The Sports Bookie Blog

Best Betting Action This Week

December 30th, 2008

Great American Sports Bets for the week You have now entered Sports Betting Shangri-La. This week is going to be absolutely stellar for handicappers; the Rose Bowl and the Orange Bowl are on tap, along with the NHL Winter Classic. But wait, there’s more: We now have the four NFL Wild-Card matchups all set. Let’s add the best of those games and put some other fresh produce on the shelf for this week’s Top 5 list (all times Eastern; for current lines, visit the Bodog online sportsbook).

1. NFL: Indianapolis at San Diego (Saturday, 8:00 p.m.)

Both these teams looked pretty shaky to start the season, but the Colts (12-4 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) won their last nine in a row at 5-3-1 ATS, while the Chargers (8-8 SU, 7-8-1 ATS) rattled off four straight at 3-1 ATS to steal the AFC West title from Denver. Indianapolis was able to rest its starters for most of the team’s 23-0 blanking of the equally uncaring Titans (-3). The Chargers didn’t have the same luxury; that might cost them this week, as RB LaDanian Tomlinson told NBC after beating the Broncos that he suffered a strained abdominal muscle.

2. NCAAF: Utah vs. Alabama (Friday, 1:00 p.m.)

The Sugar Bowl features the lone surviving undefeated team in the FBS, the 12-0 Utes (7-3-1 ATS). They meet a Crimson Tide club (12-1 SU, 9-4 ATS) that was undefeated until the season finale against Florida. The Utes are getting 10 points at the Superdome in front of what should be a partisan crowd of Tide supporters. However, this is a very good Utah squad with a stud QB in Brian Johnson (24 TDs, nine INTs) and exquisite special teams. The Utes padded their resume this year with victories over Oregon State, BYU and TCU.

3. NFL: Philadelphia at Minnesota (Sunday, 4:30 p.m.)

The Vikings (10-6 SU, 6-10 ATS) don’t do anything the easy way. They grounded out a 20-19 victory over the Giants (+7) to claim the NFC North title on the final day. Now they have to deal with the Eagles (9-6-1 SU, 10-6 ATS), who steamrolled over Dallas 44-6 to earn a Wild Card and cash in as 2-point home faves. The Philadelphia defense returned two fumble recoveries for touchdowns, picked off Tony Romo once and messed up his ribs for good measure. Minnesota has the fourth-worst pass protection in the league with 43 sacks allowed – one fewer than the Eagles.

4. NBA: Boston at N.Y. Knicks (Sunday, 6:00 p.m.)

Boston’s 19-game winning streak came crashing to a thud on the West Coast with losses to the Lakers (-2) and the Warriors (+11). But the Celtics let out their frustrations in a 108-63 revolt against the Kings (+12.5). The C’s remain the top team in the NBA at 28-4 (18-14 ATS), while the Knicks have fallen into their familiar position in the Atlantic basement at 11-18 (15-14 ATS). Blame for their current six-game losing streak is falling on New York’s long-term vision to clear salary cap room for a potential LeBron James signing in 2010. The Knicks are 4-12 SU (but 9-7 ATS) since dealing Zach Randolph to the Clippers.

5. NCAAB: No. 11 Michigan State at No. 23 Minnesota (Wednesday, 12:00 p.m.)

The Spartans are 9-2 SU and 4-4 ATS to start the season strong on the AP poll, but Ken Pomeroy’s advanced stats tell a different tale. The leading stathead in college hoops has Michigan State ranked No. 42 in Division I, with the No. 76-ranked defense. Pomeroy has the undefeated Golden Gophers (11-0 SU, 4-2-1 ATS) even lower at No. 48 overall, dragged down by the No. 79 defense in the nation. The Spartans have played the tougher schedule up to this point, with the two losses coming to Maryland (+7.5) and North Carolina (-10).

Honorable Mentions

NFL: Baltimore at Miami (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.)
NCAAF: Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh (Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.)
NBA: Miami at Orlando (Friday, 7:00 p.m.)
NCAAB: No. 18 Villanova at Marquette (Thursday, 2:30 p.m.)
NHL: Boston at Pittsburgh (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.)
MMA: Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Hong Man Choi, K-1 Premium Dynamite!! (Wednesday, PPV at 2:00 a.m. from Japan)

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