11/23/06
Turkey & Trends
Thanksgiving brings us turkey, all the sides, football and trends. Thursday, for the first time in history there will be three NFL games played on Turkey Day. As well, there's NCAA football action as the Boston College Eagles soar into Miami to face the Hurricanes. So get your sports betting hat on and get ready for some Thanksgiving Football!!!
In efforts of putting you at the ticket window we take a look at each game and provide you with trends on all the action. The Royal Post is honored to serve-up all the fixings.
Joey Harrington Returns to Detroit
QB Joey Harrington never won three straight games in a single season with the Detroit Lions. He's already done it in just six starts for the Miami Dolphins. Harrington, a former first-round pick of the Lions, returns to Detroit on Thanksgiving as the Dolphins try to move within one game of .500.
The QB's return to Ford Field -- where he was booed unmercifully -- will provide intrigue in what seems to be a lackluster matchup.
After losing to Atlanta last Thanksgiving, the Lions fired Steve Mariucci, and CB Dre' Bly later blamed Harrington for it. Bly is doing his best not to escalate the drama.
Harrington threw 60 TDs and 62 interceptions with the Lions, finishing his career in Detroit with a 68.1 passer rating.
But Harrington has helped the Dolphins, who had the league's worst record less than a month ago, find some consistency. He went 26-for-42 for 254 yards with one score as Miami beat Minnesota 24-20 on Sunday.
The Dolphins dominating defense allows Harrington to be part of the supporting cast, with his goal to avoid the kind of mistakes that doomed Miami early in the season. That worked against the Vikings, who self-destructed with three turnovers in the fourth quarter, with Miami returning two for scores. Miami is fifth in the NFL in total defense, allowing 285.4 ypg.
The Dolphins may be without two ailing defensive backs as starting cornerback Will Allen (groin) and reserve safety Travares Tillman (hand) were hurt Sunday.
Lions Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is eligible to return this week after serving a four-game suspension for taking a banned substance that was in a weight-loss supplement, but Marinelli is not sure if Rogers will play after he had knee surgery during the suspension.
RB Kevin Jones (ankle), kick returner Eddie Drummond (concussion) and wide receiver DeVale Ellis (shoulder) were injured against the Cardinals, and Marinelli said he did not know whether the trio of banged-up players would be on the field against Miami.
Jones leads the team with 636 yards and six TDs on the ground. He has also been a threat as a receiver, catching 50 passes for 367 yards.
Notable Game Trends:
- Dolphins are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in November.
- Dolphins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 12.
- Dolphins are 7-16 ATS in their last 23 games following a SU win.
- Dolphins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Dolphins are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 games as a favorite.
- Lions are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
- Lions are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
- Lions are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss.
- Lions are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games on Turf.
- Lions are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Tony Romo Delivering
Buoyed by the outstanding play of Tony Romo, the Cowboys can move atop the NFC East as they try for a third straight victory when they meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their annual Thanksgiving home game.
Dallas is tied with the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East, although New York holds the tiebreaker. The Cowboys will visit the Giants, who play at Tennessee on Sunday, next weekend.
Romo has guided Dallas to consecutive wins and is 3-1 as a starter after last week's 21-14 victory over previously unbeaten Indianapolis.
The Cowboys are accustomed to playing on Thanksgiving, going 23-14-1, but it's a different experience for Tampa Bay, which is seeking its first road win in five tries.
Tampa Bay ended a three-game slide with a 20-17 victory over Washington on Sunday. Rookie Bruce Gradkowski threw two TDs, including a tiebreaking 24-yard strike to Joey Galloway in the fourth quarter.
The Bucs' ground game is the third-worst in the NFC, producing just 91.2 ypg. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams has 619 yards after rushing for 812 in his first 10 games as a rookie last season.
Tampa Bay has won three straight in this series SU, including a 16-0 victory in the last meeting on Oct. 26, 2003, after Dallas won the first eight matchups.
Notable Game Trends:
- Buccaneers are 4-10-2 ATS in their last 16 games in November.
- Buccaneers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 12.
- Buccaneers are 8-18-1 ATS in their last 27 games following a SU win.
- Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
- Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in November.
- Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 12.
- Cowboys are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win.
- Cowboys are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cowboys are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
Chiefs Host the Feast
Longtime Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt has always wanted his team to host a Thanksgiving game since the AFL-NFL merger. The NFL finally rewarded him with quite a matchup.
The Chiefs will try to win their fifth straight home game and pull into a tie with the Denver Broncos Thursday night when the AFC West rivals meet.
Kansas City hosted games on Thanksgiving three times during its first three seasons in the American Football League. Hunt's team never got a chance to host one since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, and always wanted other cities to get the chance to host.
