After a weekend of feasting on delicious turkey and all of your favorite sides (and the leftovers!), we hope you?ve left some room for a healthy dose of exciting sports action this week. Playoff and bowl spots are on the line in pro and college football, and the NBA, NHL, and college hoops seasons are starting to heat up. All times are Eastern, and fresh lines are available 24/7 at Bodog Sports.
1. NCAAF: Auburn vs. South Carolina (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.)
What kind of an encore do Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers have in store for us this week? Auburn (12-0 SU, 8-3 ATS) got off to a rocky start as a 4-point underdog in the Iron Bowl last week, falling down 24-0 early to Alabama, but remarkably completed the comeback to win 28-27 and keep their undefeated season alive. South Carolina (9-3 SU, 7-4 ATS) is the last obstacle on Auburn?s schedule, and a win this week would solidify their spot in the National Championship. In their meeting earlier this season, Auburn won at home 35-27 as a 3-point favorite.
2. NFL: Pittsburgh at Baltimore (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.)
With matching 8-3 records, Pittsburgh and Baltimore are both likely heading to the playoffs this season. This showdown, however, could be the deciding factor in which team goes as the AFC North champion and which goes via a Wild Card berth. Baltimore (8-3 SU, 5-5-1 ATS) is undefeated at home this season at 5-0, but are just 2-3 ATS at home. Pittsburgh (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) is 5-1 SU on the road (3-3 ATS). In the first meeting between these two teams in Pittsburgh back in Week 4, Baltimore prevailed 17-14 as a 2-point underdog.
3. NBA: Miami at Cleveland (Thursday, 8:00 p.m.)
This is a game that many fans of the NBA have had circled on their calendars since the beginning of the season. LeBron James spurned the city of Cleveland when he left the Cavaliers in favor of the Miami Heat, and this will be his first game back in Cleveland. Miami is off to an unexpectedly slow start (9-8 SU, 5-12 ATS) while Cleveland (7-9 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) have managed to stay competitive even without James. Plenty of emotion and pride will be on the line in this one as Cleveland looks for revenge against their former franchise player.
4. NCAAB: Michigan State at Duke (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m.)
It just doesn?t get any bigger in college basketball?s regular season than the No. 1 ranked team in the country (Duke, 6-0 SU and 3-1 ATS) going up against the No. 2 ranked team (Michigan State, 5-1 SU and 2-4 ATS). Duke is the defending National Champion, while Michigan State managed to make it to the Final Four last season despite an injury to their best player, Kalin Lucas, who is now back and healthy. Both teams are favorites to go all the way this season, and this could be an early preview of a huge March Madness game down the road.
5. NHL: Vancouver at Chicago (Friday, 8:30 p.m.)
Vancouver (12-7-3 overall, 4-5-2 road) came into this year as one of the favorites to go all the way. This will be a key game for the Canucks; not only do they need to start proving that they can win on the road, but the Blackhawks (13-11-2 overall, 5-7-0 home) are the team that has knocked Vancouver out of the playoffs in the conference semifinal the last two seasons. A win would provide a huge boost for either club, as Vancouver looks to beat their biggest nemesis and Chicago looks to get their home record back on track.
1. NCAAF: Auburn vs. South Carolina (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.)
What kind of an encore do Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers have in store for us this week? Auburn (12-0 SU, 8-3 ATS) got off to a rocky start as a 4-point underdog in the Iron Bowl last week, falling down 24-0 early to Alabama, but remarkably completed the comeback to win 28-27 and keep their undefeated season alive. South Carolina (9-3 SU, 7-4 ATS) is the last obstacle on Auburn?s schedule, and a win this week would solidify their spot in the National Championship. In their meeting earlier this season, Auburn won at home 35-27 as a 3-point favorite.
2. NFL: Pittsburgh at Baltimore (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.)
With matching 8-3 records, Pittsburgh and Baltimore are both likely heading to the playoffs this season. This showdown, however, could be the deciding factor in which team goes as the AFC North champion and which goes via a Wild Card berth. Baltimore (8-3 SU, 5-5-1 ATS) is undefeated at home this season at 5-0, but are just 2-3 ATS at home. Pittsburgh (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) is 5-1 SU on the road (3-3 ATS). In the first meeting between these two teams in Pittsburgh back in Week 4, Baltimore prevailed 17-14 as a 2-point underdog.
3. NBA: Miami at Cleveland (Thursday, 8:00 p.m.)
This is a game that many fans of the NBA have had circled on their calendars since the beginning of the season. LeBron James spurned the city of Cleveland when he left the Cavaliers in favor of the Miami Heat, and this will be his first game back in Cleveland. Miami is off to an unexpectedly slow start (9-8 SU, 5-12 ATS) while Cleveland (7-9 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) have managed to stay competitive even without James. Plenty of emotion and pride will be on the line in this one as Cleveland looks for revenge against their former franchise player.
4. NCAAB: Michigan State at Duke (Wednesday, 9:30 p.m.)
It just doesn?t get any bigger in college basketball?s regular season than the No. 1 ranked team in the country (Duke, 6-0 SU and 3-1 ATS) going up against the No. 2 ranked team (Michigan State, 5-1 SU and 2-4 ATS). Duke is the defending National Champion, while Michigan State managed to make it to the Final Four last season despite an injury to their best player, Kalin Lucas, who is now back and healthy. Both teams are favorites to go all the way this season, and this could be an early preview of a huge March Madness game down the road.
5. NHL: Vancouver at Chicago (Friday, 8:30 p.m.)
Vancouver (12-7-3 overall, 4-5-2 road) came into this year as one of the favorites to go all the way. This will be a key game for the Canucks; not only do they need to start proving that they can win on the road, but the Blackhawks (13-11-2 overall, 5-7-0 home) are the team that has knocked Vancouver out of the playoffs in the conference semifinal the last two seasons. A win would provide a huge boost for either club, as Vancouver looks to beat their biggest nemesis and Chicago looks to get their home record back on track.
