07:05 PM NHL [4] Columbus Blue Jackets -130
07:05 PM NHL [7] Pittsburgh Penguins -142
07:35 PM NHL [10] Detroit Red Wings -132
09:05 PM NHL [17] Dallas Stars -145
07:35 PM NBA [503] Oklahoma City Thunder -4-115
10:35 PM NBA [508] Los Angeles Lakers +5.5 -110
07:00 PM CBB [513] Rutgers +18.5 -115
1 unit bet pays 58 ....betdsi line
Goood luck everyone!! :firing: :toast: :SIB:em71:
ripped, cut and pasted, otherwise written by others, from across the internets:
Capitals vs. Islanders
Play: Under 5?
Only 3 of Washington's 11 December games have totaled more than 5 goals. The fact this total has now moved from a 5 to a 5.5 is offering great line value on the under. Look for a little bit of "lethargy" off of the rest that Christmas break afforded each club. Both teams are 2-0 to the under this season when they enter a game off of 3 or more days of rest. Looking at that stat going further back, the Capitals have had just 4 overs in 19 games the past three seasons combined and the Islanders have had just 6 overs in 17 such games the past three seasons combined. Though the last meeting between these clubs snuck over the total, the first two games this season both totaled just 3 goals apiece. In calendar year 2016 only 2 of the 7 meetings have totaled more than 5 goals. The under is 5-2 this season when the Isles are off of a game where they scored 4 goals or more. The under is 6-3-1 this season when the Capitals are off of a game where they scored 4 goals or more this season.
Over is 5-0-1 in Senators last 6 road games...Under is 19-5-2 in the last 26 meetings in New York...Under is 32-10-9 in the last 51 meetings...Senators are 21-8 in the last 29 meetings in New York.
home team has won 16 of the last 21 games between the Stars and Coyotes..Under is 4-0 in Stars last 4 overall...Under is 3-0-1 in Coyotes last 4 vs. Central...Under is 24-4-1 in Coyotes last 29 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game...Under is 9-2-1 in the last 12 meetings in Arizona.
DETROIT -1? +244 over Buffalo
OT included. The Red Wings have struggled at times but they had a sweet win over the Panthers just before the break and they also defeated Anaheim 6-4 in their last home game. Detroit has now won two of three but more than that is they are a team that plays hard and has outstanding scoring depth. We also like the mindset of the Red Wings, as they appear to be a cohesive unit that wants to win badly. Even when they are getting beat or going bad, the Red Wings are digging deep. Indeed spotting 1?-pucks or any pucks with the Red Wings is risky but perhaps it?s time to start bringing down the hammer on the Sabres, a team in big trouble.
Buffalo has lost four straight but that is not the issue here. The issue is that they are an unresponsive team. They have fallen behind 2-0 in five of its last six games. The Sabres hit the Christmas break last in the Eastern Conference amid growing questions that surround their coach's game management. They have given up the first goal in seven straight games and appear to be on their heels right from the opening puck drop. Dan Blysma?s plodding system is flat-out unwatchable at times. Players' instincts are stunted in place of where-should-I-be second thoughts. Zemgus Girgensons clearly can't make heads or tails out of it. Tyler Ennis, when he was healthy, had the same problem. Many others seem baffled. The Sabres should be skating and not thinking so much on the ice but their coach has to allow them to play that way. You wonder if that's possible.
Lately, it seems as if Bylsma has lost his mind. It's to the point where it's now an open discussion among Sabres fans if Bylsma, in just the second year of a five-year contract, should be heading down Ryan Road to the unemployment line too if his team continues to implode. Let's look at some examples:
Bylsma benched Jack Eichel for the first power play of Thursday's home loss to Carolina and the team's broadcast partners revealed Friday it was for disciplinary reasons. Perhaps not wanting to throw his 20-year-old star under the bus, Bylsma took the bullets for the decision with the media after Thursday's game and made no mention of any discipline issue. It was a bad miscalculation. By protecting the player, Bylsma made it sound like he actually wanted Matt Moulson on his power play over the kid the Sabres threw an entire season to get. Even though Moulson has seven power-play goals this season, everyone listening thought Bylsma was going goofy.
The Sabres' best defensive pairing this season has been Jake McCabe, and not the overmatched Josh Gorges, making a fine partner for No. 1 blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen. So what has Bylsma done the last couple games? Paired Ristolainen with trade acquisition Dmitry Kulikov, who has been a complete disaster. William Carrier, with one goal and two points in 23 games is being given way too much ice time. Zach Bogosian, who has missed a ton of time over the past five years because of numerous injuries looks lost out there and about 10 steps behind everybody else but the Sabres keep giving him big minutes because they are paying him big bucks. Bogosian has turned into a big liability every time he takes the ice. Remember, the Sabres didn't get Mike Babcock, they got Bylsma. They didn't get Steven Stamkos and they didn't get Jimmy Vesey. The losing was supposed to end this year but perhaps all the things that didn?t happen has negatively affected the players that were there. Dan Blysma is not letting them play creative hockey and that has everyone on their heels too. This is an unhappy group of players that probably aren?t looking forward to ?getting back at it? and until things change, Buffalo is a good bet to lose a bunch of games by more than one goal and we'll put that to the test here.
Ottawa +145 over N.Y. RANGERS
OT included. Rangers coach, Alain Vigneault is causing quite a stir among fans and media for choosing Antti Raanta over a healthy Henrik Lundqvist in six of the Rangers past nine games. AV has called Raanta?s name for this one too despite being pulled last game after allowing two quick goals in a 7-4 loss to the Wild. Prior to playing Minnesota, Raanta was also in net for the Rangers 7-2 loss to the Penguins. Raanta was in goal for all seven goals. Raanta has started the last two games for New York and the Rangers are 0-2 in those games while allowing seven goals against in both. While there is no need to panic just yet, as the Rangers are near to the top of the standings, there are issues surrounding this team that go beneath the surface. For one, the Rangers are a weak possession team, ranking 23rd in time spent in the offensive end. Playing the 20th ranked strength of schedule in the league, New York is 6-6 against top-10 competition and they were outshot and out-chanced in 11 of those 12 games. Only two teams, Arizona and Dallas, have had more face-offs taken in their end than the Rangers. Luck played a major role in the Rags getting to the playoffs last year before they were blown out by the Penguins and they?re on that same path this year. This is not a strong hockey team.