The Chiefs have won the last three home meetings in the series and looking to avenge a 9-6 overtime loss Sept. 17 in Denver. They lost despite Larry Johnson's 126 yards on 27 carries as Javon Walker had five catches for 79 yards, including a 24-yard reception that set up Jason Elam's 39-yard field goal in the extra session.
Denver's QB Jake Plummer is completing just 54.3 percent of his passes and has a quarterback rating of 69.7 -- both lows in the AFC. Plummer was 13-of-28 for 183 yards and no TDs in Sunday's loss to the Chargers.
The Broncos are the first team other than Detroit or Dallas to play on Thanksgiving in consecutive days after beating Dallas in overtime last season. The home team has won the last eight meetings SU in the series.
Notable Game Trends:
- Broncos are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in November.
- Broncos are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 12.
- Broncos are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 night games.
- Broncos are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games.
- Broncos are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. AFC West.
- Chiefs are 10-25 ATS in their last 35 games in November.
- Chiefs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 12.
- Chiefs are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
- Chiefs are 5-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Chiefs are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Boston College Takes on Miami
Thursday, the No. 18 Boston College Eagles (9-2 SU & 6-4 ATS) look to post their first 10-win season since 1984 when they face the Miami Hurricanes (5-6 SU & 2-7-1 ATS) at the Orange Bowl.
Last week, BC defeated then-No. 21 Maryland 38-16. Later that night, Wake Forest lost to Virginia Tech, putting the Eagles in a three-way tie atop the ACC's Atlantic Division with the No. 20 Demon Deacons and Terrapins.
Now, BC needs to defeat Miami and have Wake Forest lose at Maryland on Saturday. Under that scenario, the Eagles would win the Atlantic on a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Terrapins and advance to the Dec. 2 ACC championship game against the Coastal Division champion, No. 16 Georgia Tech.
A title game appearance would come in BC's second season as a member of the ACC, and a conference title would give the Eagles the first BCS berth in their history. For now, though, coach Tom O'Brien is concentrating only on what his team can control.
The Hurricanes have lost four consecutive games SU and are in danger of their first sub-.500 season in nine years, but defeating them has never been an easy task for the BC.
Miami has won 22 of 25 meetings SU with BC, including all seven since O'Brien became the Eagles' coach.
Thursday is the 22nd anniversary of the last time BC beat Miami, which featured one of college football's most famous endings as the Eagles won on Doug Flutie's Hail Mary touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan as time expired. Coincidentally, Flutie wore No. 22 while at Boston College.
Since that game, the Hurricanes have beaten the Eagles 14 straight times, with 11 of those meetings coming as Big East conference rivals. This is the first matchup between the schools since they left for the ACC last season.
Defeating Miami for the first time in 22 years would also give BC its first 10-win season in 22 years, and just the third in school history. To do so, though, the Eagles will need to contend with a Miami defense allowing only 15.2 points and 69.8 rushing yards per game.
The Hurricanes had not allowed an opponent to rush for 100 yards all season until last Saturday's 17-7 loss at Virginia as the Cavaliers gained 132 on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Eagles' ground game has been picking up steam. Boston College has rushed for 365 total yards to win its last two games, including 124 last Saturday. Junior tailback L.V. Whitworth led the effort against Maryland, gaining 100 yards on 21 carries.
The Eagles also got plenty from their defense against the Terrapins, as junior linebacker Jolonn Dunbar returned two fumbles for touchdowns within the first 3:08 of the game. Dunbar, though, is questionable for Thursday's contest with an ankle injury.
Miami also has a lot to play for in this matchup. With a win, the Hurricanes would become bowl eligible and likely earn a trip to the Dec. 31 MPC Computers Bowl. A loss would end their season, and give them their worst record since going 3-7 in 1977.
It has been a trying year in Miami, marred by a sideline-clearing brawl with Florida International and the shooting death of defensive lineman Bryan Pata. A funeral and campus-wide memorial were held for Pata last week.
Freeman went 11-for-18 for 152 yards, a touchdown and an interception last Saturday, and has failed to provide a big lift to a struggling Miami offense. The Hurricanes have been held to fewer than 14 points five times this season, dropping each of those games, and have scored just 30 total points over the last three weeks.
Notable Game Trends:
- BC is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- BC is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- BC is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU win.
- BC is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 night games.
- BC is 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Hurricanes are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.
- Hurricanes are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
- Hurricanes are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. loss.
- Hurricanes are 1-7 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Hurricanes are 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
All odds mentioned in The Royal Post are available thru, BetRoyal Click here, for your Sports Betting needs today. Use MadJacksports for the site you saw The Royal Post as a referral and get up to 50% in sign up Bonuses and NO JUICE on your favorite NFL or College Football team.
