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01/17/2007 - Villanova, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 20th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish are a perfect 13-0 at home, but must go on the road this evening, as they take on the Villanova Wildcats in Big East action from the Pavilion.
Mike Brey's squad is a stellar 15-2 on the season and has won 14 of its last 15 games. The lone loss during that span came in the team's only true road contest, dropping a 66-48 decision at Georgetown on January 6th. Since then, the Irish have won two in a row, including an 88-76 victory over Seton Hall on Sunday. The victory moved ND to 3-1 in Big East action.
The Wildcats are the opposite, 1-3 in league play, and have lost three of their last four games, including a 75-64 setback at Syracuse on Saturday. These two teams will meet again in 10 days in South Bend.
Villanova holds a 15-12 edge in the all-time series. In their only meeting with Notre Dame last season, the Wildcats edged out the Irish, holding on for a 72-70 decision.
Notre Dame shot .534 from the floor and hit 10 three-pointers in posting a 12- point win over the Pirates on Sunday. Russell Carter hit all four of his attempts behind the arc and led four Irish players in double figures with 24 points. Carter recorded his first double-double of the season and second in his career by adding 10 rebounds. Rob Kurz just missed his own double-double with 15 points and nine caroms and was followed in the scoring column by Luke Harangody and Zach Hillesland, who added 12 points apiece. Notre Dame is a real surprise this season and a full arsenal at the offensive end is the reason for the success. The team is averaging a hardy 84.1 ppg this year, shooting .492 from the floor and .401 from behind the arc. Carter has been outstanding this season and is one of the Big East's top snipers, shooting .454 from three-point range (49-of-128) and pacing the team with 18.0 ppg. Kurz is a perfect complement down low, adding 14.4 ppg, while grabbing 8.8 rpg. Colin Falls and Harangody provide adequate scoring depth with 12.2 and 12.0 ppg, respectively.
Villanova has done a nice job at the offensive end of the court as well this year. The team is shooting .449 from the floor, resulting in a healthy 75.8 ppg. The scoring pool is not as deep as Notre Dame's, but Curtis Sumpter is a special player that can take over a game inside. The 6-7 senior has returned from a knee injury last year and leads the Wildcats in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per outing. Mike Nardi provides perimeter balance with nearly 14 points per game (13.8) and is responsible for a team-high 39 three-pointers to date. Scottie Reynolds furthers the cause from the perimeter, averaging 9.9 ppg. Sumpter was unstoppable in the low post against Syracuse, finishing with a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds, but it wasn't enough in an 11-point loss at Syracuse. Nardi and Reynolds finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively, but the team shot just .361 from the floor and just .286 from behind the arc (8- of-28).
<< Butler puts perfect home mark on the line
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 18th-ranked Butler Bulldogs are the
favorites to win the Horizon League title this season, and they will
attempt to avoid an upset tonight as they host the Youngstown State
Peng
<< Vols try to right ship at Auburn
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 22nd-ranked Tennessee Volunteers, led by SEC
Player of the Year hopeful Chris Lofton, invade Auburn tonight for a battle
with the Tigers.
Tennessee had a streak of nine consecutive wins before los
<< Rebels and Tigers meet in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 16th-ranked LSU Tigers have the talent
in place for another run at the Final Four, and they are clearly favored in
tonight's game against a talented yet inconsistent Ole Miss team.
On Saturday,
<< Vandy aims for upset of 'Bama
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vanderbilt Commodores hope to thrill the
Nashville crowd with an upset of the 10th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide this
evening in an SEC tilt.
Alabama opened league play with an ugly 88-61 loss to
Bruins try to hand reeling Sabres another loss >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will try to halt their longest losing
streak of the season tonight, when they welcome the Boston Bruins to HSBC
Arena for the finale of a home-and-home series.
The Sabres, who lead the Eastern Co
Red Wings, Predators ready for key Central showdown >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top two teams in the Central Division will battle
tonight in the Motor City, as the Detroit Red Wings welcome the Nashville
Predators to Joe Louis Arena.
Both of these clubs have been extremely hot of late,
Shorthanded Stars to end homestand with Flames >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The injury-riddled Dallas Stars wrap up a four-game
homestand tonight, as the surging Calgary Flames invade the American Airlines
Center for a key Western Conference matchup.
Dallas began this home stretch with
Road warrior Coyotes aim for rare Rocky Mountain high >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes look to continue an impressive road
winning streak when the resurgent club begins a four-game trip tonight by
taking on the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center.
The Coyotes have been one
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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