betED: The Line
It?s the first week of 2008 and it?s a busy, busy time in the world of sports, especially for football fans. This week, we highlight two NFL Wild Card matchups, a pair of NBA tilts, two NHL games, and the BCS National Championship Game. In the NFL, the Washington Redskins are at the Seattle Seahawks in a NFC Wild Card game, and the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh in an AFC matchup. In the NBA, the Denver Nuggets play the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves on the road, and the equally inept New York Knicks visit the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. In the NHL, the Philadelphia Flyers battle the New Jersey Devils, and the Ottawa Senators play the Sabres in Buffalo, both games Friday. In Hot Props, we have College Football?s championship game featuring the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 2 LSU Tigers.
TRIVIA
What unusual play did the Ohio State Buckeyes attempt against the Miami Hurricanes in the first half of the Fiesta Bowl in 2003, the year the Buckeyes became national champions for the first time since 1968?
1. Flea flicker
2. Fake punt
3. Fake field goal
4. Halfback pass
ANSWER AT BOTTOM
NFL
Saturday
WASHINGTON REDSKINS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
4:30 pm ET, NBC
The NFL?s Wild Card Weekend kicks off Saturday with the red-hot Washington Redskins visiting the Seattle Seahawks in a clash of NFC rivals.
The teams last met in the second round of the 2006 playoffs, when the Seahawks beat the Redskins 20-10 at home en route to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance (losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers).
Washington has an edge head-to-head, going 4-3 SU and ATS over the past seven meetings. Washington is 4-2 SU in its past six on the road against Seattle.
Washington was 9-7 SU and 7-7-2 ATS in the regular season, while Seattle was 10-6 SU and 9-6-1 ATS.
The total has gone under in all five of the past five meetings in Seattle. Washington is 4-1 SU and ATS in its past five. Seattle is 5-0 SU and ATS in its past five at home.
betED Line: Redskins +3.5(-115) Total: 40.5
Bet this game!
Saturday
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS
8:00 pm ET, NBC
The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to have the Pittsburgh Steelers? number and they?ll be hoping that trend continues in the AFC Wild Card game on Saturday.
The teams last faced each other three weeks ago, when the visiting Jaguars beat the Steelers 29-22. Jacksonville is 4-1 SU and ATS in its past five on the road against Pittsburgh.
Jacksonville was 11-5 SU and 11-5 ATS this season, while Pittsburgh was 10-6 SU and 8-8 ATS. The total has gone over in five of Jacksonville's past five games overall and on the road. Pittsburgh is 8-4 ATS in its past 12 at home.
betED Line: Jaguars -2.5(-110) Total: 39.5
Bet this game!
NBA
Friday
DENVER NUGGETS @ MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
8 pm ET, Altitude Sports
The Denver Nuggets can be forgiven for labeling this game against the NBA?s worst team as a ?gimme.?
The stumbling, bumbling Timberwolves have just four wins against 27 losses this season, and they aren?t much better head-to-head against Denver. The Nuggets are 7-3 SU over the past 10 meetings. The teams last met on Nov. 23, when the Nuggets won 99-93 at home, failing to cover the 14-point spread.
In their last games, the Nuggets (18-12 SU) beat the Golden State Warriors 105-95 at home on Sunday, and the Timberwolves lost 90-79 to the Portland Trail Blazers at home on Wednesday.
Denver is 4-2 SU in its last six games on the road against Minnesota.
betED Line: Nuggets -6(-110) Total: 207
Bet this game!
Friday
NEW YORK KNICKS @ SAN ANTONIO SPURS
9:30 pm ET, MSG
The sad-sack New York Knicks embark on a trek through Texas, their first stop in San Antonio to take on the NBA champion Spurs on Friday night.
San Antonio has the edge head-to-head, going 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The teams last faced one another on Nov. 11, 2006, when the Spurs won 100-92 but failed to cover the 13?-point home spread.
In their last games, the Knicks (8-22 SU, 12-18 ATS) lost 107-97 to Sacramento at home on Wednesday, and the Spurs (21-8 SU, 17-12 ATS) beat the Memphis Grizzlies 111-87 at home last Sunday.
betED Line: Knicks +12.5(-110) Total: 185.5
Bet this game!
NHL
Friday
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS
7:00 pm ET, FOX NY
Two hot teams collide Friday when the Philadelphia Flyers visit the New Jersey Devils in a battle of Atlantic division rivals.
