NFL Odds – Underdog Bills Could Take Down banged-up Jets

Warm up for Saturday’s Florida vs Alabama picks with some NFL action on Thursday night, as Buffalo “hosts” the New York Jets in Toronto. The Bills come into this game as the underdog, but they could take advantage of an ailing Jets quarterback who had a nightmare the last time he faced Buffalo.

Jets vs Bills odds – Thursday, December 3, 8:20 PM ET

The Jets (4-7) fell 16-13 in overtime at home in Week 6 to the Bills, and Sanchez was a major culprit, going 10-of-29 for 119 yards and five picks in the worst game of his career to date. This overshadowed a career day for running back Thomas Jones, who had 210 yards and a score on 22 carries as the Jets ran for 318 yards. The Jets also committed 14 penalties on the day, and they’re not good enough to overcome that many mistakes, even after a 17-6 win over Carolina last week.

In that win over the Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick took over for the injured Trent Edwards, going 10-of-25 for 116 yards and a touchdown, along with a pick. Now, Fitzpatrick is entrenched as the starter and he’s built a good connection with Terrell Owens, who has averaged 126 yards over the last three games. The Bills are coming off of a 31-14 pasting of Miami in which they exploded for 24 points in the final quarter, and as NFL odds has made them an underdog, they could even more motivation.

NFL odds in your online sportsbook have the Jets as a 3-point favorite, but they’ve dropped six of their last 10 against the Bills overall. Even though their defense was on fire against the Panthers, it’s tough to put the Jets in your NFL picks until Sanchez gets his head back the game, throwing seven picks in his last three games with only a pair of touchdowns. Also, he left the Carolina game with a knee injury and even though he says he’ll be fine, you may want to check out the news wire after Wednesday’s practice. If he’s at less than 100%, even the New York defense can’t save them on Thursday.

NFL picks: Buffalo +3

NFL Week 12 Weekend Betting Parlay

If the NFL odds for Thanksgiving Day games burned you, don’t worry; you can redeem yourself on the weekend. Give these picks a try.

Bills (+3) over Dolphins

I like the Bills to pull off a minor sportsbook
surprise here. They’re playing in their chilly home, hosting warm-weather Miami, which has to make a long road trip up North for the game. The Dolphins’ run defense should be weakened with defensive tackle Jason Ferguson out due to a torn quad. Terrell Owens also exploded last week, catching nine passes for 197 yards and a touchdown – coincidentally in the Bills’ first game since Dick Jauron got fired. May he and Lee Evans get behind the shaky Dolphin pass defense?

Colts (-3.5) over Texans

While it’s true that the Colts are coming “closer” to losing their first game in this NFL betting season – they’ve won their last four games by a combined 10 points – everything about Sunday’s game at Houston still favors them. The Texans have just 13 sacks in 10 games, meaning Peyton Manning should have lots of time to throw the ball on Sunday. Houston really struggles to stop the run, as the Titans showed on Monday night, and Joseph Addai is hitting holes like it’s his rookie season again. Indy is 14-1 all-time against Houston. Even though Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and the Texans offense will score, Houston won’t keep Indy off the board. Go with the Colts, whose Super Bowl odds are climbing rapidly.

Jaguars (+3) over 49ers

Sure doesn’t feel like the Jags are 6-4 but they are. Maurice Jones-Drew is running like a mad man and he may keep doing so against San Francisco. The 49ers can only ride Mike Singletary’s reputation for so long; the truth is that they’re not playing great “D” at all right now, ranking 30th against the pass and 22nd in total defense. Even if they stop MJD, David Garrard and Mike Sims-Walker could burn them. Since Alex Smith hasn’t been too effective when not operating out of the shotgun, I like the Jags to squeak past San Fran.

Rivalry Week: Title Contenders Texas, Alabama will Cover

A lot of football fans are focused on NFL betting right now, but that's no excuse to ignore Rivalry Week in college football. There are some lopsided spreads but, as well all now, hated enemies have a knack for defying the odds and derailing their rival's bowl hopes. Let's take a look at a few of the bigger games on this week's NCAA football odds.

Texas at Texas A&M: Texas -22

Thursday, Nov. 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET

The Longhorns (11-0) need one more win to make the Big12 Championship, and they're so close the BCS Championship game they can taste it. A&M, meanwhile, has been very mediocre at 6-5. Texas has the advantage pretty much across the board. Colt McCoy leads an offense that can hang up a lot of points in a hurry, while the defense has surrendered 20 points or more in just two games all season.

