NBA Basketball Matchup: New York Knicks vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Both of these teams took a big step forward last year, but they are struggling to stay at that high level.
Author: Kyle Hunter
Kyle Hunter sports picks – A degree in finance and a great ability to follow important trends and statistics set him apart from the rest. Totals are Kyle's specialty, so look for a lot of totals picks from NBA, NCAAF, & the NFL. Check out his plays today.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks
8:00 PM EST on TNT
NBA Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NBA Betting Favorite: Heat -2
Over/Under: 189
Miami blew out Indiana last night, but LeBron James turned his ankle and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game in Atlanta. Dwyane Wade continues to have foot problems, and he is also questionable for this matchup. The Hawks beat the Heat earlier this week to give Miami its first loss of the season. Will Miami get revenge in Atlanta or will the Hawks take a second straight game from the Heat?
The Heat have really improved their offense so far this year. At times last season it appeared the team was out of sync offensively, but they seem to have much better chemistry on the offensive end so far this year. Miami leads the NBA in both points per game and field goal percentage offense. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have made it clear they are going to be more aggressive and stop settling for three-pointers this year, and I think that is a huge help to this team. A healthy Udonis Haslem is a big plus for this team as well. He leads the team with ten rebounds. Chris Bosh will need to step up his game tonight with James and Wade hurting.
Atlanta’s nucleus looks quite similar to what it has the last few years. Joe Johnson, Al Horford, and Josh Smith are all see as team leaders. Jamal Crawford left the team in the offseason, but Tracy McGrady is doing surprisingly well in his role with the team. McGrady has given this team a nice offensive spark. He is shooting 51.2% from the floor in six games this season. Atlanta is 4-2 primarily because they are only giving up 85.7 points per game. The Hawks forced 16 turnovers in their win over Miami earlier this week.
It seems like the Hawks aren’t getting much respect from the oddsmakers in this one. Miami has two stars that might not even play and they are still favored by two. I’ll take the Hawks in this one.
Prediction: Atlanta 95 Miami 94
Bengals vs Texans Free Pick
The NFL playoffs kick off Saturday afternoon in Houston. A few weeks ago the Texans beat Cincinnati 20-19 on a last second touchdown. It looked like that would knock the Bengals out of the playoffs, but they backed their way in because other playoff contenders flopped at the end of the season.
Houston has just missed the playoffs several times, but they are finally a part of the postseason.
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Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) vs. Houston Texans (10-6)
Time/Date: 4:30 PM EST, January 7, 2012
Venue: Reliant Stadium
Broadcast: NBC
Bengals vs. Texans Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Spread: Texans -3
Moneyline: Houston (-170) Cincinnati (+150)
Over/Under: 38.5
The Bengals were expected to be terrible, but this young squad came together quickly.
Which team will move on?
Andy Dalton will get plenty of consideration for Rookie of the Year honors, and he definitely deserves it. Carson Palmer deserted this team after a 4-12 year last year, and many believed the team would do even worse this year. Dalton stepped into a difficult situation and excelled in his rookie season in the league.
He threw 20 touchdowns and had a respectable 80.4 quarterback rating this year. A.J. Green definitely helped make Dalton’s transition easier. Green topped the 1,000 yard receiving mark in his rookie season. He is destined to be a star for many years to come. The Bengals must get Cedric Benson and the ground game going in this one.
It was the Cincinnati defense that led this team to the playoffs this year. Several weeks into the season they were the top ranked defense in the NFL. Key injuries to guys like Leon Hall and Keith Rivers hurt this unit in the last few weeks, but they have continued to be solid. Nate Clements and Reggie Nelson lead a solid secondary, while Domata Peko and Geno Atkins provide strength on the front line. Cincinnati gives up 20.2 points per game.
Houston saw its top two quarterbacks go down with an injury this year. Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart are both expected to miss the rest of the year, so it is up to rookie T.J. Yates. Yates was an unheralded rookie coming into the season, but he has filled in admirably for this team. Yates completed 61% of his passes this year, and he threw for 949 yards in limited action. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Texans are led by a great tailback tandem. Arian Foster and Ben Tate combined for more than 2,100 rushing yards this year. Foster’s versatility in the passing game is a big perk for this team. Tate was a bit of surprise to most of the league, but he averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry this year. Andre Johnson missed a lot of time this year, but he is expected to be ready for this one.
Last year the Houston pass defense was the worst in the NFL, and this season they ranked third in the league. Johnathan Joseph, formerly a star for the Bengals, stepped in and made this Texans secondary much better right away. Joseph led the team with 15 pass deflections and four interceptions this year.
Brian Cushing led the team in tackles, and this group of linebackers is ultra-talented. Overall, the Texans finished the regular season ranked second in the NFL in total defense.
Both of these teams are led by a strong defense. I don’t expect either team to put up big points in this one. I like the value on the under.
