Cashing In

Your "Bad Beat" for Wednesday is on:

Royals (minus 1 1/2 runs plus 170) vs. Chicago.

The Phillies blowing a 3-0 lead with Roy Halladay on the hill is pretty bad but not really a "Bad Beat".

I'm not saying there were any Earth shattering beats on Wednesday but anybody who backed Zach Greinke and the Royals minus that run and a half has got to feel a bit snakebitten.

Kansas City plated four runs in the seventh inning to extend its lead to 7-1 over Ozzie Gullen's White Sox. The rout was on and the game at that point should have been over as Greinke was cruising.

But that was not the case as Chicago put up a five spot in the top of the eighth to get within a run and that's how this thing would end, 7-6 Royals, not good enough to cover the run and a half.



Your winners for Thursday are on:

3* Orioles (plus 135) vs. Oakland.

2* Angels (minus 125) vs. Texas.

A winning 2-1 Wednesday as both the Royals and Mets came through by a run for me.



You can never fully go wrong with a home dog and that's my theory here with the Orioles. Baltimore has not been a good team at all this season. Shoot look at that terrible record if you need any proof. But the O's are a capable team with Jones, Tejada, Wieters and a few others and without a doubt can win this game at Camden Yards after winning four of their past five.

Oakland is a very average team with the bats and until Trevor Cahill pitches this good for a longer span I am going to fade him laying a decent amount of money on the road. The guy has been great there is no debate there but I'm still not convinced.

Meanwhile Jake Arrieta has struggled in those last two starts and is possibly a start away from a ticket back to the minors but his first two starts were very good and at home here against the mediocre A's I think Arrieta will show some of that previous form.

Oakland laying money on the road is just not right and that's the story I'm sticking to.



The Angels blew yesterday's game after racing out to the 3-0 lead thanks to Vlad the Impaler going ballistic. Today though Mike Scioscia's Halos will get some revenge.

Jered Weaver is a total stud. This guy has been great from day one of his big league career about five years ago. The righty has allowed a combined two runs in his last pair of starts spanning 14 innings and has had quality starts in six of his last seven starts.

I'm not saying that CJ Wilson has not had a successful season as a starter, because he has, but I still think of the lefty as a reliever and just can't buy into him all that much. Wilson has been very solid of late as he has thrown five straight quality starts but he is no Weaver.

Anaheim has been playing very good ball for awhile, maybe not Texas good of late as Vlad, Hamilton and the Rangers are leading the division for a reason but out west and with the superstar pitcher I'll lay a little here and expect the boys from Anaheim to get a measure of revenge and stay in the divisional race.

Your "Bad Beat" for Thursday is on:

Penguins (minus $3) vs. Ottawa.

This is a weak weak bad beat day there is no doubt about it. I'm calling the defending champion Penguins the worst of the beats on the day but it really wasn't that bad.

Pittsburgh was clearly the better team and should have closed out the series and any Pens backer knows as much.

Sidney Crosby and the fellas had 59 shots in the triple overtime thriller compared to only 45 for Ottawa. The Pens outshort the Sens 19-5 in the second period and a combined 33-13 in the final two periods of regulation. Add it all together and Pittsburgh should have won this game but didn't.



Your winners for Friday are on:

4* Jazz (minus 2) vs. Denver.

2* Pirates (plus 160) at Houston.

A 1-1 slight losing Thursday as the 1* on the Senators plus a whopping 250 came through in overtime unlike the 3* Twins minus 1 1/2 runs as they stunk.



I am just fine with the Jazz at home today and will lay a few points to prove it. Williams and Boozer are sensational studs who at home seem to help their team always rise up and win games. Jerry Sloans boys were not supposed to win that game two after the Kirilenko and Okur injuries and went out and did just that in a tough tough place to play in the Mile High City.

Now the Jazz have the homecourt advantage and I don't think they are going to just relinquish it here in game three.

No doubt the Nuggets are a talented team with a great scorer in Carmelo Anthony and a leader in Chauncey Billups but the road is never easy for anybody and that is always the case with the Nuggets. These guys are never the same away from the Pepsi Center and it's just asking a lot for them to cover this game as that pretty much means a road outright.



Why not back the Pirates here? Pittsburgh isn't good I know that but the Astros, even with some recent victories, are a weak team. Roy Oswalt had a quality start in Chicago last time out but this guy just does not seem the same to me as in the past. I'm not saying the righty can't be dominant because he can but he can also be extremely mediocre these days.

I don't trust either of these teams at all and for the 'Stros to be a hefty chalk like this makes pretty much any dog a no-brainer.

The Pirates have enough potential with Jones, Milledge, McCutcheon and Doumit and have a good enough shot to win this game. Therefore the price is right on the scrappy little bucos!

Your "Bad Beat" for Monday is on:

Kohlschreiber (plus 310) vs. Djokovic.

I'm going against the grain today but there was a number and a Bad Beat so why not, even if it is tennis!?!?!?

Philip Kohlschreiber was a huge tennis underdog against a top five player in the world in Novak Djokovic. The match was on television and I happened to have put it on for a bit. Djokovic won the first set easily 6-2 and then was up 2-0 in the second. There was no reason to believe anything was going to change but it did. The huge underdog literally won the next 9 games to seize all of the momentum. It was almost impossible to believe.