Turkey & Trends
Thanksgiving brings us turkey, all the sides, football and trends. Thursday, for the first time in history there will be three NFL games played on Turkey Day. As well, there's NCAA football action as the Boston College Eagles soar into Miami to face the Hurricanes. So get your sports betting hat on and get ready for some Thanksgiving Football!!!
In efforts of putting you at the ticket window we take a look at each game and provide you with trends on all the action. The Royal Post is honored to serve-up all the fixings.
Joey Harrington Returns to Detroit
QB Joey Harrington never won three straight games in a single season with the Detroit Lions. He's already done it in just six starts for the Miami Dolphins. Harrington, a former first-round pick of the Lions, returns to Detroit on Thanksgiving as the Dolphins try to move within one game of .500.
The QB's return to Ford Field -- where he was booed unmercifully -- will provide intrigue in what seems to be a lackluster matchup.
After losing to Atlanta last Thanksgiving, the Lions fired Steve Mariucci, and CB Dre' Bly later blamed Harrington for it. Bly is doing his best not to escalate the drama.
Harrington threw 60 TDs and 62 interceptions with the Lions, finishing his career in Detroit with a 68.1 passer rating.
But Harrington has helped the Dolphins, who had the league's worst record less than a month ago, find some consistency. He went 26-for-42 for 254 yards with one score as Miami beat Minnesota 24-20 on Sunday.
The Dolphins dominating defense allows Harrington to be part of the supporting cast, with his goal to avoid the kind of mistakes that doomed Miami early in the season. That worked against the Vikings, who self-destructed with three turnovers in the fourth quarter, with Miami returning two for scores. Miami is fifth in the NFL in total defense, allowing 285.4 ypg.
The Dolphins may be without two ailing defensive backs as starting cornerback Will Allen (groin) and reserve safety Travares Tillman (hand) were hurt Sunday.
Lions Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is eligible to return this week after serving a four-game suspension for taking a banned substance that was in a weight-loss supplement, but Marinelli is not sure if Rogers will play after he had knee surgery during the suspension.
RB Kevin Jones (ankle), kick returner Eddie Drummond (concussion) and wide receiver DeVale Ellis (shoulder) were injured against the Cardinals, and Marinelli said he did not know whether the trio of banged-up players would be on the field against Miami.
Jones leads the team with 636 yards and six TDs on the ground. He has also been a threat as a receiver, catching 50 passes for 367 yards.
Notable Game Trends:
- Dolphins are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in November.
- Dolphins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 12.
- Dolphins are 7-16 ATS in their last 23 games following a SU win.
- Dolphins are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Dolphins are 3-14 ATS in their last 17 games as a favorite.
- Lions are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
- Lions are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
- Lions are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss.
- Lions are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games on Turf.
- Lions are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Tony Romo Delivering
Buoyed by the outstanding play of Tony Romo, the Cowboys can move atop the NFC East as they try for a third straight victory when they meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their annual Thanksgiving home game.
Dallas is tied with the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East, although New York holds the tiebreaker. The Cowboys will visit the Giants, who play at Tennessee on Sunday, next weekend.
Romo has guided Dallas to consecutive wins and is 3-1 as a starter after last week's 21-14 victory over previously unbeaten Indianapolis.
The Cowboys are accustomed to playing on Thanksgiving, going 23-14-1, but it's a different experience for Tampa Bay, which is seeking its first road win in five tries.
Tampa Bay ended a three-game slide with a 20-17 victory over Washington on Sunday. Rookie Bruce Gradkowski threw two TDs, including a tiebreaking 24-yard strike to Joey Galloway in the fourth quarter.
The Bucs' ground game is the third-worst in the NFC, producing just 91.2 ypg. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams has 619 yards after rushing for 812 in his first 10 games as a rookie last season.
Tampa Bay has won three straight in this series SU, including a 16-0 victory in the last meeting on Oct. 26, 2003, after Dallas won the first eight matchups.
Notable Game Trends:
- Buccaneers are 4-10-2 ATS in their last 16 games in November.
- Buccaneers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 12.
- Buccaneers are 8-18-1 ATS in their last 27 games following a SU win.
- Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
- Cowboys are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in November.
- Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 12.
- Cowboys are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a SU win.
- Cowboys are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cowboys are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
Chiefs Host the Feast
Longtime Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt has always wanted his team to host a Thanksgiving game since the AFL-NFL merger. The NFL finally rewarded him with quite a matchup.
The Chiefs will try to win their fifth straight home game and pull into a tie with the Denver Broncos Thursday night when the AFC West rivals meet.
Kansas City hosted games on Thanksgiving three times during its first three seasons in the American Football League. Hunt's team never got a chance to host one since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, and always wanted other cities to get the chance to host.