Free NFL Pick: Under 38.5
NBA Basketball Matchup: Lakers vs Trailblazers
The Lakers lost their first couple games this year, but they have responded by winning four of their last five games.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Duke vs Temple
Last year Temple visited Duke and was beaten 78-61. Now, it is the Blue Devils turn to travel to Philadelphia and take on the Owls.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Syracuse vs Providence
Syracuse had lots of negative publicity early in the year, but the team hasn’t let it hurt their play on the court at all.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns Free Pick
It has been a season to forget for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have lost eight of their last nine games. Pittsburgh still has a shot at home field advantage in the playoffs, but they must win this game.
The Steelers have won 9 of the last 10 meetings between these two rivals.
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Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-11)
Time/Date: 4:15 PM EST, January 1, 2012
Venue: Cleveland Browns Stadium
Broadcast: CBS
Steelers vs. Browns Gambling Odds from 5Dimes
Spread: Steelers -7
Moneyline: Off
Over/Under: 36
The Browns would love nothing more than to end the season by hurting their hated rivals playoff positioning. Don’t expect Cleveland to roll over in this one.
Ben Roethlisberger didn’t play in last week’s game against the Rams, but he is expected to return for this regular season finale. Big Ben has thrown 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions so far this season. He will certainly be a bit gimpy due to his sprained ankle, but he has shown the ability to fight through injury plenty of times before. Rashard Mendenhall had one of his best games of the year last week against St. Louis. Mendenhall averaged 6.4 yards per carry last week. Mike Wallace is one of the best deep threats in the NFL. Pittsburgh has four players with at least 41 receptions this year. The Steelers average 20.8 points per game.
Pittsburgh’s defense continues to be the main reason this team is such a dominant force. The front seven is the best in the league. James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, James Farrior, and Lawrence Timmons are beasts in the 3-4 defense of Dick LeBeau. Woodley is listed as doubtful for this one, but Jason Worilds is a very good replacement. The secondary is tremendous, and it all starts with free safety Troy Polamalu. This defense has no real weakness. Pittsburgh allows just 14.5 points per contest. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Cleveland’s offense has been lacking explosiveness all season long. Colt McCoy has improved in his second year as the starter, but he is listed as questionable for this one due to a concussion suffered last time these teams met. Peyton Hillis hasn’t had a good season overall, but his last two games have been much better. Hillis ran for 99 yards two weeks ago and 112 last week against the tough Ravens defense. The Browns need a big game from Hillis to have any chance in this game. Greg Little has been the most consistent receiver for this team, but they are lacking a big play maker on the outside. Cleveland is averaging a miserable 13.9 points per game.
The Browns defense has actually been very good this year. Cleveland has had a lot of close games because this unit has held the opposition down even when the Browns offense is doing almost nothing. The primary reason for the big improvement on defense is the talented secondary. Joe Haden has an amazing 19 pass deflections this year. Haden is the young leader of this talented secondary. Cleveland has struggled against power running teams. Overall, the Browns are giving up just 19.6 points per game this year.
The Browns will fight hard in this one, but they are overmatched. Pittsburgh has plenty of incentive to be playing hard all the way in this one. Expect Pittsburgh to cover here.
NFL Free Pick: Steelers -7
Baltimore Ravens (11-4) vs Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)
There is a lot on the line this Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. The Bengals need a win to guarantee a playoff spot, while the Ravens need a win to earn home field advantage in the playoffs.
There will be no resting starters here. It will be an all out fight to the end in Cincinnati. This should be one of the best games of the weekend.
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Time/Date: 4:15 PM EST, January 1, 2012
Venue: Paul Brown Stadium
Broadcast: CBS
Ravens vs. Bengals Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Spread: Ravens -2
Moneyline: Ravens (-130) Bengals (+110)
Over/Under: 37.5
Baltimore is 11-4 on the season, but they are just 3-4 on the road. Clearly, this is a team that definitely needs to get home field advantage in the playoffs. This is a game they badly need to win. Quarterback Joe Flacco has had his worst year as a professional this year. Flacco has been extremely inconsistent, and he is completing just 56.8% of his pass attempts. Can he be trusted to win a big game in the playoffs? Many experts don’t believe he can at this point. Ray Rice has put together a tremendous season in the backfield. Rice leads the team in rushing yards and receptions this year. He is probably the most versatile running back in the NFL.
The reason Baltimore has 11 wins is the spectacular play of their defense. Terrell Suggs leads the team with 13 sacks, and he has had the best year of a highly successful career. Ray Lewis isn’t quite the player he once was, but he leads the team with 67 tackles this season. This is a defense that thrives on forcing turnovers. Haloti Ngata has two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. LaDarius Webb leads an impressive secondary with five interceptions. Baltimore allows just 16.7 points per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Andy Dalton came into a difficult situation and Cincinnati, but he has had an amazing first year with the Bengals. Dalton wasn’t picked until the second round, but he’ll get some serious consideration for Rookie of the Year in the NFL this season. Dalton has racked up 20 touchdown passes against just 13 interceptions. It has definitely helped to have star receiver A.J. Green on the outside. Green is only a rookie as well, but he has 63 catches for 1,031 yards. Jermaine Gresham has become a security blanket over the middle of the field for the Bengals. Cedric Benson had some problems with ball security last week. The Bengals must get a good performance out of him this week if they hope to win.