The Senators are the Rodney Dangerfield of the NHL. Quietly, the Sens have one of the best records in the NHL. Quietly, Mike Condon has been brilliant in net. Quietly, Ottawa has won four straight while outscoring the opposition 15-7 over that span. The Sens are a speedy and talented team that creates havoc in the offensive end. They have split up the Stone/Turris/Hoffman line that made them ?top heavy? into three equal opportunity lines that makes them so much more balanced and it?s working. Ottawa is 6-4 in their last 10 games with losses occurring against Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose and Pittsburgh. Those are not bad losses and now the Sens will play in another very winnable game while taking back a pretty sweet price.
Boston +115 over COLUMBUS
OT included. We have constantly insisted that of the four major sports, the results from game-to-game in hockey are the most luck driven of them all. A puck deflects and goes off the post or crossbar in one game and it goes into the top corner in another. Pucks pinball off three players and goes into the net in one game and pinballs off three players and goes 10-feet wide in another game. The puck bounces and just like a fumble in football, you don?t know where it is going to end up. Of course it?s not all luck driven, as there are great teams, good teams, average teams and weak teams and the analytics and surface stats can help in separating who?s who. That said, the Jackets have won 12 straight and while they are a legit team to be sure, it is so hard to win one game because of the luck factor, let alone 12. The Jackets were outshot 37-24 by Montreal just before the break but won 2-1. Two games previously, Columbus was outshot by Los Angeles 46-27 but won again. The Jackets had tremendous momentum heading into the break and it?s going to be difficult to bring that same intensity the first game back after it. Besides that, Boston is the perfect under the radar team to snap the Jackets franchise best 12-game winning streak.
Boston is a top-3 team in all offensive analytic categories. They rank second in the league in Corsi for. They are also the league?s third best puck possession team. The B?s dominate almost every game but luck has not been on their side. Boston?s PDO is fourth worst in the league and once those high quality chances start going in, the B?s are going to make a major move up the standings. Right now, Boston is 18-14-4, which puts them on par with many others but it hides the fact that the B?s are a dominating team. Boston had dropped seven of its last 10 games but it?s all because of bad luck. During that span, the B?s outshot the Islanders 50-29 and lost 4-2. In fact, they outshot every single team over that span except one and most of them were by a wide margin. They even outshot Pittsburgh 44-37 and lost 4-3. The B?s are working hard and playing great hockey without the results to show for it. Boston?s hard work and outstanding talent is about to pay off in spades and when it does, we are going to be there to collect. That likely starts here.
Minnesota +101 over NASHVILLE
OT included. The Preds have four wins over their last 11 games and just about everything they?re doing these days is either average or below. The Preds rank 17th in goals against per game and 18th on the penalty kill. They rank 12th in puck possession, which is a big drop off from last year?s squad that ranked fifth. Despite playing the 28th ranked strength of schedule in the NHL, the Preds are three games under .500. In a recent stretch of seven games, the Preds won twice and both victories occurred against Colorado. Once again, goaltending is becoming a huge issue, as Pekka Riinne has posted save percentages of .840, .824, .885, .882, .778 and .893 in six of his last seven starts.
Give a massive edge in goal to the Wild here. That alone makes them worthy of a bet here and so does the price. Combine the two and it?s a must play. The Wild have won 10 straight and come into this one after the break feeling strong, confident and wanting to get right back at it. Minnesota has also scored four goals or more in five of its last six games and we can almost guarantee that three or more here gets them a win here. Chances are GREAT they score at least three on Pekka Rinne.
San Jose vs. Anaheim
Pick: Anaheim
After a three day break from play, the NHL returns tonight, and so do the Ducks - from a very tough six-game road trip. No doubt this team will be happy to be back in Anaheim after going 2-4 on its travels which went pretty much around the country (and out of the country up north as well). Like the other team from the Los Angeles area, the Ducks really like playing in front of their home faithful, as they are 10-4-1 here vs. just 7-8-5 elsewhere. And they've won their last four in a row here, including a close 3-2 victory against tonight's opponents back on December 9. The Ducks are trying a two-goalie strategy it seems, alternating starts between #1 John Gibson and #2 Jonathan Bernier. But with the team having been off since the 22nd, they will likely stick with Gibson tonight even though he got the start last time. Despite Bernier having a winning record, Gibson's been the better net-minder through most of the season, and he's undefeated vs. the Sharks in his career, allowing just three total goals in three games against them with a 1.12 GAA. The Ducks have dominated this series lately, taking five of the last six meetings and four of the last five here in Southern Cal.
Minnesota @ Nashville
Pick: Nashville -114
Minnesota is hot but thin on depth, missing key forwards Erik Haula and Zach Parise to injury and illness. The Wild head out on the road and are 1-11 when playing on three or more days of rest. This is the end of a three-game road trip for them. Nashville is 10-4-1 at home, ranked ninth in the NHL in goals scored, and #11 on the power play. The Predators come off a shutout loss but are 8-2 after scoring two or fewer goals in their previous game, plus 14-6 when playing on three or more days of rest.
Winnipeg at Chicago
Play: Under 5
Central Division foes face off at the "Madhouse on Madison" tonight as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Winnipeg Jets. The Hawks gain a pair of key players back from injury off the short holiday break as forwards Artem Anisimov and Marian Hossa are both scheduled to return to the lineup. The 36-year-old Hossa leads Chicago with 16 goals while the Russian sniper Anisimov has 27 points and is a key piece of the club's top line along with Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane. Winnipeg has won three of its last four games and despite losing six of the previous 10 meetings versus Chicago, they've given the Blackhawks some match-up troubles from a size perspective. Former Hawk Dustin Byfuglien leads the charge along with defenseman Adam Pardy in hits, using their physical style to push around the skillful, offensive-minded Hawks. These two teams have been under machines all season with Winnipeg going 3-9-1 O/U in 13 division contests and Chicago on a 6-13-4 O/U run versus Western Conference opposition. Adding to it is a 3-7 O/U run over the last 10 meetings. I anticipate both squads to start off slow and keep things tight in this game knowing the first mistake made could make a significant difference. Play this game under the total of 5 at a decent plus price.