The Devils have dominated the Flyers over the past 10 meetings, going 8-1-0-1 SU. The teams last met on Dec. 16, when New Jersey doubled the Flyers 4-2 at home.
In their last games, the Flyers shut out the Florida Panthers 1-0 on the road Sunday, and the Devils beat the Panthers 3-2 at home Wednesday.
Philadelphia (19-14-4 SU) has won three straight, while New Jersey (22-14-3 SU) has won four of its past five.
betED Line: Flyers +1.5(-225) Total: 5
Bet this Game!
Friday
OTTAWA SENATORS @ BUFFALO SABRES
7:30 pm ET, MSG
The Ottawa Senators will try to continue their mastery over the slumping Sabres when the teams clash Friday in Buffalo.
Ottawa is 7-2-0-1 over the past 10 meetings with the Sabres. The teams last faced off on Dec. 26, when Ottawa won 5-3 in Buffalo.
In their last games, the Senators were doubled 6-3 by the Capitals in Washington on Tuesday, while the Sabres lost 2-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL?s Winter Classic outdoor game on Tuesday.
Ottawa is the highest scoring team in the league at 3.6 goals per game.
betED Line: Sentators +1.5(-300) Total: 6
Bet this Game!
HOT PROPS
The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes take on the second-ranked LSU Tigers in the BCS National Championship Game on Monday, a clash that caps the College Football season. betED.com will have numerous prop bets for the game, including the first-half score and team to score first.
Who will win the BCS National Championship Game?
1. Ohio State +4
2. LSU -4
Bet on the BCS National Championship Now!
TRIVIA ANSWER
3. Fake field goal.
The Buckeyes attempted a fake field goal in the first half. Center Alex Stepanovich snapped the ball to holder and punter Andy Groom, who attempted to run for the first down. Miami was not fooled, and the play was stopped. Groom turned out to be a much better punter than runner, as his strong kicks and excellent punt placement were integral to Ohio State's success. The Buckeyes faced the Hurricanes in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 3, 2003. It was the Buckeyes first trip to the national championship game under the current BCS format.
It?s the first week of 2008 and it?s a busy, busy time in the world of sports, especially for football fans. This week, we highlight two NFL Wild Card matchups, a pair of NBA tilts, two NHL games, and the BCS National Championship Game. In the NFL, the Washington Redskins are at the Seattle Seahawks in a NFC Wild Card game, and the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh in an AFC matchup. In the NBA, the Denver Nuggets play the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves on the road, and the equally inept New York Knicks visit the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. In the NHL, the Philadelphia Flyers battle the New Jersey Devils, and the Ottawa Senators play the Sabres in Buffalo, both games Friday. In Hot Props, we have College Football?s championship game featuring the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 2 LSU Tigers.
TRIVIA
What unusual play did the Ohio State Buckeyes attempt against the Miami Hurricanes in the first half of the Fiesta Bowl in 2003, the year the Buckeyes became national champions for the first time since 1968?
1. Flea flicker
2. Fake punt
3. Fake field goal
4. Halfback pass
ANSWER AT BOTTOM
NFL
Saturday
WASHINGTON REDSKINS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
4:30 pm ET, NBC
The NFL?s Wild Card Weekend kicks off Saturday with the red-hot Washington Redskins visiting the Seattle Seahawks in a clash of NFC rivals.
The teams last met in the second round of the 2006 playoffs, when the Seahawks beat the Redskins 20-10 at home en route to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance (losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers).
Washington has an edge head-to-head, going 4-3 SU and ATS over the past seven meetings. Washington is 4-2 SU in its past six on the road against Seattle.
Washington was 9-7 SU and 7-7-2 ATS in the regular season, while Seattle was 10-6 SU and 9-6-1 ATS.
The total has gone under in all five of the past five meetings in Seattle. Washington is 4-1 SU and ATS in its past five. Seattle is 5-0 SU and ATS in its past five at home.
betED Line: Redskins +3.5(-115) Total: 40.5
Bet this game!
Saturday
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS
8:00 pm ET, NBC
The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to have the Pittsburgh Steelers? number and they?ll be hoping that trend continues in the AFC Wild Card game on Saturday.