Kohlschreiber was up 3-0 in the third and he appeared to be on his way to victory. But then Djokovic rose his game and took the 4-3 lead.

To make a long story short Kohlschreiber came back to take the 5-4 lead in the third and had triple match point on Djokovis' serve. That pretty much meant game, set, match.

Or did it.

Djokovic manned up and then won the next three points to send it to deuce and eventually won the game. The match went to a tiebreak and the cream rose to the top as Djokovic won the match in three grueling sets.

Three freakin match points!?!?!?



Your winners for Tuesday are on:

4* William & Mary (plus 8 1/2) at North Carolina.

2* South Florida (minus 3 1/2) vs. NC State.

A terrible call on the 3* Pistons on Monday as that team is truly a disgrace.



Can you say reputation? That is exactly what this line from Chapel Hill is based on, the names of the teams playing the game.

To get quite possibly the better team plus almost double digits is awesome! The Tribe are a team that had a great year but it's not a fluke at all. Tony Shaver's squad is really good. They beat Maryland, Wake Forest and Richmond, won 12 games in the Colonial and went to the Conference championship game.

I understand that the Colonial is far from being on the level of the ACC, even if the ACC is somewhat down but teams like Old Dominion, VCU and Northwestern are pretty darn solid and could hang with all of the ACC teams and that includes Duke at times.

Roy Williams' boys have been dreadful this season. Sure they are the more talented of the two teams but can the Heels really give a darn today? There were a ton of expectations this season after winning it all last year and now they are playing in the NIT against "William & Mary"? Come on, this team has played with little emotion all season long and today will once again just go through the motions.

Tyler Zeller is starting to play very very well and should dominate down low but after 40 minutes I will gladly back the visitors in this spot as Carolina stinks.



South Florida at home is always very good and we have seen that once again this season. Stan Heath's squad has been great this year compared to what the program has been in the past. Things truly are good down in south Forida as the Bulls may not be an elite Big East team but they are now on the level where they have a great shot at home against any of those teams, even the upper eschelon ones.

Dominique Jones is a star and Gilchrist and a few others form a solid nucleus.

Sidney Lowe's team just looked very good in the ACC Tournament winning a few games in upset fashion and then almost beating Georgia Tech in the semifinals. I like what the Wolfpack have with Horner and Smith and Gonzalez and Degand but I just do not see this being a good spot for them. I think NC State blew their wad a bit in the tournament and now is going to be in for a bit of a letdown.

We have seen the 'Pack look really good at times, just ask Duke about that, but have also watched Lowe's team look head scratchingly terrible and underachieve mightily. After the quality run last week I now see the bad team showing up in this spot as that would be par for their course.

Your "Bad Beat" for Tuesday is on:

Princeton (minus 13) vs. Penn.

There were a number of Bad Beats on Tuesday. The Colorado Avalanche blowing the 4-1 lead and losing 6-4 at home to Vancouver certainly was one of them.

Also Seton Hall not covering the 5 1/2 after leading 55-39 at the half and then 70-45 in the second half was borderline criminal. The Pirates allowed 67 second half points in the crazy 109-106 victory at the Garden.

But the "Bad Beat" of the day comes from the Ivy League where the Penn Quakers were getting absolutely embarassed against rival Princeton. The Tigers literally led 35-8 with 4 minutes to go in the first half. The game then went to the break at 40-14.

But Jerome Allen's halftime speech worked as the Quakers nailed over 53% of their shots in the second half compared to only 25% from the field (5-20) by the Tigers.

Penn actually got the game to within seven with a few minujtes to play and lost 68-56 narrowly covering that baker's dozen.

Unreal, 35 to freakin' 8 and cannot cover!?!?!?!?



Your winners for Wednesday are on:

4* Iowa State (plus 9) vs. Texas.

2* South Florida (plus 7) vsa. Georgetown.

Another 2-0 on Tuesday as my 3* on George Washington cashed the ticket and the 2* on Penn did so as well in miraculous fashion.



I am very anti Texas right now and for good reason. Nothing at all has gone right for about six weeks now for Rick Barnes' Longhorns. Remember back how Texas was number one in the country but ever since they have been awful. Both Ward and Balbay are lost for the season with injuries and the 'Horns have been absolutely terrible for awhile now.

UT has won some games in Austin but they have also been mediocre at best overall at home and beyond brutal on the road. Pittman and James are tough to defend down low and they will get some offensive boards but all in all Texas is just not a very good ballclub right now.

Iowa State is the weaker team for sure but they did just have that amazing overtime outright win in Kansas State over Clemente and Pullen and are a team with a stud in Craig Brackins. This guy is the real deal and can do it all. To get almost double digits with him alone is worth it and then when you throw in Marquis Gilstrap I can see the Cyclones not only cover but possibly win the game.

It is asking a lot for Iowa State here as they are far from being much of anything but Texas is a whole lot of nothing right now themselves and in this game in Missouri there is no reason to believe that the 'Horns can just regain that power.



I don't feel as great about the Bulls from South Florida because Georgetown is the better team and should be fresher after South Florida had to tangle with DePaul yesterday. But with that said the Hoyas are very very inconsistent and to get Dominique Jones and a Bulls team that a few months ago shockingly won at Georgetown is enough for me at this number. The underdogs' confidence level should be pretty high here knowing they already beat G-Town and have now won four in a row overall.

