. Expect this one to be full of fireworks. Take the over.

*3 Star PAC 10 Totals Winner* The UCLA Bruins have a solid running game and a pathetic passing game. Arizona's defense is ranked 7th in the nation against the run, so don't expect the Wildcats to allow Franklin to run all over them. They know the Bruins can't throw it, so they will stack up the box. On the other side, Arizona has a decent backup quarterback in Matt Scott, but they definitely miss Nick Foles in a big way. Foles is the main leader for their offense and is extremely comfortable running this system, but he is out with a knee injury. UCLA's defense has been inconsistent this year, but I think they will fare well against a Wildcats offense that struggles to protect the passer and has a backup quarterback under center. The under is 22-8 in UCLA's last 30 home games. Take the under in this one.

*3 Star College Football Early Bird Special* The UAB Blazers nearly upset Mississippi State on the road last weekend. Bryan Ellis has moved into the starting quarterback spot and this team has moved the ball well through the air of late. Ellis is averaging 278 passing yards per game in the last five contests. Southern Miss has a great run defense, but they are susceptible to giving up yards through the air. The Golden Eagles allowed 305 passing yards against East Carolina and 237 against lowly Memphis last weekend. Southern Miss will probably be without their star wideout, DeAndre Brown, but they have been efficient without him as well. UAB's defense gives up the big play often, and Southern Miss is averaging 42 points per game in their last three games. The over is 5-1 in Southern Miss' last six home games. I like this one to go over the posted total.

*3 Star ESPN NBA Bookie SMASHER* The Phoenix Suns are definitely a different team without Stoudemire, but I don't expect them to stop running or scoring points. The Lakers and the Suns played a six game playoff series last year and five of the six games went over 208. I know these teams are a bit different now, but playoffs usually bring a slower tempo, and they still scored more than 208 five out of six times. The Lakers showed they can score the other night against Houston, and Phoenix won't slow this game down. I base a lot of my over/under plays on the referees in the game, and this game has three terrific refs for an "over" bet. Pat Fraher, one of the officials in this game, has had more games go over than under in every single season of his since 2002! Tommy Nunez and Joe Crawford are also here, and both of them have quick whistles as well. Expect plenty of fouls and a quick tempo to push this one over the posted total.

*3 Star World Series Total Knockout Play* The Giants and Rangers both scored far more runs than expected in Game One. The average bettor might be inclined to think the under is a good play in the second game because the pitching staffs will bounce back, but I like the value on the over in Game Two. C.J. Wilson is a solid pitcher, but he is definitely new to the big stage of the World Series. Matt Cain is a very good pitcher, but the over has been the play in his home starts of late. The over is 5-2 in his last 7 home starts. The over is 4-1 in the Giants last 5 home games. The over is 5-1-1 in Texas' last 7 games overall. How about the weather and the umpire? The wind is expected to be blowing out to center field at about 10 mph in this one. The home plate umpire is Sam Holbrook, who is one of the top over umpires in the league. Holbrook pinches the zone very often, which could hurt both Wilson and Cain, who like to paint the corners. I like the over in this one.

*3 Star NBA Season Opening Crusher* It would be extremely difficult to find two teams in the NBA that will play worse defense than these two this season. The Raptors have some nice young talent, but there is absolutely no defensive stopper. The Knicks will be much better and they'll score in bunches, but in D'Antoni's system they will play very little defense. Amare Stoudemire will help in the fast paced Knicks offense, and Felton is a big upgrade at the point position. D'Antoni's offense should run much more smoothly this season, and I fully expect them to be able to put up points in bunches against Toronto. The Raptors will run with the Knicks and the pace of this game should be very quick. With no defense and two teams that can score early and often, I like the over in this one.

*3 Star Monday Night Football Totals Terrorizer* By now you certainly know the Cowboys are 1-4 and badly need a win in this game. The Giants always play them tough, and the Giants are playing solid football right now. Even though they have won just one of their last three, the Cowboys offense has looked good in those games. The Cowboys are averaging just over 25 points per game in their last three. The Giants have put up 34 and 28 points in their last couple games. These two teams have a history of scoring quite a few points against each other. The over is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings between these teams. Expect the Giants balanced offense to be able to move the ball pretty well in this one. The Cowboys should be able to put up quite a few as well, since they know they must win this game. Take the over here.

*3 Star Sunday Night Showdown Special* Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers have both struggled more than expected so far this season, but I think this competition will bring out the best in both of them. Favre clearly gets amped up to play his old team, and Rodgers and the Packers know they need to start beating the Vikings. The Green Bay defense is having all sorts of trouble with injuries, and the Vikings passing game is starting to slowly come together. On the other side, the Packers have a great array of weapons for Rodgers, and I expect them to be able to move the ball with their short passing game. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two, including a 30-23 adn 38-26 game last year. Both of these offenses should start producing this Sunday night in this key battle. I like the over.