The teams last faced each other three weeks ago, when the visiting Jaguars beat the Steelers 29-22. Jacksonville is 4-1 SU and ATS in its past five on the road against Pittsburgh.
Jacksonville was 11-5 SU and 11-5 ATS this season, while Pittsburgh was 10-6 SU and 8-8 ATS. The total has gone over in five of Jacksonville's past five games overall and on the road. Pittsburgh is 8-4 ATS in its past 12 at home.
betED Line: Jaguars -2.5(-110) Total: 39.5
Bet this game!
NBA
Friday
DENVER NUGGETS @ MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
8 pm ET, Altitude Sports
The Denver Nuggets can be forgiven for labeling this game against the NBA?s worst team as a ?gimme.?
The stumbling, bumbling Timberwolves have just four wins against 27 losses this season, and they aren?t much better head-to-head against Denver. The Nuggets are 7-3 SU over the past 10 meetings. The teams last met on Nov. 23, when the Nuggets won 99-93 at home, failing to cover the 14-point spread.
In their last games, the Nuggets (18-12 SU) beat the Golden State Warriors 105-95 at home on Sunday, and the Timberwolves lost 90-79 to the Portland Trail Blazers at home on Wednesday.
Denver is 4-2 SU in its last six games on the road against Minnesota.
betED Line: Nuggets -6(-110) Total: 207
Bet this game!
Friday
NEW YORK KNICKS @ SAN ANTONIO SPURS
9:30 pm ET, MSG
The sad-sack New York Knicks embark on a trek through Texas, their first stop in San Antonio to take on the NBA champion Spurs on Friday night.
San Antonio has the edge head-to-head, going 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in the past 10 meetings. The teams last faced one another on Nov. 11, 2006, when the Spurs won 100-92 but failed to cover the 13?-point home spread.
In their last games, the Knicks (8-22 SU, 12-18 ATS) lost 107-97 to Sacramento at home on Wednesday, and the Spurs (21-8 SU, 17-12 ATS) beat the Memphis Grizzlies 111-87 at home last Sunday.
betED Line: Knicks +12.5(-110) Total: 185.5
Bet this game!
NHL
Friday
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS @ NEW JERSEY DEVILS
7:00 pm ET, FOX NY
Two hot teams collide Friday when the Philadelphia Flyers visit the New Jersey Devils in a battle of Atlantic division rivals.
The Devils have dominated the Flyers over the past 10 meetings, going 8-1-0-1 SU. The teams last met on Dec. 16, when New Jersey doubled the Flyers 4-2 at home.
In their last games, the Flyers shut out the Florida Panthers 1-0 on the road Sunday, and the Devils beat the Panthers 3-2 at home Wednesday.
Philadelphia (19-14-4 SU) has won three straight, while New Jersey (22-14-3 SU) has won four of its past five.
betED Line: Flyers +1.5(-225) Total: 5
Bet this Game!
Friday
OTTAWA SENATORS @ BUFFALO SABRES
7:30 pm ET, MSG
The Ottawa Senators will try to continue their mastery over the slumping Sabres when the teams clash Friday in Buffalo.
Ottawa is 7-2-0-1 over the past 10 meetings with the Sabres. The teams last faced off on Dec. 26, when Ottawa won 5-3 in Buffalo.
In their last games, the Senators were doubled 6-3 by the Capitals in Washington on Tuesday, while the Sabres lost 2-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL?s Winter Classic outdoor game on Tuesday.
Ottawa is the highest scoring team in the league at 3.6 goals per game.
betED Line: Sentators +1.5(-300) Total: 6
Bet this Game!
HOT PROPS
The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes take on the second-ranked LSU Tigers in the BCS National Championship Game on Monday, a clash that caps the College Football season. betED.com will have numerous prop bets for the game, including the first-half score and team to score first.
Who will win the BCS National Championship Game?
1. Ohio State +4
2. LSU -4
Bet on the BCS National Championship Now!
TRIVIA ANSWER
3. Fake field goal.
The Buckeyes attempted a fake field goal in the first half. Center Alex Stepanovich snapped the ball to holder and punter Andy Groom, who attempted to run for the first down. Miami was not fooled, and the play was stopped. Groom turned out to be a much better punter than runner, as his strong kicks and excellent punt placement were integral to Ohio State's success. The Buckeyes faced the Hurricanes in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 3, 2003. It was the Buckeyes first trip to the national championship game under the current BCS format.