Greg Monroe is an instant mismatch and a guy that should dominate down low but in the end I do not trust John Thompson III's Hoyas in any regard and in any spot laying a half dozen plus.

Georgetown should advance but I don't think it'll be very easy as these Bulls are a scrappy club and should compete until the very end.

Your "Bad Beat" for Tuesday is on:

Lakers (over 198) at Memphis.

The Grizzlies led 81-76 after three quarters. This thing was on a clear cut over pace as only 42 points in the final period were needed to clear the over.

But then the teams went a bit cold on the offensive end and with the Grizz leading 98-96 in the waning seconds a Laker basket would mean overtime and a definite over. But no, Kobe did what he does best and nailed a three with right around four seconds remaining for the 99-98 late lead.

Memphis had a last chance to send it over but OJ Mayo could not score and this thing fell a point short of that over.



Your winners for Wednesday are on:

4* St. Louis (plus 4 1/2) vs. Xavier.

3* Memphis (minus 2) at Houston.

2* South Florida (plus 13) at Villanova.

A solid 1-1 Tuesday as the big 5* on Hofstra won outright as the 11 point dog!



All of a sudden Rick Majerus has put his stamp on this St. Louis program. The Billikens were pretty much always mediocre at best but right now these guys are pretty solid.

Xavier is still the better team of the two but St. Louis has won six in a row including home wins over Dayton and Rhode Island proving how this recent run is no fluke. Overall the Billikens are 18-8 and a great 9-3 in the Atlantic 10.

The Musketeers continue to beat teams and prove they are an elite squad in conference but laying points on the road is never a great strategy and to get the suddenly surging Billikens here plus this number is more than enough for me.



The days of John Calipari's Memphis Tigers are no more and Josh Pastner is no John Calipari but this price is cheap enough for me.

Memphis has lost twice this season in-conference which is unheard of but the talent level is still fairly high, not like years' past but still not bad at all. Houston is a good team but nothing more. Earlier in the season it appeared as if the Cougars were going to be very good but that has not at all come to fruition and even at home here are not ready to get over that hump and beat the Tigers.

This may not be a blowout like we have seen but Memphis is too good and it will show in the end.



Why not grab this number with Dominique Jones and the Bulls? South Florida is at the very least a competent team that has already won in Georgetown shocking the Hoyas. I don't see lightning striking twice for Stan Heath' gang but this Villanova team has not been the same team over the past few weeks and Jones is a special player who will score a ton of points today, as usual.

Scotty Reynolds is great and the rest of Jay Wright's team is very very good and very very deep but we have seen a few losses lately, including that last game at Pittsburgh and right now the confidence level is not where it was just a few short weeks ago. Throw in the fact that Syracuse is right around the corner making this a bit of a look ahead spot for the Wildcats.

Villanova is too good of a team to not win this game but South Florida is also an improving squad that should be a little perturbed after that bad home loss to St. John's.

I just don't see 'Nova running away with this thing!

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Providence (moneyline, minus $3) vs. South Florida.

West Virginia was laying five, erased a huge 14 or so point deficit, hit a pair of free throws with around five seconds remaining and watched Ohio State miss a backdoor jumper at the buzzer to win by six. That was a bad beat on the Buckeyes but not the baddest beat of the day.

Purdue was laying anywhere from 11 to 13 1/2 and were up by 27 points over Michigan. The Boilers won by 10 blowing the cover in a bad beat.

The Flyers scoring an empty netter with one second remaining to win 4-2 and destroy any Hurricane plus 1 1/2 players equaled a bad beat AND put the contest over the total of 5 1/2 destroying any under players.

But the "Bad Beat" for the day comes from the Dunkin Donuts Center where the Providence Friars somehow lost to South Florida in overtime despite pretty much having the game as won as won could ever be.

Keno Davis' team was running away with this thing up 13 with 2:55 to go, 11 with 1:38 to go, 93-86 with 32 seconds remaining and 95-90 with 11 seconds. But the Bulls kept coming and the Friars kept wetting the bed and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick nailed a three at the end of regulation to send this into overtime.

In the extra session it was South Florida who continued their superior play and won the game outright 109-105.

Up 13 points with under 3 to play, Wow!



Your winner for Sunday is on:

4* Colts (minus 8) vs. New York.

Two total duds backing Arkansas and Clemson yesterday in a pair of big plays.



The Jets certainly have stepped up their game running the ball and playing in your face defense with Darrelle Revis and other quality players but Cinderella comes to an end today.

This is Mark Sanchez on the road against quite possibly the greatest quarterback ever in Peyton Manning and that in itself will be worth the world. The Colts will not play the same pansy ass defense that the Chargers did and therefore Thomas Jones and Shonn Green will not just do whatever they want.

Indy will bring the heat and stifle the running game for the most part and force the rookie from USC to have to make plays to beat them and that just ain't happening.

I am not expecting an offensive explosion from the Colts but 24 points or so should be enough as this Indy defense which pretty much shut down Ray Rice and the Ravens will flex their muscles today and win this thing going away.

Your "Bad Beat" for Wednesday is on:

Harvard (plus 8, first half) at Georgetown.

