Saturday, October 30, 2010

NFL: Week 8 Picks

A nice 4-1 week has is six games over .500 through seven weeks.
 
Raiders -2.5 - I'm a believer...for now.
 
Titans +3.5 - Until the Chargers start winning games, I cannot trust them.
 
Dolphins +1.5 - Miami undefeated on the road this season.
 
Best Bet: Redskins +3 - Until the Lions win more than one game in a season, I am betting against them as favorites. Washington is solid.
 
Upset: Packers +6.5 - I think this is a dangerous game for the Jets coming off a bye. 
 
 
Record: 20-14-1 (Best Bet: 5-2; Upset 3-3-1)

College Football: Week 9 Picks

We gave a game back last week going 3-4 but see some solid opportunities this week.
  
Navy -13.5 - The Mids are riding high after thumping Notre Dame in New Jersey last week.
 
Best Bet: Auburn -7 - An undefeated, top-3 team is giving only seven points to an Ole Miss team that lost to Jacksonville State at home? I don't get it.
 
Upset: Washington State +22 - This is a scrappy team, and Arizona State stopped caring weeks ago.
 
 
Record: 34-23-1 (Best Bet: 5-3; Upset: 4-3-1)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Week 7: 11 Things I Know I Know

1. I know the Saints are a baffling team. Losing 30-17 (the score was actually much closer than the game was) at home to previously underwhelming Cleveland, a team whose quarterback was making just his second career start. Drew Brees threw four picks, two of which were returned for touchdowns by David Bowens. New Orleans had better figure things out quickly as they host Pittsburgh on Halloween night.
 
2. I know that Josh McDaniels should be feeling some heat right now. Since the Broncos started 6-0 under the rookie head coach last season, the team has gone 4-13 and were absolutely embarrassed at home against long-time rival Oakland by 45 points. If Belichick's pupil got the credit for the hot beginning, he needs to accept the blame now.
 
3. I know Darren McFadden is finally starting to live up to his potential. After an injury-riddled two-plus seasons, Run DMC is on pace for over 2,000 yards from scrimmage. The Raiders are only a game and a half behind the Chiefs (yes, those Chiefs) for first place in the AFC West. The two teams play in two weeks in Oakland. Who thought this game would mean anything? Turns out, it will in large part because of McFadden.
 
4. I know that I would have lost my whole life savings and more if someone offered me a bet that Cleveland punter Reggie Hodges would outrush Tennessee running back Chris Johnson on the day. The unthinkable, however, transpired as Hodges scampered for 68 yards on a fake punt while Johnson only racked up 66 yards on 24 carries. Also, in Titans' game, Kenny Britt made people forget about his midweek arrest very quickly with his performance - 7 catches, 225 yards, 3 TDs.
 
5. I know that Atlanta's Roddy White is the best wide receiver in the league. Say what you want about Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss or any other pass catcher, and I will explain why none matches RW84. With almost 750 yards receiving and five touchdowns in seven weeks, I think most cornerbacks would agree with me.
 
6. I know Carson Palmer is the king of the hollow stat line. He has thrown for over 200 yards in four games this season. The Bengals' record in those four games: 0-4. Speaking of the Bengals, they have been atrocious. Aside from the third quarter against Atlanta, the team has been outscored by 31 points on the season.
 
7. I know the Chargers had one of the most devastating losses during a season they would like to forget...but, there's still hope. San Diego came back from 17 points down with 7:30 left in the fourth quarter only to miss a tying field goal with under 30 seconds to play. Momentum would have been sky-high had Kris Brown made the kick. Instead, it hit the right upright and bounced away sending the team to a disappointing 2-5. However, in my estimation, the team will be favored in seven of its final nine games. Plus, no other team in the division has won more than eight games since 2006. 9-7 should be good enough if they can get there.
 
8. I know my playoff dreams for the Rams took another hit today. St. Louis blew a 14-point lead against a Bucs' team that has no business being 4-2. A win would have kept them a half game behind the Seahawks. Now, they find themselves in third place of the division. Not good, but at least they covered.
 