Colorado turned in a surprisingly impressive account of itself last week against the Blackhawks, but the sample size is such that the win has to be considered an aberration as opposed to the rule. And nothing has solved the team?s power-play issues. The Avs are 0-for-12 with the man advantage in their last three contests. They are 1-for-24 in such situations in their last six outings. Calgary is 8-3 in its last 11 overall, 7-1 in its last eight against the Western Conference, 7-0 in its last seven against losing opponents, and 5-2 in its last seven following a win. The Avalanche are 1-5 in their last six overall, 7-19 in their last 26 at home, 1-7 in their last eight against the Western Conference, and 1-9 in their last 10 following a win.
Thunder at Heat
Pick: Over
Russell Westbrook may very well end up averaging a triple double this year, but the team's offensive efficiency has taken a significant hit. They are down to a very average 15th place ranking in that department, though the rebounding rate (3rd) remains strong. That all being said, the Over is 3-0-1 their last four games (push coming on Christmas) and by their standards, this is a low total. Remember, the Thunder still average 107.0 PPG. On the road, they allow a troubling 108.4 PPG.
Miami has not played since Friday when they lost at New Orleans, 91-87. Though the L5 meetings vs. OKC have all stayed Under, I would not expect that low scoring of an affair here. Even by the Heat's perspective, this is a pretty low total. Only one of their last 12 games has has a total sub-200 points and they are allowing 102.6 PPG at home already.
the Los Angeles Lakers, who come in after ending their drought against the Los Angeles Clippers, and will continue to grow as a team with yet another surprising win, tonight against the Utah Jazz.
Seven Lakers scored in double figures against the Clippers, led by Nick Young and Timofey Mozgov with 19 each, marking the first time the Lakers defeated the Clippers in more than three year, ending an 11-game losing streak.
The Lakers (12-22) also snapped a four-game skid and won for just the second time in the past 14 games. That momentum will carry into this game, which is a double-revenge situation for L.A.
The Jazz have won twice over the Lakers this season, including a Dec. 5 matchup at Staples Center, a 107-101 victory over a short-handed Los Angeles roster that was missing several key performers.
The Lakers are going to take advantage of a Utah team that is mired in a three-game losing streak, including a 104-98 setback at the hands of the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. And that was on the heels of a one-point setback against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, and a 30-point thrashing from the two-time defending Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors on Dec. 20.
This time around, it's the Jazz who are dealing with injuries, as starting point guard George Hill has a toe injury that is expected to keep him out tonight. Also, guard Rodney Hood has been slowed by flu, and while he is expected to play against the Lakers, his stamina could suffer.
I like the home underdog here.
ROCKETS AT MAVERICKS
PLAY: ROCKETS -6
Pretty simple reasoning for me on this play.
The Rockets bear little similarity to recent editions as this team has a far better work ethic than it did the past couple of seasons. I don?t think it?s any coincidence that Houston is a more determined entry with Dwight Howard no longer on the roster.
One indicator of how things are now different for the Rockets is how well this team has performed on the back end of a two games in two nights segment. That?s when effort kicks in, and I?m very impressed with Houston?s 6-0 record in this scenario, which includes five spread wins.
Dallas is at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Mavericks are not good and their lack of quality depth has largely doomed them when forced to play without rest. The Mavs have dropped all five games when playing for a second straight evening, and only covered the spread once in that quintet.
The Rockets had a very easy time of it on Monday night against Phoenix and were able to spread out the minutes accordingly. So I don?t see fatigue as any kind of factor here and without some kind of advantage it?s really tough for me to make a case for the Mavericks being able to hang for 48 against a clearly superior opponent. I?m willing to spot the points in this game with the Rockets.
Pick: Houston -1.5 1st quarter @ Dallas 1.90 Reasoning: Houston is first in the league in the first quarter at 31.5 points per game. Dallas is last at 22.7. This should be enough by itself to entice a significant play but if you need more here you go: Houston has outscored it's opponent in the 1q by 16, 6, 4 in the last three games. Second night of a b2b Houston has outscored it's last three opponents in the 1q by 4, 9 (against Dallas), and 0 (against Portland) Meanwhile, Dallas has been outscored by 5, 3, and -10 (against portland, not helping my argument here!) the last three
In the Sights, Tuesday NCAA?
I believe there is going to be a high level of energy from Boise State in the Cactus Bowl tonight, energy that can translate to a good performance give how sharp Byran Harson?s bowl preparation has been in his first two go-rounds, wins and covers by 51.5 points. But there is an issue with a Broncos defense that will be without four starters, including Jabril Frazier and Dylan Sumner-Gardner, so it will be #242 Boise State Team Total Over (10:15 Eastern) as the path, with 37.5 out there in the morning trading, and value holding up to 38.
The Boise interest in playing well has been easy to track from a program that has a lot of pride. A win tonight would make it 11 seasons of 11 victories or more since 2002, with only Ohio State matching that, and the 15th straight Senior class to reach 40 wins. I use those numbers because that is what the players and coaches have talked about. Let?s delve into that here -
First, from Senior OL Mario Yakoo - ?We?re nine points away from potentially being one of the best teams in Boise State history. ? We still have that dirty taste in our mouths, and there?s nothing better to cure that dirty taste than to go out there Dec. 27 and just dominate, get that ?W.? ? How about QB Brett Rypien - ?It?s going back and looking at every little thing that cost us those nine points. The fan base and the players and the coaches have a very high expectation for the program and a program that expects to win 11 games per year, and if you don?t, it?s a disappointing season.? I?ll close with DE Sam McCaskill - ?You take all that rage and disappointment from some of the stuff that happened throughout the season, and you carry that into preparation for the bowl game.?
That energy can play well into what is likely to be a disinterested Baylor defense, the Bears not exhibiting any special energy in having to keep a dismal season going, rather than pack the equipment away, and in his last assignment as HC Jim Grobe understands one of the matchup problems that drives this ticket - ?I love their offensive line. You?ve got to be physical with these guys. And one of our issues is we?re not very big up front, and I think this is one of the better offensive lines we?ll play against.?
I am not going to gamble on the Boise State defensive replacements playing well against a Baylor offense that still brings plenty of weapons, and should have a loose and aggressive game plan. But I will look for the Broncos to get plenty of points on the board.