Jeremy Lin and the Harvard Crimson have been playing some great ball this season. They covered easily at Connecticut a few weeks back and just beat Boston College on the road in that last game. On Wednesday they went to Georgetown and for awhile (meaning 17 minutes) held their own with John Thompson III's Hoyas.

The game was tied at 33 with right around three minutes to go in the first half making Harvard a great bet to cover the eight or so in the first 20 minutes.

Or not.

Chris Wright and the Hoyas ended the half on an 11-0 run thanks to a pair of threes and then at the end of the half Harvard's Oliver McNally missed a three as Georgetown cruised into the lockerroom with a 44-33 advantage and a cover.



Your winner for Thursday is on:

2* SMU (plus 13) vs. Nevada.

0-2 on Wednesday as I should seriously just start fading myself as the last few weeks have been horrific.



Only one play today and it's the Hawaii Bowl between Nevada and SMU. The Wolf Pack are much better than the Mustangs but at this almost two touchdown price I'll take my chances on the dog.

SMU is a much improved program thanks a lot to June Jones, coincidentally the former head coach at Hawaii. Certainly Jones will have some influence for his team in this situation as he goes back to his own stomping grounds. Familiarity alone is a pretty good thing and in the end will help his team.

Nevada runs that pistol offense and when they are on it is as dangerous of an offense as any. I don't think SMU has a chance to fully stop Colin Kaepernick at all but hopefully they'll slow it down enough to keep the Pack at or below about 35 points.

I do think that SMU will score some points as their offense has made plays this season as Jones has really put his stamp on this program.

Nevada will win but look for about 34-24 which is good enough for me.

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Alabama (plus 5 1/2) vs, Purdue.

A hearty consolation prize to any Richmond Spider backers as the small dog led by 9 at the break and folded up shop in the second half and got whacked in the end. Also anybody who played the under in Portland and Milwaukee needs a hug right about now thanks to some overtime sessions.

Your "Bad Beat" for the day comes from Alabama where the Crimson Tide jumped out to the huge 16 point lead in the second half over the number five team in the nation. All hope appeared to be snuffed out for Matt Painter's Boilermakers.

But then bam!

Chris Kramer set the tone with some amazing defense and Purdue rallied all the way back. Robbie Hummel went for 23 and 10 and the visitors led 73-65 with about 15 seconds to go. Alabama missed a dunk, Purdue grabbed the rebound and then the Tide did not foul.

What an unreal unreal comeback win for Purdue!!!!



Your winners for Sunday are on:

3* Cowboys (minus 3 1/2) vs. San Diego.

2* Bears (plus 4) vs. Green Bay.

A 1-1 small losing day as the 3* Indiana Hoosiers fell short but the 2* boys from Army covered by a point in the end.



This is one of my least favorite slates of the entire NFL season as I really do not see all that much value out there.

Yes I know all about how great Ladainian Tomlinson and the Chargers have been in the month of December and how pathetic the Cowboys have played this time of the year. Tony Romo has shriveled up at times when it counts most and Jerry Jones' squad certainly has been an underachieving team recently in the latter stages of the season.

With all of the above said I just think the worm is about to turn today. Philip Rivers and the Chargers have not lost in forever but they are going into a tough spot here as the small chalk. The Chargers are certainly an upper level team but I do not see them as elite and the road is always extremely difficult. Shawn Merriman is not the same guy as in the past and even with the recent resurgence LT is not as well.

I believe that the pokes are going to play some smash mouth football, finally and really get Marion Barber and Felix Jones along with Tashard Choice going.

This may not be a blowout but I do expect the boys from Big D to cover the game.



I don't know anybody on this planet who gives da Bears a chance here and that is exactly why I will back them. Jay Cutler has not been very good and Lovie Smith's team is in the midst of finishing up a very disappointing season. Matt Forte has not been the same guy as last season and without Brian Urlacher this team has had no leadership at all this season.

Green Bay meanwhile is rolling into Soldier Field winners of four in a row and are clearly the better of these two teams today. Aaron Rodgers is becoming a stud and the Pack are expected to just show up and get a fifth straight win with ease. After all the line has moved from 3 to 4 which is an immense line move as those two numbers are very very crucial.

It is never a bad call to back a home dog and especially when everybody and their brother seems to love the road chalk.

I don't know how the inferior Bears will get it done here but in typical NFL fashion I expect them to.

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Pittsburgh (moneyline) vs. Cincinnati.

I still don't really know how the Bearcats came back and won this game!?!?!?

The Panthers led comfortably 31-10 and seemed to be running away with this game, literally! Dion Lewis ran the ball like a man among boys 47 times for almost 200 yards and broke the plain three times. It just did not seem like Cincinnati's day.

But Tony Pike would not give up and continued to fling the ball around to Mardy Gilyard and Armon Binns and tied this thing up fairly late in the fourth quarter.

Pitt though came right back down the field and scored with about a minute and a half remaining. They then botched the snap on the extra point and only led 44-38.

Pike worked his magic and found Binns from about 30 yards out with a tad over 30 seconds remaining for the unreal 45-44 victory and a perfect 12-0 season in the end!



Your winners for Sunday are on:

4* Titans (plus 6) at Indianapolis.

2* Cowboys (minus 2) at New York.