9. I know DeAngelo Hall had the game of his life intercepting four passes and throwing the Redskins on his back. Jay Cutler looked awful as per usual. Bears fading. Redskins showing signs of life under Shanahan.
 
10. I know the Dolphins got hosed on the Big Ben fumble call. The ball was clearly stripped before he hit the goal line, and the Dolphins must have recovered as there were four Miami players on top of the ball and no Steelers in the vicinity. It's a shame that it might cost them a playoff spot.
 
11. I know the Cowboys will beat the Giants on MNF by a score of 34-30. This NFL season makes very little sense. Two weeks ago, the Giants looked completely lost on both sides of the ball. Right now, they look like the best team in the AFC.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

NFL: Week 7 Picks

Turns out loyalty does pay as the Rams and Steelers rewarded my faith
in them. Guess what. We are going back to the well this week again
with the Rams.

I'm hoping to be on the correct side of five games that have a field
goal spread.

Miami +3 - The Big Ben Steelers are primed for a letdown. Dolphins
have quietly jumped out to a 3-2 record despite playing a solid
schedule thus far. They should be riding high after a huge road
victory in Green Bay last week.

Washington +3 - The Redskins are playing tough football while the
Bears look like a 4-2 mirage.

San Francisco -3 - With the monkey off their backs, the '9ers look
posied for a decent run. There's only one other team I would rather
bet against than the Panthers right now (Bills).

Best Bet: Atlanta -3 - The most curious line of the week. Cincy hasn't
done a thing this year while the Falcons (last week excluded) have
looked like the class of the NFC.

Upset: St. Louis +3 - The Bucs are not good. The Rams can be. Am I
going to the well one too many times?

Record: 16-13-1 (Best Bet: 4-2; Upset 2-3-1)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

College Football: Week 8 Picks

A great Week 7 (6-2) propels The Banter to a .620 winning percentage on the season. The Pac-10 was especially good to me (3-0), so thanks for that.
 
North Carolina +7 - In a matchup of two teams heading in seemingly opposite directions, I am backing the team that has won four straight. Miami has looked shaky in each of the last two weeks.
 
Wisconsin +6 - The Badgers showed last week that they are a tough out. Iowa has looked good too, but I think 6 points are too many.
 
Oklahoma State +6 - Nebraska was exposed by Texas last week while OSU dominated a decent Texas Tech team on the road. Again, these teams seem to be trending in opposite directions.
 
Tennessee +17 - The Vols always seem to play Bama tough.
 
Auburn -6 - It's about time LSU was exposed as frauds. This is the week. 
  
Best Bet: Stanford -35 - The Cardinal need to send some clear messages (via blowout victories) to prove they belong with the big boys.
 
Upset: Navy +7 - The Midshipmen are riding high after a nice comeback win over SMU. This game is at a neutral site, and the Irish are a bit knocked up right now.
 
Record: 31-19-1 (Best Bet: 5-2; Upset: 3-3-1)

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

NBA Playoff Predictions and Prop Bets

Playoff Predictions
 
Eastern Conference
 
1st Round: Miami over New York; Chicago over Boston; Milwaukee over Charlotte; Orlando over Atlanta
 
2nd Round: Orlando over Miami; Milwaukee over Chicago
 
Conference Finals: Orlando over Milwaukee
 
Western Conference
 
1st Round: LA Lakers over Denver; Utah over LA Clippers; Dallas over Oklahoma City; Portland over San Antonio
 
2nd Round: LA Lakers over Portland; Utah over Dallas
 
Conference Finals: Utah over LA Lakers
 
 
NBA Finals: Utah over Orlando
 
 
Prop Bets
 
Utah 20/1 to win NBA Championship - I love the Deron Williams / Al Jefferson combo. Great value.
 
Bobcats over 39.5 Wins
 
Mavs Over 49.5 Wins
 
Amare Stoudemire 35/1 to win MVP - In Mike D'Antoni's system, he could put up huge numbers and rejuvenate a dormant franchise.
 
Deron Williams 40/1 to win MVP - See above.