Baylor vs, Boise St
Play: Baylor +8
Baylor enters this Bowl Game on a 6 game losing streak after winning their 1st 6 games. This Baylor team never recovered from their 1 point loss to Texas. However Baylor did put up a fight in their last game of the season losing by just 3 as a 17 point underdog to a very good WVU team. Boise St although 10-2 SU wasn?t their dominating self going just 3-9 ATS. Vegas and the public still treat Boise St like the teams from the past when Peterson was the head coach and thus they are not covering these big spreads. Motivation is always a tricky part of handicapping the bowls and trying to figure if Baylor is going to show up is tough but I am going to say they do and here?s why. Baylor played with heart in season finale trying to finish 7-5 instead of 6-6 so I think they show up here as they don?t want to be the class that has a losing record. The players that are not graduating will also want to show the new coach what they can do. This hiring isn?t because their coach bolted to a better job but rather this hiring is to move the program forward from the lame duck situation it had with the interim coach all season in wake of the firing of Art Briles just before the season began. So if we do indeed have a motivated Baylor team we are getting a team from a Power 5 conference as an underdog to Boise St from the Mountain West Conference and that's a huge difference in talent. Too much value here with Baylor.
Baylor vs. Boise State
Play: Baylor +7?
I know Boise State has a strong track record in bowl games, but I think they will lack motivation here. The Broncos had their eyes set on going undefeated and playing in one of the premier bowl games. Now they find themselves up against a Baylor team that hasn?t won a game since beating Kansas on October 15. On top of that, we are getting exceptional value here with the Bears catching over a touchdown.
On the flip side of things, I think Baylor got a big shot in the arm when it was announced Rhule was taking over. This is their chance to make a lasting impression to get the edge at a starting job next season. At the same time, I think the players are going to play their hearts out for Grobe and the assistants on this staff. There?s also a lot of pride at stake here for the Bears, as they don?t want to end the season with 7 straight losses.
Baylor will be playing their bowl game without starting quarterback Seth Russell. Not a major shock to the system, as he didn?t play in the final 3 games of the regular season. Backup Zack Smith showed some potential filling in for Russell. He threw for 879 yards and 8 TD?s in those final 3 games. Nearly leading them to an upset win at West Virginia in the finale.
With that said, I think it?s the Bears running game that will be the difference in this one. Baylor ended the year ranked 12th in the country in rushing at 250.3 ypg. Boise State?s defense really struggled against strong rushing teams. Evident in their two losses to Wyoming and Air Force. The Broncos ranked just 68th against the run, giving up 179.8 ypg. Adding to this, Boise St is just 3-12 ATS in their last 15 against teams who average 4.75 or more yards/carry. Baylor as a team averaged 5.1 yards/carry.
The ability to run the ball is huge for Baylor in this game. It?s going to keep their defense fresh and limit the number of possessions for the Broncos offense. Don?t forget last year?s bowl game for Baylor, where they upset No. 10 UNC 49-38 behind 645 yards rushing. More than anything, I think the Bears will be the more motivated team and we are getting a touchdown to work with.
Washington St -9? over Minnesota
The elephant in the room here that surrounds the Gophers is a factor that is hard to measure but it must be mentioned because it?s part of the team right now. At this stage, it's hard to interpret what impact the events at Minnesota will have on the Gophers' ultimate desire to prepare for and play this game, but two things are certain. First, there is already a cost in terms of lost focus and preparation time, and second, the absence of five more defensive backs is bad personnel news versus Mike Leach, Luke Falk and the Cougars air raid. Still, we won't be too hasty to write the Gophers off, as the Minnesota players could come together, show up with spirit and play hard, an outcome made more likely given the unity between players and staff, if not the administration. The trouble in the Twin Cities will also have an effect on Washington State, who could easily look at the mess that the past few weeks have been and think the Gophers will be an easy out.
Minnesota's pass rush and ground game are big assets in this matchup, but even if the line gets to Falk regularly, it's hard to see the secondary holding up for four quarters against the nation's only passing offense featuring five players with 40 or more receptions. Washington State was in the driver's seat for its first Pac-12 championship since 2002 all the way up to the season's final week, but the Cougars couldn't get past Washington in the Apple Cup, finishing 8-4 and alone in second place in the Pac-12 North. If the Cougars are satisfied with their season and view this game as a disappointment, they could run into trouble. However, if they want to stick it to the Gophers because of ?what several players are accused of doing? something real men will not tolerate, then it could be a very long day for the underdog. At this point, our best guess is that the Gophers play hard and hang around for a while before the favorite's well-oiled offense proves too much to handle and the Cougars pull away in the second half. It all comes down to focus so if the Coogs show up here and play hard, the Gophers won't have any answers.
Boise State -7 over Baylor
From reviewing the analytics, there are a lot of mixed messages here. What is clear is that the market assessment of this one is that a shootout is forthcoming. However, we have dissenting opinions, as this contest has every capability of being a one-sided affair in favor of Boise State.
The Broncos come in at 10-2. One of its losses was to Air Force in their regular season nightcap by a score of 27-20 despite spotting the Falcons 7?-points, Nevertheless, two things must be considered. First, this game was away from Boise where the Broncos lost both their games this season and second, the Falcons have had Boise?s number and always give them a hard time. Air Force played their signature brand of football, which consists of an efficient and methodical rushing attack, essentially starving Boise State?s offense of opportunities to hurt them. Similarly, Boise State was caught off guard when they went down to Laramie, Wyoming and fell to the Cowboys by a score of 30-28 as a two-touchdown favorite. Boise was expecting to see the Wyoming of year?s past and was met instead with a spirited and live outfit in an electric atmosphere. From these two results, combined with their 3-9 ATS record, this market had had enough of spotting points with Boise State while ripping up their tickets. That?s when we like to step in, as Boise comes in underpriced for the first time in a very long time.
The Baylor Bears have been a train wreck since Week 7 and nothing has changed coming into this one. The difference between the two rests in the fact that this is a Bears football team that started off at 6-0 before losing their last six down the backstretch. We have always been advocates for staying clear of teams that live and die by their offense and Baylor typifies that. As a result of Baylor?s approach, we have seen this team blow huge leads in the past and/or get taken down by teams they should have beaten. How can we feel good about Baylor in what has just been a very unfortunate season in many ways? On the other side you have a team in Boise State that went 3-9 against the spread this season, but we?ll chalk that up to it being a name brand in a lower-tier conference, and having inflated numbers put on them as a favorite in many of those games. Swallow the points and then expect a big day from the Boise State offense behind QB Brett Rypien, who threw for 23 touchdowns this year, while tossing only six interceptions. Baylor is not only going bad, it is outclassed here too.