A small losing 1-1 Saturday as the 5* on Rutgers fell short but the 3* on Georgia Tech cashed the ticket.



It's official, I'm on the Vince Young bandwagon! That 99 yard drive was so insane last week in the comeback win against the Cardinals that I can't help but back the red hot Titans today.

I am not really that afraid of the Colts right now. Peyton Manning is always scary but Indianapolis has not been playing like a dominant team as they have to win every week in comeback fashion. At some point that is going to catch up to them as they are still a very injured team, including still not having Anthony Gonzalez and Bob Sanders, and Tennessee is as confident as any team on the planet right now after winning five in a row.

Forget about the 0-6 start to the season and the blowout loss at home against the Colts as that is meaningless now. It's a whole new world right now and to get points like this here with Young and an unreal running back in Chris Johnson is just fine with me thanks.



The Cowboys do seem a little too easy here and maybe that means it is that time for Tony Romo to implode but I'm still rolling with the visitors.

The Giants are awful right now as Eli Manning is not healthy. Brandon Jacobs has not run the ball well at all and Tom Coughlin's team has not played a quality game in literally a few months.

Dallas has some revenge on their minds for losing to the G-Men in their new stadium home opener and with the much more talented team today without a doubt should get that revenge,

Demarcus Ware is a beast anchoring the defense and with Antonio Pierce out and Osi Umenyiora getting benched this defense is not what it has been in the past. I can see Barber, Jones and Choice cut right through it with ease once again and grab this win.

Your "Bad Beat" for Wednesday is on:

Milwaukee (minus 2 1/2 AND total of 199) at New Orleans.

Wow oh wow!

Let me first state that this side opened up at around the Bucks getting 4 and then moved to 2 1/2.

Milwaukee took the 30-20 lead after a quarter and an eight point lead into the break. Brandon Jennings and the visitors seemed to be in control but in typical NBA fashion this thing got tight late.

Jennings made a couple of free throws with about 12 seconds remaining to give the underdog Bucks the 91-88 lead. But former UCLA star Darren Collison nailed a three at the end of regulation to tie the game at 91 and send it into overtime. That right there quite possibly really really hurt anybody on the Bucks and for sure the under.

With eight seconds now left in overtime Darren Collison gave the Hornets the 100-99 lead but missed the second of two free throws. With everything right now hanging in the balance little known Devin Brown became the hero to some and the goat for others. Brown grabbed the offensive board and then was fouled. He stepped up to the line and knocked down both free throws for the 102-99 lead.

Milwaukee's Michael Redd missed a three at the end and it was New Orleans who pulled this thing out 102-99 as the over came through because of the extra five minutes and because of late movement the Hornets covered the game for some, also because of that extra session.

Bucks and under backers were clearly the right side but the wrong result!



Your winners for Thursday are on:

4* Texas A&M (plus 21) vs. Texas.

3* Raiders (plus 14) at Dallas.

I certainly got somewhat lucky in the 2-0 Wednesday sweep as both Stanford and Duke covered by about a 1/2 point to a point but in the end they did grab that cash!

How many times have you seen this huge home dog situation in a rivalry setting where the team that is supposed to get squashed actually comes to play and stays in the game for the duration?

I am not at all saying that Colt McCoy isn't great and that Texas is not the much better of these two teams but the Aggies are not that bad at all, well at least at home they're not. Sure McCoy and Jordan Shipley will be impossible to completely stop but I do think they can be contained.

A&M has only lost one game at College Station this season and has some athletes. And what makes things even better if that a lot of these athletes competed in High School against the Longhorn players and know a thing or two about today's opponents. Plus some of the A&M players may have a chip on their shoulder for not getting into Texas.

Motivation can be monstrous in college athletics for these young kids and in front of a billion screaming fans at College Station I can absolutely see the Aggie players play the game of their lives today. It may not be enough to shock the world in an outright but in terms of covering around 21 or so points I am all for it.



Even if Richard Seymour is out, the Raiders have a solid enough defense to compete a little today in Jerry Jones' new playground. It's not like Dallas has been a world beater with their whole 14 points scored the past two weeks.

The Cowboys looked awful last week against the Redskins at home and the previous week were beaten up at Lambeau. Plus Jason Witten may not even be able to go and Tony Romo is far from healthy himself. To ask the pokes to win in a blowout, even against a bad team like the Raiders, is probably asking a bit much right now.

I'm sure Marion Barber and Felix Jones will set the tone with the running game and help out the offense look a lot better this week but with Jamarcus Russell thankfully now on the pine the Raiders are not the dismal junk they used to be. Bruce Gradkowski is serviceable as we saw in the shocking upset win last week against the Bengals and can make a play or two today against a good but not great Cowboy defense.

It may be a sweat as the Cowboys probably will come to play today after the terrible last few games but plus around two touchdowns is too good to pass up!

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Idaho (plus 18 1/2, first half) at Boise State.

Boise State dominated the entire game today but was such a hefty favorite that it was going to be hard to run away far enough to cover easily. That was the case in the first half as the Broncos were up 35-10 late in the second quarter.

The Vandals were getting pummeled but were going to keep on playing against their in-state rival and wouldn't you know, they found some gold late in the half. Brian Reader led a 10 play drive capped by a one yard touchdown run from DeMaundry Woolridge. With the extra point this thing was now 35-17 with 27 seconds to go in the half and getting 18 1/2 was in unreal shape!!!