Cincinnati’s defense has suffered some major injuries, but this unit has done a nice job staying together of late. Leon Hall, Pat Sims, and Keith Rivers are out for the year with injuries. Reggie Nelson has revived his career with a strong season at the safety spot for Cincinnati this year. Nelson has 12 pass deflections and four interceptions. Thomas Howard and Rey Maualuga have been leaders at the linebacker position. The Bengals have allowed just 19.9 points per game this year.
I like both defenses a lot, but I think 37.5 is a little bit too low for this one. The last meeting between these two finished at 31-24. Look for this one to get into the 40’s.
Free NFL Pick: Over 37.5
NBA Basketball Matchup: New York Knicks vs Los Angeles Lakers
The Knicks haven’t been to the top in a long time, but they do appear to be making some progress with their big acquisitions over the past year.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
This isn’t the way the defending champions envisioned their title defense starting out. Dallas was blown out by Miami in a rematch of last year’s title in the season opener.
Meineke Care Bowl: Texas A&M (6-6) vs Northwestern (6-6)
Texas A&M came into this season with high hopes, but second half blunders cost this team a chance at a special season. Mike Sherman was replaced by Kevin Sumlin as head coach of the Aggies.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Mississippi State vs. Baylor
Wednesday’s college hoops slate is a pretty big one, but there isn’t a bigger matchup on the card than this one. Two top 15 teams will square off in Waco as Mississippi State takes on the Baylor Bears.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Wisconsin vs Nebraska
Bo Ryan’s Badgers are right around the top of the Big Ten every single year. Wisconsin’s solid fundamental play is a testament to their coach’s game plan. Nebraska is in its first year in the Big Ten.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Pittsburgh vs Notre Dame
How will the Pittsburgh Panthers respond to a shocking loss this past week? Pitt was rolling along in the top ten before falling at home to unranked Wagner. The Panthers must put the pieces together quickly as they travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame Tuesday night.
Military Bowl: Toledo (8-4) vs. Air Force (7-5)
Date: December 28, 4:30 PM EST
Venue: RFK Stadium, Washington D.C.
Betting Lines from BetOnline.com
Moneyline: Toledo (-165) Air Force (+145)
Spread: Toledo -3
Over/Under: 70
Toledo received a lot of time on ESPN during the MAC midweek games this year. During those national broadcasts, we saw the greatness of the Toledo offense and the weakness of the Rockets defense.
Air Force didn’t get as much air time this year, but they should feel right at home in the Military Bowl. Both teams have finished the season on a hot streak. Who will end the year with a big bowl win?
Tim Beckman was hired as the new head coach at Illinois, and he won’t be coaching Toledo in this one. The Rockets have won seven of their last eight games. Their only loss during that time was a 63-60 loss at the hands of Northern Illinois.
Austin Dantin and Terrance Owens have split time under center this year for Toledo. Both of them have put up tremendous numbers. Dantin is listed as questionable for this game due to a concussion. Owens has a 71.4% completion percentage, and he has thrown 15 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions. Toledo’s offense is so tough to stop because of their amazing balance. The Rockets average 272 yards per game through the air and 222 per game on the ground. Eric Page is the team’s best play maker. Page racked up 111 receptions during the regular season. The Rockets average 42.2 points per contest.
Toledo’s defense actually did a pretty good job this year against the run, but the secondary has had all sorts of trouble stopping the pass. The Rockets gave up 278 yards per game through the air. In their last three games, Toledo allowed 36 points per game. This defense must step up against the option attack. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Tim Jefferson Jr. is a four-year starter at quarterback for Air Force. Jefferson is a good decision-maker in the triple option attack, and he has improved his passing each year. He completed 61% of his passes for 1,478 yards during the regular season. Jefferson threw for 12 touchdowns and ran for 10 more. Asher Clark was the team’s top tailback this season. Clark averaged an astounding 7.3 yards per carry. Mike Dewitt is a top-notch fullback who ran for 10 touchdowns in 2011. Air Force ranked 19th in the nation in total offense this year. It’s no secret that this team wants to run the ball constantly, but it is very tough to stop.
The Falcons defense was exactly the opposite of Toledo this season. While Air Force did a great job against the pass, they were extremely vulnerable against the run. Air Force has a very badly undersized front four, and they have been dominated by most physical offensive lines this season. Overall, Air Force is giving up 27.2 points per game this year.
Both teams will be looking to run the ball early and often here. It’s hard to imagine a game with so many rushing attempts going over such a high total, but I think it will. Toledo should have trouble with the triple option, and the Rockets should be able to roll over the undersized Falcons defensive front.
Free College Football Pick: Over 70
Score Prediction: Toledo 38 Air Force 35
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NCAA Basketball Matchup: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Missouri Tigers
The border battle between Illinois and Missouri will take place again tonight. Illinois had dominated this series for years, but the Tigers have won the last two meetings.