07:05 PM NHL [7] Pittsburgh Penguins -142
07:35 PM NHL [10] Detroit Red Wings -132
09:05 PM NHL [17] Dallas Stars -145
07:35 PM NBA [503] Oklahoma City Thunder -4-115
10:35 PM NBA [508] Los Angeles Lakers +5.5 -110
07:00 PM CBB [513] Rutgers +18.5 -115
1 unit bet pays 58 ....betdsi line
Goood luck everyone!! :firing: :toast: :SIB:em71:
ripped, cut and pasted, otherwise written by others, from across the internets:
Capitals vs. Islanders
Play: Under 5?
Only 3 of Washington's 11 December games have totaled more than 5 goals. The fact this total has now moved from a 5 to a 5.5 is offering great line value on the under. Look for a little bit of "lethargy" off of the rest that Christmas break afforded each club. Both teams are 2-0 to the under this season when they enter a game off of 3 or more days of rest. Looking at that stat going further back, the Capitals have had just 4 overs in 19 games the past three seasons combined and the Islanders have had just 6 overs in 17 such games the past three seasons combined. Though the last meeting between these clubs snuck over the total, the first two games this season both totaled just 3 goals apiece. In calendar year 2016 only 2 of the 7 meetings have totaled more than 5 goals. The under is 5-2 this season when the Isles are off of a game where they scored 4 goals or more. The under is 6-3-1 this season when the Capitals are off of a game where they scored 4 goals or more this season.
Over is 5-0-1 in Senators last 6 road games...Under is 19-5-2 in the last 26 meetings in New York...Under is 32-10-9 in the last 51 meetings...Senators are 21-8 in the last 29 meetings in New York.
home team has won 16 of the last 21 games between the Stars and Coyotes..Under is 4-0 in Stars last 4 overall...Under is 3-0-1 in Coyotes last 4 vs. Central...Under is 24-4-1 in Coyotes last 29 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game...Under is 9-2-1 in the last 12 meetings in Arizona.
DETROIT -1? +244 over Buffalo
OT included. The Red Wings have struggled at times but they had a sweet win over the Panthers just before the break and they also defeated Anaheim 6-4 in their last home game. Detroit has now won two of three but more than that is they are a team that plays hard and has outstanding scoring depth. We also like the mindset of the Red Wings, as they appear to be a cohesive unit that wants to win badly. Even when they are getting beat or going bad, the Red Wings are digging deep. Indeed spotting 1?-pucks or any pucks with the Red Wings is risky but perhaps it?s time to start bringing down the hammer on the Sabres, a team in big trouble.
Buffalo has lost four straight but that is not the issue here. The issue is that they are an unresponsive team. They have fallen behind 2-0 in five of its last six games. The Sabres hit the Christmas break last in the Eastern Conference amid growing questions that surround their coach's game management. They have given up the first goal in seven straight games and appear to be on their heels right from the opening puck drop. Dan Blysma?s plodding system is flat-out unwatchable at times. Players' instincts are stunted in place of where-should-I-be second thoughts. Zemgus Girgensons clearly can't make heads or tails out of it. Tyler Ennis, when he was healthy, had the same problem. Many others seem baffled. The Sabres should be skating and not thinking so much on the ice but their coach has to allow them to play that way. You wonder if that's possible.
Lately, it seems as if Bylsma has lost his mind. It's to the point where it's now an open discussion among Sabres fans if Bylsma, in just the second year of a five-year contract, should be heading down Ryan Road to the unemployment line too if his team continues to implode. Let's look at some examples:
Bylsma benched Jack Eichel for the first power play of Thursday's home loss to Carolina and the team's broadcast partners revealed Friday it was for disciplinary reasons. Perhaps not wanting to throw his 20-year-old star under the bus, Bylsma took the bullets for the decision with the media after Thursday's game and made no mention of any discipline issue. It was a bad miscalculation. By protecting the player, Bylsma made it sound like he actually wanted Matt Moulson on his power play over the kid the Sabres threw an entire season to get. Even though Moulson has seven power-play goals this season, everyone listening thought Bylsma was going goofy.
The Sabres' best defensive pairing this season has been Jake McCabe, and not the overmatched Josh Gorges, making a fine partner for No. 1 blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen. So what has Bylsma done the last couple games? Paired Ristolainen with trade acquisition Dmitry Kulikov, who has been a complete disaster. William Carrier, with one goal and two points in 23 games is being given way too much ice time. Zach Bogosian, who has missed a ton of time over the past five years because of numerous injuries looks lost out there and about 10 steps behind everybody else but the Sabres keep giving him big minutes because they are paying him big bucks. Bogosian has turned into a big liability every time he takes the ice. Remember, the Sabres didn't get Mike Babcock, they got Bylsma. They didn't get Steven Stamkos and they didn't get Jimmy Vesey. The losing was supposed to end this year but perhaps all the things that didn?t happen has negatively affected the players that were there. Dan Blysma is not letting them play creative hockey and that has everyone on their heels too. This is an unhappy group of players that probably aren?t looking forward to ?getting back at it? and until things change, Buffalo is a good bet to lose a bunch of games by more than one goal and we'll put that to the test here.
Ottawa +145 over N.Y. RANGERS
OT included. Rangers coach, Alain Vigneault is causing quite a stir among fans and media for choosing Antti Raanta over a healthy Henrik Lundqvist in six of the Rangers past nine games. AV has called Raanta?s name for this one too despite being pulled last game after allowing two quick goals in a 7-4 loss to the Wild. Prior to playing Minnesota, Raanta was also in net for the Rangers 7-2 loss to the Penguins. Raanta was in goal for all seven goals. Raanta has started the last two games for New York and the Rangers are 0-2 in those games while allowing seven goals against in both. While there is no need to panic just yet, as the Rangers are near to the top of the standings, there are issues surrounding this team that go beneath the surface. For one, the Rangers are a weak possession team, ranking 23rd in time spent in the offensive end. Playing the 20th ranked strength of schedule in the league, New York is 6-6 against top-10 competition and they were outshot and out-chanced in 11 of those 12 games. Only two teams, Arizona and Dallas, have had more face-offs taken in their end than the Rangers. Luck played a major role in the Rags getting to the playoffs last year before they were blown out by the Penguins and they?re on that same path this year. This is not a strong hockey team.