The Aggies' offense looked very sharp last week, racking up 375 yards on the ground, but they can't be expected to do that every week—especially against the tough Longhorns. Even if they do, it won't matter; A&M's defense has been shoved around all season, including 65 points to Oklahoma. That should be a good barometer of what Texas will do this week. Take the Longhorns on Texas Texas A&M betting.

Alabama at Auburn: Alabama -12

Friday, Nov. 27 at 2:30 p.m. ET

The Iron Bowl is especially important for 11-0 Alabama, which is ranked second in the nation and driving toward the BCS Championship. Auburn, on the other hand, suffered a meltdown after winning its first five games; the Tigers have lost four of six since then.

Offensively, Auburn can probably hang with 'Bama—assuming it brings its A-game. The Tigers have cooled as of late, particularly on the road (Ben Tate, the team's leading rusher, has rushed for 100 yards just once in his last four games). Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram is a Heisman candidate and has racked up 1399 yards and 15 total scores this season.

The difference-maker in this game? Defense. Alabama has the top defense in the nation, including the second-ranked rush defense and fifth-ranked pass defense. With Tate struggling to get going, that's trouble. Ingram, on the other hand, should have plenty of room to run—Auburn is 88th in rush defense and allowed 169 rush yards in last week's loss to Georgia.

Alabama is ranked second in the country for good reason—this is an excellent football team. The Crimson Tide will run the ball early and often so the scores may not pile up quickly. Don't fret, however; they'll cover the 12-point spread by the end of the game on Alabama Auburn betting.

NFL Week 12 Betting Parlay – Thanksgiving Edition

NFL odds for week 12 are getting some early action at sportsbooks this week. Why? Gobble gobble – it’s Thanksgiving week. That means we’ll see three games this Thursday. No time to waste in our NFL picks, is there?

Packers (No line) over Lions

Due to question marks over Matthew Stafford’s clavicle injury, the sportsbook line isn’t posted yet for the Packers/Lions game, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make up your mind yet. Even if the Lions get Stafford back in the lineup, even though Green Bay just lost cornerback Al Harris for the season, Detroit still faces the NFL’s No. 3 overall defense. The Packers have battled tougher foes than Detroit and survived. Though the Pack got caught looking past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this season, I think they’ll win this reason for that exact reason; they’re unlikely to make the same mistake twice. Look for Aaron Rodgers to have an even bigger game than normal, as the Lions don’t pressure the passer very well.

Raiders +13.5 over Cowboys

Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense are entering the time of year when they often tank – especially Romo. He could barely get anything going against Washington last week and the Raiders actually have a respectable pass defense. While I don’t see the Raiders totally shocking Dallas the way they did Cincy last week, I think they can keep this game within two touchdowns. Over the last three seasons, the Cowboys are 3-6 against the spread when favored by 10 or more points.

Giants -6.5 over Broncos

The Broncos’ ship is beyond sinking right now. They’ve dropped four straight games, their quarterback is battling injury and their skill players are getting into sideline spats. NFL betting players need to crunch the numbers carefully to understand why Denver isn’t recovering from its slump any time soon; the Broncos have allowed 174 or more rushing yards in three straight games. Their stout run defense isn’t stout anymore and the Giants’ power running game can exploit that problem. While the Giants may not totally romp at home, they’re a good bet to win convincingly.

NCAA Football Odds – Golden Bears aim to slow down Cardinal

Sports betting players didn’t expect Stanford to challenge for the Pac-10 title, but the Cardinal are still right there as they head into their Saturday night clash with California, who are looking to end a disappointing season on a high note.

California vs Stanford odds – Saturday, November 21, 8:00 PM ET

Cal (7-3, 4-3) bear Arizona 24-16 at home by scoring nine points in the final 4:46, and Shane Vereen stepped in for the injured Javhid Best quite nicely, running for 159 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. Kevin Riley was 13-of-22 for 181 yards, a touchdown and two picks, while Giorgio Tavecchio added four field goals for the Golden Bears, who were supposed to be one of the top teams in the conference before midseason beatdowns at the hands of USC and Oregon.

A week after blowing out Oregon at home, the Cardinal (7-2, 6-2) went to Los Angeles and throttled USC 55-21 in a result that no one in the world of NCAA football odds saw coming. Toby Gerhart was having a great year before, but people are taking notice after he lit up the Trojans for 178 yards and three scores on 29 carries. Andrew Luck was 12-of-22 for 144 yards and two touchdowns, while the Stanford defense forced four turnovers.