*3 Star NFL Bookie Crusher* The Carolina Panthers have decided to go back to Matt Moore at the quarterback spot. They really don't have a good option at the position right now, and the Panthers offense is the worst in the NFL right now. San Francisco finally got their first win last week against Oakland. The 49ers are definitely better than your average 1-5 football team. This has all the makings of a game that will be very low scoring. You know the coaching staff doesn't trust Moore too much, so the Panthers will keep it on the ground most of the game. The 49ers have struggled to put the ball in the end zone all year. The under is 8-3-1 in San Francisco's last 12 games overall. The under is 4-0 in the Panthers last 4 games overall. This is the type of game that should stay below 30 points. Take the under.

*3 Star Curious Odds Totals Winner* The Kentucky Wildcats have certainly improved in a big way under Joker Phillips the last few weeks. Last weekend they stunned South Carolina, and the weekend before they nearly beat Auburn. This weekend Georgia comes to town to take on the Wildcats. Georgia started the year 1-4, but they have won two straight. The Bulldogs have found a nice young quarterback in Aaron Murray. Georgia will definitely be able to put up points against this Kentucky defense that allows 30 points per game. At the same time, the Wildcats have an impressive offensive system now that utilizes Randall Cobb's talents. While you may not know about them, Kentucky has a ton of athletes on the offensive side of the ball. The over is 6-0 in Kentucky's last 6 games and the last two meetings between these two have been shootouts. I like the over here.

*3 Star Hidden Gem Total* The Utah Utes have an extremely dynamic offense this year, as evidenced by their 46 points per game. The Colorado State defense allows 411 yards per game and 32 points. Jordan Wynn and this Utah offense should be able to get into the 40's against this defense quite easily. Earlier this year the Rams had no offense whatsoever, but they have been improving quite a bit. Leonard Mason has rushed by over 100 yards in their last two games and they have scored 27 and 43 points in those two games. Utah's defense is good, but I fully expect them to be winning this game by a bunch and put in the backups late in the game. The Rams should definitely be able to put up a couple scores on Utah here, and I think this total gets well above this number. The over is 5-2 in Utah's last 7 and 8-3-1 in Colorado State's last 12 road games. Take the over.

*3 Star Totals Terrorizer* The Utah State Aggies are a different offense when they are at home. On the road they are averaging just 12.33 points per game, but at home they are putting up 31 points per game. Diondre Borel is a solid quarterback and this Aggies squad has been running the football pretty well of late. Hawaii is coming off their huge win over Nevada last weekend. The Warriors have the top ranked passing attack in the nation, and Utah State's defense is ranked 85th in the nation in pass defense. I fully expect Bryant Moniz to have a huge game in this one. At the same time, Hawaii's defense struggles badly on the road. They are allowing 30 points per game on the road this year. In the last five meetings between these two the over is 4-1. Expect this to be a track meet where both teams move the ball effectively early and often. Take the over in this one!

*3 Star Total Domination Play* The Wyoming Cowboys and the BYU Cougars have two of the worst offenses in all of college football this year. BYU is averaging 14.7 points per game and Wyoming is averaging 11.6. The under is 5-2 in Wyoming's 7 games this year. The under is 7-0 in BYU's 7 games this season. This is a game where I expect both teams to come out and try to establish the running game. Neither offense will be in any hurry, and both will struggle to punch it in the end zone. The biggest concern is probably touchdowns given up by way of a turnover because of how inept these two offenses are. The books adjusted this total down a bit, but I don't think they moved it nearly low enough. Don't be surprised if this game ends with a score of 13-6 or something ridiculously low. I really like the under here.

*3 Star MLB Wednesday Play of the Day* The Philadelphia Phillies are down 2-1 in this series, and they are planning on sending out Joe Blanton. Blanton pitched well in the second half of the season, and I think he has a good shot at pitching well against a fairly light-hitting Giants offense. Madison Bumgarner is the starter on the other side, and I think he is being overlooked by a lot of people right now. Bumgarner has amazing stuff and he has the attitude to pitch well despite his inexperience in the playoffs. What about the stats? The under is 8-1 in Bumgarner's last 9 starts at home. The under is 13-4 in the Giants last 17 home games. The home plate umpire is Wally Bell, who called 64.3% of pitches a strike this year, which is one of the highest rates of all the umpires. The pitchers should get the edges on Wednesday, and I think this one will stay under the posted total.