The Senators are the Rodney Dangerfield of the NHL. Quietly, the Sens have one of the best records in the NHL. Quietly, Mike Condon has been brilliant in net. Quietly, Ottawa has won four straight while outscoring the opposition 15-7 over that span. The Sens are a speedy and talented team that creates havoc in the offensive end. They have split up the Stone/Turris/Hoffman line that made them ?top heavy? into three equal opportunity lines that makes them so much more balanced and it?s working. Ottawa is 6-4 in their last 10 games with losses occurring against Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose and Pittsburgh. Those are not bad losses and now the Sens will play in another very winnable game while taking back a pretty sweet price.
Boston +115 over COLUMBUS
OT included. We have constantly insisted that of the four major sports, the results from game-to-game in hockey are the most luck driven of them all. A puck deflects and goes off the post or crossbar in one game and it goes into the top corner in another. Pucks pinball off three players and goes into the net in one game and pinballs off three players and goes 10-feet wide in another game. The puck bounces and just like a fumble in football, you don?t know where it is going to end up. Of course it?s not all luck driven, as there are great teams, good teams, average teams and weak teams and the analytics and surface stats can help in separating who?s who. That said, the Jackets have won 12 straight and while they are a legit team to be sure, it is so hard to win one game because of the luck factor, let alone 12. The Jackets were outshot 37-24 by Montreal just before the break but won 2-1. Two games previously, Columbus was outshot by Los Angeles 46-27 but won again. The Jackets had tremendous momentum heading into the break and it?s going to be difficult to bring that same intensity the first game back after it. Besides that, Boston is the perfect under the radar team to snap the Jackets franchise best 12-game winning streak.
Boston is a top-3 team in all offensive analytic categories. They rank second in the league in Corsi for. They are also the league?s third best puck possession team. The B?s dominate almost every game but luck has not been on their side. Boston?s PDO is fourth worst in the league and once those high quality chances start going in, the B?s are going to make a major move up the standings. Right now, Boston is 18-14-4, which puts them on par with many others but it hides the fact that the B?s are a dominating team. Boston had dropped seven of its last 10 games but it?s all because of bad luck. During that span, the B?s outshot the Islanders 50-29 and lost 4-2. In fact, they outshot every single team over that span except one and most of them were by a wide margin. They even outshot Pittsburgh 44-37 and lost 4-3. The B?s are working hard and playing great hockey without the results to show for it. Boston?s hard work and outstanding talent is about to pay off in spades and when it does, we are going to be there to collect. That likely starts here.
Minnesota +101 over NASHVILLE
OT included. The Preds have four wins over their last 11 games and just about everything they?re doing these days is either average or below. The Preds rank 17th in goals against per game and 18th on the penalty kill. They rank 12th in puck possession, which is a big drop off from last year?s squad that ranked fifth. Despite playing the 28th ranked strength of schedule in the NHL, the Preds are three games under .500. In a recent stretch of seven games, the Preds won twice and both victories occurred against Colorado. Once again, goaltending is becoming a huge issue, as Pekka Riinne has posted save percentages of .840, .824, .885, .882, .778 and .893 in six of his last seven starts.
Give a massive edge in goal to the Wild here. That alone makes them worthy of a bet here and so does the price. Combine the two and it?s a must play. The Wild have won 10 straight and come into this one after the break feeling strong, confident and wanting to get right back at it. Minnesota has also scored four goals or more in five of its last six games and we can almost guarantee that three or more here gets them a win here. Chances are GREAT they score at least three on Pekka Rinne.
San Jose vs. Anaheim
Pick: Anaheim
After a three day break from play, the NHL returns tonight, and so do the Ducks - from a very tough six-game road trip. No doubt this team will be happy to be back in Anaheim after going 2-4 on its travels which went pretty much around the country (and out of the country up north as well). Like the other team from the Los Angeles area, the Ducks really like playing in front of their home faithful, as they are 10-4-1 here vs. just 7-8-5 elsewhere. And they've won their last four in a row here, including a close 3-2 victory against tonight's opponents back on December 9. The Ducks are trying a two-goalie strategy it seems, alternating starts between #1 John Gibson and #2 Jonathan Bernier. But with the team having been off since the 22nd, they will likely stick with Gibson tonight even though he got the start last time. Despite Bernier having a winning record, Gibson's been the better net-minder through most of the season, and he's undefeated vs. the Sharks in his career, allowing just three total goals in three games against them with a 1.12 GAA. The Ducks have dominated this series lately, taking five of the last six meetings and four of the last five here in Southern Cal.
Minnesota @ Nashville
Pick: Nashville -114
Minnesota is hot but thin on depth, missing key forwards Erik Haula and Zach Parise to injury and illness. The Wild head out on the road and are 1-11 when playing on three or more days of rest. This is the end of a three-game road trip for them. Nashville is 10-4-1 at home, ranked ninth in the NHL in goals scored, and #11 on the power play. The Predators come off a shutout loss but are 8-2 after scoring two or fewer goals in their previous game, plus 14-6 when playing on three or more days of rest.
Winnipeg at Chicago
Play: Under 5
Central Division foes face off at the "Madhouse on Madison" tonight as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Winnipeg Jets. The Hawks gain a pair of key players back from injury off the short holiday break as forwards Artem Anisimov and Marian Hossa are both scheduled to return to the lineup. The 36-year-old Hossa leads Chicago with 16 goals while the Russian sniper Anisimov has 27 points and is a key piece of the club's top line along with Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane. Winnipeg has won three of its last four games and despite losing six of the previous 10 meetings versus Chicago, they've given the Blackhawks some match-up troubles from a size perspective. Former Hawk Dustin Byfuglien leads the charge along with defenseman Adam Pardy in hits, using their physical style to push around the skillful, offensive-minded Hawks. These two teams have been under machines all season with Winnipeg going 3-9-1 O/U in 13 division contests and Chicago on a 6-13-4 O/U run versus Western Conference opposition. Adding to it is a 3-7 O/U run over the last 10 meetings. I anticipate both squads to start off slow and keep things tight in this game knowing the first mistake made could make a significant difference. Play this game under the total of 5 at a decent plus price.