Boise is a quick strike offense with Kellen Moore running the show and the fat lady was not singing yet but realistically the chances of any score other than 35-17 at the half was unrealistic.

Oops.

Titus Young ran the kickoff back 100 yards for the score and the 42-17 halftime lead.

Unreal!



Your winners for Sunday are on:

3* Cowboys (minus 3) at Green Bay.

3* Patriots (plus 2 1/2) at Indianapolis.

1* Lions (plus 17) at Minnesota.

A 3-0 Saturday sweep for 7* of profit! I just keep on winning!

I have to give the Dallas Cowboys some credit because I had bad mouthed them a time or two this season and right now there aren't many better teams in the league. With Miles Austin blossoming before our eyes and Tony Romo no longer being as mistake prone this team is very very tough.

The Pokes' running game has been stellar now for awhile with Barber, Jones and Choice helping form a very well balanced offense.

On the defensive side DeMarcus Ware and the Cowboys should be flying around licking their chops after seeing all of the offensive line problems leading to a ton of Aaron Rodgers' sacks.

Green Bay does not have a quality win all season, literally and now for them to beat a smoking hot Dallas team, even at home is not very possible in my book.



Indianapolis is great and still yet to lose, but they are not undefeated good and today can definitely be the day they suffer that first loss. Not having Bob Sanders is huge and will eventually catch up with them. Plus the Colts have a ton of other injuries as well and that does not bode well against Brady, Moss, Welker and the rest of Bill Belichick's high powered offense.

Peyton Manning is probably the MVP of the league at this point and deservedly so but even he cannot continue to single handedly win games. The Colts have not been good of late narrowly defating the 49ers and Texans in non-covers and unless they really flip the switch may get whacked today by a New England team that has really started to play some good football.

The Colts are at home and are perfect so far on the season but after 60 minutes of football I see them getting their first blemish.



The Lions are terrible and could lose by 50 today in Minnesota against Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson but on principle alone I cannot pass up two touchdowns and a field goal with a professional team.

For gosh sakes this game could be a 30-10 blowout late with reserves in the game and we can get the backdoor.

This is the smallest play that I could ever release and something that I don't have all that much confidence in but to get 17 points with NFL players is a must play!

Your "Bad Beat" for Friday is on:

Grizzlies (plus 9 1/2) at Los Angeles.

Once again there really was not much of a "Bad Beat" last night. I would describe this game as more of a typical NBA type outcome but still Memphis backers are not very happy.

Memphis was at Los Angeles against Kobe and the Lakers and that was obviously a bit of a mis-match in favor of Kobe and his mates. But the Grizz owned the 51-49 lead at the half and plus 9 1/2 looked better now than before the game for sure. But the way the NBA works it really wasn't all that much more of an advantage and we saw just why in the secone half.

Phil Jackson's squad opened up the second half on a 7-0 run and took the 12 point lead into the fourth quarter. The lead would get extended as high as 17 and in the end LA won and covered 114-98.

So much for the good first half.



Your winners for Saturday are on:

4* Arizona State (plus 10) vs. USC.

2* Alabama (minus 7) vs. LSU.

2* Northwestern (plus 16) at Iowa.

One Friday play on the 2* Knicks and one small loser as New York was getting 8 and lost by 9. Still really hot right now and ready to take care of business for Saturday.

I am very anti-USC right now and I think for good reason. The Trojans have not done anything at all of late and not much all season long.

Joe McKnight can take over a game but on the road after looking as bad as they have recently things are not going to come easy for Pete Carrol's team. They were embarassed last week at Oregon which came on the heels of a poor defensive performance at home against Oregon State. This is just not a very good team right now, I don't care if they are called USC.

The Sun Devils are alright. Dennis Erickson has a quality defense and a team overall that has a good shot to win this game as the intimidation factor that used to be there for the Trojans is no longer.

ASU plays the bulk of their games in the 24-21 range and I see this thing playing out that way as well.



Sure Greg McElroy has not been great of late and Alabama is far from an offensive juggernaut as they are somewhat one-dimensional with the run but at home with this line plummeting I'll take my chances with Nick Saban's squad.

The Crimson Tide have a stifling defense that will not let Jordan Jefferson do all that much. The LSU quarterback is kind of sketchy to be honest and has not reached a very high level as of yet. Sure he's athletic and can run a bit but for him to go into Tuscalossa and have to make some plays is asking a ton.

Charles Scott must run the ball for the Bayou Bengals to have any chance and even if he does that doesn't mean the Tigers will be able to muster enough.

Julio Jones will catch some balls and Mark Ingram will continue to pound and do his thing. I'm not saying that Alabama is going to pound LSU's quality defense but in the end 20-7 is about right.



Things are going to catch up with Iowa, they just have to. It is amazing how Ricky Stanzi and this Hawkeye squad is still undefeated. Every single week they look like the inferior team and every single week they wind up pulling out the game. At some point they are not going to walk off the field the victor.

Northwestern is not great at all but they are probably a notch better than Indiana and the Hooisers walked into Iowa last week and took it to Kirk Ferentz' squad for most of the game. Indiana not covering the 17 1/2 was one of the biggest travesties that I have ever seen as they should have won the game outright.

