Wagers to Watch
December 6, 2010
By Bodog
Ah, football weather. They say this is going to be a La Ni?a winter in North America, with colder temperatures already sweeping from the Pacific Coast to the Midwest. Travel is going to be a pain this year, and not just because of those overly friendly patdowns at the airport. Don?t forget to take a look at the weather and give extra consideration to home teams as we preview this week in sports betting. All times are Eastern, and the odds are fresher than a mountain glacier at Bodog Sports.
1. NFL: New England at Chicago (Sunday, 4:15 p.m.)
It?s not easy to love the Bears (9-3 SU, 6-5-1 ATS), but they have value in this situation. Rest is even more critical at this time of year; the Bears get the extra day off after beating the Detroit Lions (+5 at home) 24-20 on Sunday, while the Patriots (9-2 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) had a Monday Night Football date with the visiting New York Jets. Windy conditions and a 30 percent chance of snow are in the forecast for Soldier Field. If this becomes a winter war of attrition, the Bears are better equipped at sixth in the league in defensive efficiency, while the Patriots are only No. 27 in that category according to Football Outsiders.
2. NCAAF: Navy vs. Army (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)
There?s one more piece of college football betting business before we get to the bowl season. The Midshipmen (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) will try to win their ninth game in a row against the Black Knights (6-5 SU, 5-6 ATS), and the odds will be heavily on Navy?s side at Lincoln Financial Field. Brian Fremeau?s efficiency ratings have Navy ranked No. 26 in the FBS, powered by coach Ken Niumatalolo?s version of the triple-option offense. Army, also using an option offense under second-year coach Rich Ellerson, ranks just No. 60, but that?s still a major improvement ? the Knights are bowl-eligible for the first time since 1996. The forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of rain and temperatures around 40 degrees.
3. NBA: L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers (Wednesday, 10:30 p.m.)
Welcome to the shortest road trip in the NBA. The Lakers (14-6 SU, 10-10 ATS) will be the visiting team at Staples Center as they face the Clippers (4-16 SU, 10-10 ATS heading into Sunday night), who had covered six of their last seven games before playing in Portland late on Sunday. Baron Davis and Chris Kaman have both rejoined the Clippers lineup from the injured list, but this game could also mark the return of Lakers center Andrew Bynum, idle since the offseason because of knee surgery. Any production from Bynum would help an overworked frontcourt that has dropped the cash in five of the last six Lakers games.
4. NCAAB: Michigan State vs. Syracuse (Tuesday, 9:00 p.m.)
The Jimmy V Classic takes over Madison Square Garden on Tuesday with a major promotional push from ESPN. The Spartans could use a bit of a push themselves at 6-2 (4-4 ATS). Tom Izzo?s teams usually find themselves among the preseason favorites for the title; Michigan State (9-1) opened 2010-11 as the second favorite to Duke (5-1), although those odds are being revised after the Spartans lost to both UConn (+6 neutral) and the Blue Devils (?10 at home). But don?t sleep on MSU, and don?t overvalue the Orange (8-0 SU, 2-6 ATS), who have been scraping by against inferior opposition.
5. NHL: Montreal at Detroit (Friday, 7:00 p.m.)
We?ve passed the quarter pole of the NHL regular season, and these two Original Six giants are running at the front of the pack. A rebound season was expected from the Red Wings (17-4-3) with their injured players returning and Jimmy Howard (.919 save percentage) starting the year between the pipes. But the Canadiens (17-8-2) have exceeded all expectations, as their faith in goaltender Carey Price (.935 SV%) has been rewarded. Montreal is only No. 20 in the league in scoring at 2.63 goals per game, giving the UNDER the right combination to go 20-6-1. Detroit once again leads the NHL in scoring (3.50 goals per game) with the OVER at 13-11.
December 6, 2010
By Bodog
Ah, football weather. They say this is going to be a La Ni?a winter in North America, with colder temperatures already sweeping from the Pacific Coast to the Midwest. Travel is going to be a pain this year, and not just because of those overly friendly patdowns at the airport. Don?t forget to take a look at the weather and give extra consideration to home teams as we preview this week in sports betting. All times are Eastern, and the odds are fresher than a mountain glacier at Bodog Sports.
1. NFL: New England at Chicago (Sunday, 4:15 p.m.)
It?s not easy to love the Bears (9-3 SU, 6-5-1 ATS), but they have value in this situation. Rest is even more critical at this time of year; the Bears get the extra day off after beating the Detroit Lions (+5 at home) 24-20 on Sunday, while the Patriots (9-2 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) had a Monday Night Football date with the visiting New York Jets. Windy conditions and a 30 percent chance of snow are in the forecast for Soldier Field. If this becomes a winter war of attrition, the Bears are better equipped at sixth in the league in defensive efficiency, while the Patriots are only No. 27 in that category according to Football Outsiders.
2. NCAAF: Navy vs. Army (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)
There?s one more piece of college football betting business before we get to the bowl season. The Midshipmen (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) will try to win their ninth game in a row against the Black Knights (6-5 SU, 5-6 ATS), and the odds will be heavily on Navy?s side at Lincoln Financial Field. Brian Fremeau?s efficiency ratings have Navy ranked No. 26 in the FBS, powered by coach Ken Niumatalolo?s version of the triple-option offense. Army, also using an option offense under second-year coach Rich Ellerson, ranks just No. 60, but that?s still a major improvement ? the Knights are bowl-eligible for the first time since 1996. The forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of rain and temperatures around 40 degrees.
3. NBA: L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers (Wednesday, 10:30 p.m.)
Welcome to the shortest road trip in the NBA. The Lakers (14-6 SU, 10-10 ATS) will be the visiting team at Staples Center as they face the Clippers (4-16 SU, 10-10 ATS heading into Sunday night), who had covered six of their last seven games before playing in Portland late on Sunday. Baron Davis and Chris Kaman have both rejoined the Clippers lineup from the injured list, but this game could also mark the return of Lakers center Andrew Bynum, idle since the offseason because of knee surgery. Any production from Bynum would help an overworked frontcourt that has dropped the cash in five of the last six Lakers games.
4. NCAAB: Michigan State vs. Syracuse (Tuesday, 9:00 p.m.)
The Jimmy V Classic takes over Madison Square Garden on Tuesday with a major promotional push from ESPN. The Spartans could use a bit of a push themselves at 6-2 (4-4 ATS). Tom Izzo?s teams usually find themselves among the preseason favorites for the title; Michigan State (9-1) opened 2010-11 as the second favorite to Duke (5-1), although those odds are being revised after the Spartans lost to both UConn (+6 neutral) and the Blue Devils (?10 at home). But don?t sleep on MSU, and don?t overvalue the Orange (8-0 SU, 2-6 ATS), who have been scraping by against inferior opposition.
5. NHL: Montreal at Detroit (Friday, 7:00 p.m.)
We?ve passed the quarter pole of the NHL regular season, and these two Original Six giants are running at the front of the pack. A rebound season was expected from the Red Wings (17-4-3) with their injured players returning and Jimmy Howard (.919 save percentage) starting the year between the pipes. But the Canadiens (17-8-2) have exceeded all expectations, as their faith in goaltender Carey Price (.935 SV%) has been rewarded. Montreal is only No. 20 in the league in scoring at 2.63 goals per game, giving the UNDER the right combination to go 20-6-1. Detroit once again leads the NHL in scoring (3.50 goals per game) with the OVER at 13-11.