The Chiefs have won the last three home meetings in the series and looking to avenge a 9-6 overtime loss Sept. 17 in Denver. They lost despite Larry Johnson's 126 yards on 27 carries as Javon Walker had five catches for 79 yards, including a 24-yard reception that set up Jason Elam's 39-yard field goal in the extra session.
Denver's QB Jake Plummer is completing just 54.3 percent of his passes and has a quarterback rating of 69.7 -- both lows in the AFC. Plummer was 13-of-28 for 183 yards and no TDs in Sunday's loss to the Chargers.
The Broncos are the first team other than Detroit or Dallas to play on Thanksgiving in consecutive days after beating Dallas in overtime last season. The home team has won the last eight meetings SU in the series.
Notable Game Trends:
- Broncos are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in November.
- Broncos are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 12.
- Broncos are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 night games.
- Broncos are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games.
- Broncos are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. AFC West.
- Chiefs are 10-25 ATS in their last 35 games in November.
- Chiefs are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 12.
- Chiefs are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
- Chiefs are 5-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Chiefs are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Boston College Takes on Miami
Thursday, the No. 18 Boston College Eagles (9-2 SU & 6-4 ATS) look to post their first 10-win season since 1984 when they face the Miami Hurricanes (5-6 SU & 2-7-1 ATS) at the Orange Bowl.
Last week, BC defeated then-No. 21 Maryland 38-16. Later that night, Wake Forest lost to Virginia Tech, putting the Eagles in a three-way tie atop the ACC's Atlantic Division with the No. 20 Demon Deacons and Terrapins.
Now, BC needs to defeat Miami and have Wake Forest lose at Maryland on Saturday. Under that scenario, the Eagles would win the Atlantic on a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Terrapins and advance to the Dec. 2 ACC championship game against the Coastal Division champion, No. 16 Georgia Tech.
A title game appearance would come in BC's second season as a member of the ACC, and a conference title would give the Eagles the first BCS berth in their history. For now, though, coach Tom O'Brien is concentrating only on what his team can control.
The Hurricanes have lost four consecutive games SU and are in danger of their first sub-.500 season in nine years, but defeating them has never been an easy task for the BC.
Miami has won 22 of 25 meetings SU with BC, including all seven since O'Brien became the Eagles' coach.
Thursday is the 22nd anniversary of the last time BC beat Miami, which featured one of college football's most famous endings as the Eagles won on Doug Flutie's Hail Mary touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan as time expired. Coincidentally, Flutie wore No. 22 while at Boston College.
Since that game, the Hurricanes have beaten the Eagles 14 straight times, with 11 of those meetings coming as Big East conference rivals. This is the first matchup between the schools since they left for the ACC last season.
Defeating Miami for the first time in 22 years would also give BC its first 10-win season in 22 years, and just the third in school history. To do so, though, the Eagles will need to contend with a Miami defense allowing only 15.2 points and 69.8 rushing yards per game.
The Hurricanes had not allowed an opponent to rush for 100 yards all season until last Saturday's 17-7 loss at Virginia as the Cavaliers gained 132 on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Eagles' ground game has been picking up steam. Boston College has rushed for 365 total yards to win its last two games, including 124 last Saturday. Junior tailback L.V. Whitworth led the effort against Maryland, gaining 100 yards on 21 carries.
The Eagles also got plenty from their defense against the Terrapins, as junior linebacker Jolonn Dunbar returned two fumbles for touchdowns within the first 3:08 of the game. Dunbar, though, is questionable for Thursday's contest with an ankle injury.
Miami also has a lot to play for in this matchup. With a win, the Hurricanes would become bowl eligible and likely earn a trip to the Dec. 31 MPC Computers Bowl. A loss would end their season, and give them their worst record since going 3-7 in 1977.
It has been a trying year in Miami, marred by a sideline-clearing brawl with Florida International and the shooting death of defensive lineman Bryan Pata. A funeral and campus-wide memorial were held for Pata last week.
Freeman went 11-for-18 for 152 yards, a touchdown and an interception last Saturday, and has failed to provide a big lift to a struggling Miami offense. The Hurricanes have been held to fewer than 14 points five times this season, dropping each of those games, and have scored just 30 total points over the last three weeks.
Notable Game Trends:
- BC is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- BC is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- BC is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a SU win.
- BC is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 night games.
- BC is 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Hurricanes are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog.
- Hurricanes are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in November.
- Hurricanes are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. loss.
- Hurricanes are 1-7 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Hurricanes are 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
All odds mentioned in The Royal Post are available thru, BetRoyal Click here, for your Sports Betting needs today. Use MadJacksports for the site you saw The Royal Post as a referral and get up to 50% in sign up Bonuses and NO JUICE on your favorite NFL or College Football team.