Look for the Wildcats to hang in this thing and even if Iowa is to improve to 10-0 I don't see it being by as much as this number seems to imply. Mike Kafka should be healthy enough to go and the purple will cover this contest in the end, if not shock the world.

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Indiana (plus 17 1/2) at Iowa.

Saturday marked one of the most insane Saturdays in college history for beats and I mean insane! Northwestern and Arkansas not covering was criminal, UCONN and Louisiana Tech losing outright was beyond ridiculous and I could go on and on with a few others.

But there's one true beat and I don't even know what to truly say about this as it may be the worst most unbelievably horrific beat that I have ever suffered. I was getting a full two touchdowns and a field goal plus the hook and led outright by 14 points in the third quarter and then 24-14 going to the fourth quarter. Now there is absolutely no possible way that I can't cover this game, I mean no possible way, right?

Of freakin course not! Of freakin course not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Writing this is even making my blood pressure boil!

Iowa scored on a 92 yard touchdown pass early in the fourth and then on a 66 yard yard pass. Both plays were pathetic defensive efforts and pretty much busted coverages. So now the Hawkeyes led 28-24 but getting this number was still well in my favor and I mean well.

Then in the middle of the quarter Brandon Wegher ran in from six yards out to make things and 11 point game and a lot more interesting.

With under two minutes to go Indiana burned all of their timeouts and Iowa had it at the Hoosier 27 yard line. It was a third and two meaning that a first down and then a few knees and this thing was over with what should have been an Indiana cover. But Wegher broke through, ran to the left and in pretty much impossible fashion led his team, with the crucial extra point, to the 42-24 win and ridiculous cover for Kirk Ferentz' undefeated Hawkeyes.

That's it, I'm not writing anything more on this or every talking about it again!



Your winners for Sunday are on:

3* Cowboys (minus 9 1/2) vs. Seattle.

2* 49ers (plus 13) at Indianapolis.

My big play on Saturday was on the "Bad Beat" Hoosiers. Nothing more really needs to be said, I don't think.



I am not totally sold on Tony Romo or the Cowboys at all but the Seahawks are so banged up right now and have become such a disaster over the past few weeks and are normally so weak on to begin with on the road that I just can't help but believe that this thing is a total burial.

Romo has found his big-time receiver in Miles Austin. Austin is blowing up right now and after embarassing both the Chiefs and Falcons secondaries I don't see anything changing here. It's not like the Seahawks can just play the pass because the pokes running backs form a quality quality tandem with Marion Barber and Felix Jones and quite possibly a little Tashard Choice.

Lofa Tatupu is out and the Seattle offensive line is extremely beat up and I just don't see this translating well in Big D.

The Seahawks never seem to travel well and after looking inept in that last game at home against the Cardinals it's going to be more of the same right here.



Call me a sucker because I may be getting sucked into this thing because of how high the number is but that is what I am going to do. Peyton Manning is absolutely insanely great and him against 11 defenders may be a mismatch in his direction. But with Reggie Wayne banged up and Anthony Gonzalez and Donald Brown out and Adam Vinatieiri still out it's just too much against a still at least decent enough San Francisco squad.

The 49ers have struggled of late after the great start to the season and things are not so peachy around Mike Singletary's team but Alex Smith did look really good last week and with Frank Gore back and Michael Crabtree in the mix I will take my chances with the visitors today in Indianapolis.

Manning will be Manning and that will hurt for sure as he can pick any team apart with any third string receiver. But to get around two touchdowns back against such a beat up team is enough for me to tempt fate and go against the greatest quarterback possibly in the history of history!

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Wake Forest (minus 13 1/2) vs. Maryland.

This number opened up right around 10 and the public bet the heck out of Wake all the way to right around two touchdowns. It appeared pretty much throughout the game that this thing was going to be a rout as the Demon Deacons jumped out early and often. The score was 35-10 at the half as Riley Skinner and the offense scored touchdowns on literally their first five possessions.

The lead was 42-17 entering the fourth and overall the Terps allowed a whopping 516 yards.

The fourth quarter was major garbage time in the real world but a beautiful thing for any Maryland backer as the Turtle roared to the last 15 points including the final backdoor score with 1:35 remaining in the 42-32 defeat.

This game was a total massacre but somehow it ended on the original number of 10 and a Maryland victory against that number.



Your winners for Sunday are on:

5* Chiefs (plus 8) vs. Dallas.

2* Buccaneers (plus 16) at Philadelphia.

2* Twins (plus 165) vs. New York.

A really good 2-1 Saturday netting basically 4* of profit thanks to 4* Washington outright and 2* Georgia Tech outright!

Three plays today including a pair on the gridiron. My biggest question to anybody out there is what has Dallas done this season to be worthy of laying a price like this on the road without both Felix Jones and Roy Williams?!?!?! And don't retort by saying the Chiefs stink because yes they have been fairly terrible in the 0-4 start to the season but they are still pros that are playing at home and do have some talent with Matt Cassell, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Johnson and a few others.

One of these games you are going to see the boys from Arrowhead step up and show they are not a total bottomdweller. In week one they were tied with Baltimore on the road late before allowing a few late scores. The Chiefs scored a bunch in that thing against Ed Reed and Ray Lewis and do have enough to put points on the board today.