Colorado turned in a surprisingly impressive account of itself last week against the Blackhawks, but the sample size is such that the win has to be considered an aberration as opposed to the rule. And nothing has solved the team?s power-play issues. The Avs are 0-for-12 with the man advantage in their last three contests. They are 1-for-24 in such situations in their last six outings. Calgary is 8-3 in its last 11 overall, 7-1 in its last eight against the Western Conference, 7-0 in its last seven against losing opponents, and 5-2 in its last seven following a win. The Avalanche are 1-5 in their last six overall, 7-19 in their last 26 at home, 1-7 in their last eight against the Western Conference, and 1-9 in their last 10 following a win.
Thunder at Heat
Pick: Over
Russell Westbrook may very well end up averaging a triple double this year, but the team's offensive efficiency has taken a significant hit. They are down to a very average 15th place ranking in that department, though the rebounding rate (3rd) remains strong. That all being said, the Over is 3-0-1 their last four games (push coming on Christmas) and by their standards, this is a low total. Remember, the Thunder still average 107.0 PPG. On the road, they allow a troubling 108.4 PPG.
Miami has not played since Friday when they lost at New Orleans, 91-87. Though the L5 meetings vs. OKC have all stayed Under, I would not expect that low scoring of an affair here. Even by the Heat's perspective, this is a pretty low total. Only one of their last 12 games has has a total sub-200 points and they are allowing 102.6 PPG at home already.
the Los Angeles Lakers, who come in after ending their drought against the Los Angeles Clippers, and will continue to grow as a team with yet another surprising win, tonight against the Utah Jazz.
Seven Lakers scored in double figures against the Clippers, led by Nick Young and Timofey Mozgov with 19 each, marking the first time the Lakers defeated the Clippers in more than three year, ending an 11-game losing streak.
The Lakers (12-22) also snapped a four-game skid and won for just the second time in the past 14 games. That momentum will carry into this game, which is a double-revenge situation for L.A.
The Jazz have won twice over the Lakers this season, including a Dec. 5 matchup at Staples Center, a 107-101 victory over a short-handed Los Angeles roster that was missing several key performers.
The Lakers are going to take advantage of a Utah team that is mired in a three-game losing streak, including a 104-98 setback at the hands of the Toronto Raptors on Friday night. And that was on the heels of a one-point setback against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, and a 30-point thrashing from the two-time defending Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors on Dec. 20.
This time around, it's the Jazz who are dealing with injuries, as starting point guard George Hill has a toe injury that is expected to keep him out tonight. Also, guard Rodney Hood has been slowed by flu, and while he is expected to play against the Lakers, his stamina could suffer.
I like the home underdog here.
ROCKETS AT MAVERICKS
PLAY: ROCKETS -6
Pretty simple reasoning for me on this play.
The Rockets bear little similarity to recent editions as this team has a far better work ethic than it did the past couple of seasons. I don?t think it?s any coincidence that Houston is a more determined entry with Dwight Howard no longer on the roster.
One indicator of how things are now different for the Rockets is how well this team has performed on the back end of a two games in two nights segment. That?s when effort kicks in, and I?m very impressed with Houston?s 6-0 record in this scenario, which includes five spread wins.
Dallas is at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Mavericks are not good and their lack of quality depth has largely doomed them when forced to play without rest. The Mavs have dropped all five games when playing for a second straight evening, and only covered the spread once in that quintet.
The Rockets had a very easy time of it on Monday night against Phoenix and were able to spread out the minutes accordingly. So I don?t see fatigue as any kind of factor here and without some kind of advantage it?s really tough for me to make a case for the Mavericks being able to hang for 48 against a clearly superior opponent. I?m willing to spot the points in this game with the Rockets.
Pick: Houston -1.5 1st quarter @ Dallas 1.90 Reasoning: Houston is first in the league in the first quarter at 31.5 points per game. Dallas is last at 22.7. This should be enough by itself to entice a significant play but if you need more here you go: Houston has outscored it's opponent in the 1q by 16, 6, 4 in the last three games. Second night of a b2b Houston has outscored it's last three opponents in the 1q by 4, 9 (against Dallas), and 0 (against Portland) Meanwhile, Dallas has been outscored by 5, 3, and -10 (against portland, not helping my argument here!) the last three
In the Sights, Tuesday NCAA?
I believe there is going to be a high level of energy from Boise State in the Cactus Bowl tonight, energy that can translate to a good performance give how sharp Byran Harson?s bowl preparation has been in his first two go-rounds, wins and covers by 51.5 points. But there is an issue with a Broncos defense that will be without four starters, including Jabril Frazier and Dylan Sumner-Gardner, so it will be #242 Boise State Team Total Over (10:15 Eastern) as the path, with 37.5 out there in the morning trading, and value holding up to 38.
The Boise interest in playing well has been easy to track from a program that has a lot of pride. A win tonight would make it 11 seasons of 11 victories or more since 2002, with only Ohio State matching that, and the 15th straight Senior class to reach 40 wins. I use those numbers because that is what the players and coaches have talked about. Let?s delve into that here -
First, from Senior OL Mario Yakoo - ?We?re nine points away from potentially being one of the best teams in Boise State history. ? We still have that dirty taste in our mouths, and there?s nothing better to cure that dirty taste than to go out there Dec. 27 and just dominate, get that ?W.? ? How about QB Brett Rypien - ?It?s going back and looking at every little thing that cost us those nine points. The fan base and the players and the coaches have a very high expectation for the program and a program that expects to win 11 games per year, and if you don?t, it?s a disappointing season.? I?ll close with DE Sam McCaskill - ?You take all that rage and disappointment from some of the stuff that happened throughout the season, and you carry that into preparation for the bowl game.?
That energy can play well into what is likely to be a disinterested Baylor defense, the Bears not exhibiting any special energy in having to keep a dismal season going, rather than pack the equipment away, and in his last assignment as HC Jim Grobe understands one of the matchup problems that drives this ticket - ?I love their offensive line. You?ve got to be physical with these guys. And one of our issues is we?re not very big up front, and I think this is one of the better offensive lines we?ll play against.?
I am not going to gamble on the Boise State defensive replacements playing well against a Baylor offense that still brings plenty of weapons, and should have a loose and aggressive game plan. But I will look for the Broncos to get plenty of points on the board.