The Cowboys are really not a very good team when healthy and today they are not. Tony Romno can be good but he can also implode with the best of them. In the end Dallas may prevail today but I really do not trust them that much and to get north of a full touchdown at home with Todd Haley's squad is a total steal!



The Bucs stink there is no debate there at all but this number is just too much. Donovan McNabb is playing his first game in a month, Brian Westbrook is far from 100% and Kevin Curtis may or may not play. With all of that said Philadelphia is too good on both sides of the ball and will win this game against the well inferior Bucs but Tampa looked decent enough in the late loss last week against the Redskins on the road and could cover here as well.

It appeared that the Bucs played a bit more spirited with new quarterback Josh Johnson calling the signals. Things were far from good that's for sure but it was a steap up from the slow Byron Leftwich and here in Philly will lose but probably not by this gargantuan number.

Tampa can run the ball and in the end I can see a final in the neighborhood of 27-17.



It's not easy to back a team that is literally 0-10 against another team and especially after the Joe Nathan and overall total team debacle on Friday night but Ron Gardenhire is a great manager and the Twins at home can win any game they play.

Arod and the Yankees are going to win this series that seems to be a total foregone conclusion but on this fast turf and with the white roof that causes so many fits for visitors I can see Minnesota squak a game out.

Andy Pettitte is a great playoff pitcher who should be alright here meaning that we will need Carl Pavano to really step up. The Twins righthander is a former Yankee and has been pretty good since the trade so I do have some confidence that he can at least hold his own.

We will also need Joe Mauer to lead his team in a major way but ya know what I can see that happening I really can. Losing all 11 games against a team is just too impossible for me to fathom even if it is against those big bad Yankees.

Your "Bad Beat" for Saturday is on:

Nationals (total of 8 1/2) at Atlanta.

Another consolation prize of a "Bad Beat" today to anybody who had the under in Ball State between the Cardinals and Rockets. The total was a gaudy 60 and there were only 30 points after three quarters meaning that it would take another 30 in the final quarter. Let's just say the final score was 37-30 after the game winning touchdown and two point conversion for Toledo with 28 seconds remaining came after Ball State just scored 14 seconds earlier, you do the math!

The Nats and Braves are playing out the string and had a total of 8 1/2 on Saturday with Ross Detwiler, who has been on-fire of late up against a borderline great hurler in Jair Jurrjens. Things seemed to continue this way as we had a 2-2 ballgame heading into extras. Anybody on the under had to feel somewhat comfortable that there would not be five more runs plated in this game as all it more than likely took was just one.

Oh how that was wrong!

Washington scored two in the 10th inning to grab the 4-2 lead on a two out Cristian Guzman double. We went to the bottom with that same 4-2 score and little known Zach Segovia looking to close this thing out. Well he's little known for a reason I guess as he allowed a run pretty much right away to cut the deficit to 4-3. One more run and this thing was all of a sudden going to be an over as 4-4 in terms of totals equals at least 9.

Chipper Jones was intentionally walked with two outs putting runners at first and second. The Bravos were down to their last out and sent pich hitter Greg Norton to the plate. Now on a 1-2 count they were down to their last strike but the lefty came through with the RBI single to center and the game was tied at 4 making all of the over players a winner.

In the next inning the Nats plated two more for the 6-4 win which was pretty much academic in terms of that total.



Your winners for Sunday are on:

3* Broncos (plus 3) vs. Dallas.

2* Jets (plus 7) at New Orleans.

*

A great 2-1 Saturday as both the 3* Maryland Terrapins and 4* Miami Hurricanes won outright!

I don't think that the Broncos are a legitimate team and 4-0 would be kind of crazy after all of the issues that Josh McDaniels has been through in this his first season with the team but I do not like the Cowboys at all right now and on the road laying points like this without Felix Jones and with a banged up Marion Barber is just wrong.

Kyle Orton is efficient and continues to win some games. He is not a guy with a rocket arm or posesses a ton of talent like a Jay Cutler but at home today plus some points is more than enough for me.

Tony Romo is not trustworthy at all and does not have his usual running game. Tashard Choice is alright but nothing too special and without TO anymore the Pokes receivers are extremely mediocre.

The Broncos starting the season undefeated after a full first month definitely does seem a bit preposterous but Dallas laying points here with the way they are limping to town is a little more preposterous.



There is no team in all of the NFL which has the potential offensively of these Saints. Drew Brees has looked like an MVP early on this season and the Saints are undefeated and a total juggernaut right now.

Mark Sanchez and the Jets do not have the offensive prowess of their opponent today but if there is any team confident that they can slow down, if not shut down New Orleans, it is Rex Ryan's. The New York new Head Coach has come in and taken the team and city by storm. He called the fans prior to the New England game and the team came out and smacked around Tom Brady and the Patriots. He also brought in a couple of stars from his former Baltimore defense and overall has watched everything he does turn to gold.

New York is a team that will not just go to New Orleans and get bombed. There are too many pieces defensively including a guy in Dorrell Revis who is becoming a total shutdown corner and after seeing the Saints struggle a bit offensively in Buffalo I can't help but think the Jets will be alright today.

Only one team will remain unbeaten after this game and it may not be the Jets but to get a sweet number like this with them is enough to give it a go.