Baylor vs, Boise St
Play: Baylor +8
Baylor enters this Bowl Game on a 6 game losing streak after winning their 1st 6 games. This Baylor team never recovered from their 1 point loss to Texas. However Baylor did put up a fight in their last game of the season losing by just 3 as a 17 point underdog to a very good WVU team. Boise St although 10-2 SU wasn?t their dominating self going just 3-9 ATS. Vegas and the public still treat Boise St like the teams from the past when Peterson was the head coach and thus they are not covering these big spreads. Motivation is always a tricky part of handicapping the bowls and trying to figure if Baylor is going to show up is tough but I am going to say they do and here?s why. Baylor played with heart in season finale trying to finish 7-5 instead of 6-6 so I think they show up here as they don?t want to be the class that has a losing record. The players that are not graduating will also want to show the new coach what they can do. This hiring isn?t because their coach bolted to a better job but rather this hiring is to move the program forward from the lame duck situation it had with the interim coach all season in wake of the firing of Art Briles just before the season began. So if we do indeed have a motivated Baylor team we are getting a team from a Power 5 conference as an underdog to Boise St from the Mountain West Conference and that's a huge difference in talent. Too much value here with Baylor.
Baylor vs. Boise State
Play: Baylor +7?
I know Boise State has a strong track record in bowl games, but I think they will lack motivation here. The Broncos had their eyes set on going undefeated and playing in one of the premier bowl games. Now they find themselves up against a Baylor team that hasn?t won a game since beating Kansas on October 15. On top of that, we are getting exceptional value here with the Bears catching over a touchdown.
On the flip side of things, I think Baylor got a big shot in the arm when it was announced Rhule was taking over. This is their chance to make a lasting impression to get the edge at a starting job next season. At the same time, I think the players are going to play their hearts out for Grobe and the assistants on this staff. There?s also a lot of pride at stake here for the Bears, as they don?t want to end the season with 7 straight losses.
Baylor will be playing their bowl game without starting quarterback Seth Russell. Not a major shock to the system, as he didn?t play in the final 3 games of the regular season. Backup Zack Smith showed some potential filling in for Russell. He threw for 879 yards and 8 TD?s in those final 3 games. Nearly leading them to an upset win at West Virginia in the finale.
With that said, I think it?s the Bears running game that will be the difference in this one. Baylor ended the year ranked 12th in the country in rushing at 250.3 ypg. Boise State?s defense really struggled against strong rushing teams. Evident in their two losses to Wyoming and Air Force. The Broncos ranked just 68th against the run, giving up 179.8 ypg. Adding to this, Boise St is just 3-12 ATS in their last 15 against teams who average 4.75 or more yards/carry. Baylor as a team averaged 5.1 yards/carry.
The ability to run the ball is huge for Baylor in this game. It?s going to keep their defense fresh and limit the number of possessions for the Broncos offense. Don?t forget last year?s bowl game for Baylor, where they upset No. 10 UNC 49-38 behind 645 yards rushing. More than anything, I think the Bears will be the more motivated team and we are getting a touchdown to work with.
Washington St -9? over Minnesota
The elephant in the room here that surrounds the Gophers is a factor that is hard to measure but it must be mentioned because it?s part of the team right now. At this stage, it's hard to interpret what impact the events at Minnesota will have on the Gophers' ultimate desire to prepare for and play this game, but two things are certain. First, there is already a cost in terms of lost focus and preparation time, and second, the absence of five more defensive backs is bad personnel news versus Mike Leach, Luke Falk and the Cougars air raid. Still, we won't be too hasty to write the Gophers off, as the Minnesota players could come together, show up with spirit and play hard, an outcome made more likely given the unity between players and staff, if not the administration. The trouble in the Twin Cities will also have an effect on Washington State, who could easily look at the mess that the past few weeks have been and think the Gophers will be an easy out.
Minnesota's pass rush and ground game are big assets in this matchup, but even if the line gets to Falk regularly, it's hard to see the secondary holding up for four quarters against the nation's only passing offense featuring five players with 40 or more receptions. Washington State was in the driver's seat for its first Pac-12 championship since 2002 all the way up to the season's final week, but the Cougars couldn't get past Washington in the Apple Cup, finishing 8-4 and alone in second place in the Pac-12 North. If the Cougars are satisfied with their season and view this game as a disappointment, they could run into trouble. However, if they want to stick it to the Gophers because of ?what several players are accused of doing? something real men will not tolerate, then it could be a very long day for the underdog. At this point, our best guess is that the Gophers play hard and hang around for a while before the favorite's well-oiled offense proves too much to handle and the Cougars pull away in the second half. It all comes down to focus so if the Coogs show up here and play hard, the Gophers won't have any answers.
Boise State -7 over Baylor
From reviewing the analytics, there are a lot of mixed messages here. What is clear is that the market assessment of this one is that a shootout is forthcoming. However, we have dissenting opinions, as this contest has every capability of being a one-sided affair in favor of Boise State.
The Broncos come in at 10-2. One of its losses was to Air Force in their regular season nightcap by a score of 27-20 despite spotting the Falcons 7?-points, Nevertheless, two things must be considered. First, this game was away from Boise where the Broncos lost both their games this season and second, the Falcons have had Boise?s number and always give them a hard time. Air Force played their signature brand of football, which consists of an efficient and methodical rushing attack, essentially starving Boise State?s offense of opportunities to hurt them. Similarly, Boise State was caught off guard when they went down to Laramie, Wyoming and fell to the Cowboys by a score of 30-28 as a two-touchdown favorite. Boise was expecting to see the Wyoming of year?s past and was met instead with a spirited and live outfit in an electric atmosphere. From these two results, combined with their 3-9 ATS record, this market had had enough of spotting points with Boise State while ripping up their tickets. That?s when we like to step in, as Boise comes in underpriced for the first time in a very long time.
The Baylor Bears have been a train wreck since Week 7 and nothing has changed coming into this one. The difference between the two rests in the fact that this is a Bears football team that started off at 6-0 before losing their last six down the backstretch. We have always been advocates for staying clear of teams that live and die by their offense and Baylor typifies that. As a result of Baylor?s approach, we have seen this team blow huge leads in the past and/or get taken down by teams they should have beaten. How can we feel good about Baylor in what has just been a very unfortunate season in many ways? On the other side you have a team in Boise State that went 3-9 against the spread this season, but we?ll chalk that up to it being a name brand in a lower-tier conference, and having inflated numbers put on them as a favorite in many of those games. Swallow the points and then expect a big day from the Boise State offense behind QB Brett Rypien, who threw for 23 touchdowns this year, while tossing only six interceptions. Baylor is not only going bad, it is outclassed here too.