The Cardinal are 81st in the nation in defense, but if they keep getting performances like that, they may overcome the NCAA football odds and reach the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2000.

NCAA football odds in your sportsbook have the Cardinal as a 7.5-point favorite at home, where they are 5-0 this year. The Golden Bears have a 6-3-1 record against Stanford in their last 10 meetings (they tied 30-30 in 2000 at Cal), but they fell 20-13 in their last trip here in 2007. This looks like it’ll be a shootout as neither defense cracks the top 70 nationally, while the offenses are in the top 35 in terms of scoring.

The running backs will be the story as Vereen and Gerhart open up the field for their quarterbacks. With Stanford averaging 53 points in their last two games, go with the Cardinal.

Bet on sports: Stanford -7.5

NCAA Football Betting – Ohio State/Michigan Pick

The sportsbook world will be abuzz this weekend with rivalry week arriving in full force. Though Michigan isn’t the power it once was – not even close – it still always seems to give Ohio State an interesting run. Interestingly enough, the Wolverines have more to play for this week. Ohio State is set to play in the Rose Bowl while Michigan is fighting for its bowl-game life.

(9) Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan Wolverines

Saturday, November 21, 12:00 p.m. ET

Sports betting favorite: Ohio State -12

We at least know Michigan has an emotional advantage on Saturday, playing in the Big House and with much bigger motivation. But does it have the personnel to hang with Ohio State?

It’s hard to know what we’ll see from the Wolverines this week. Freshman pivot Tate Forcier made decent strides early in the season but took a step back at Wisconsin last week, throwing for just 188 yards. Meanwhile, Michigan’s usually-potent rushing attack, which entered the Wisconsin game averaging 200 yards per contest, fell flat with just 71 yards. Simply put, Michigan’s offensive starters just have to be better to have any chance against a stout Ohio State “D” on Saturday. The Buckeyes have stymied much better teams – they shut down Iowa in overtime to earn their Rose Bowl berth – so they won’t be intimidated by Michigan’s attack.

Ohio State’s offense isn’t the driving force behind its success but quarterback Terrelle Pryor is improving, making more plays with his feet than he did earlier in the season. His scrambling ability will keep Michigan honest; the Wolverines got embarrassed by Wisconsin last week, allowing 45 points – their most ever against the Badgers.

On paper, the natural edge goes to Ohio State, but this isn’t the week to pick the Buckeyes. They had a huge emotional high with their overtime win last week. Rivalry or not, how can we expect them to bring it in a game that has no bearing on the rest of their season? Michigan should get fired up on front of the home crowd and overachieve. It’s just another game to the Buckeyes but it may as well be the Super Bowl odds for the Wolverines. Bet on Michigan to at least beat the 12-point spread.

College football betting pick: Michigan +12

Brian Westbrook Injury

Brian Westbrook has always returned from various injuries throughout his career, a second shock could not leave on this occasion. Westbrook's status is uncertain even after the All-Pro running back for his second concussion in three weeks during Philadelphia's 31-23 defeat in San Diego last Sunday.

Westbrook played back after being rested the previous two duels with a concussion suffered on October 26. Was injured in the third quarter on a screen play in which he was trapped in the block by Eagles receiver Jason Avant and deep Chargers Eric Weddle.

Head Coach Andy Reid of the Eagles said the team would take precautions with Westbrook, and it was too early to decide at what point would return if it does.

"Football is not the most important for Westbrook at this time," Reid said. "Rest assured that is being analyzed, tested, and we're watching, then we will see from where. There is nothing we have not done before. "

"We have experts checking their condition and be sure that the previously heard and as we did. First, here is your brain health. "

Westbrook was not available to reporters Monday. His agent, Todd France did not return calls made to his mobile phone.

Westbrook 30-year-old suffered his first concussion of his career when he hit his head on the knee of a defender during Monday Night Odds against Washington last month. Westbrook lost consciousness briefly, but walked off the field under his own power.

He was inactive for Philadelphia's victory over the New York Giants on November 1st and got the green light to face Dallas last week, but again remained inactive for precautionary reasons after experiencing headaches. Westbrook had no trouble in their game against the Chargers.

"We will leave this to doctors," said Reid. "There was a chance to play a week earlier and kept him and symptoms because of evidence presented."

The eight-year veteran participation has been limited this season because of ankle injuries, knee, and commotion. Westbrook to carry the ball 47 times for 225 yards, an average of 4.8 yards per carry, with 1 touchdown in his credit. He also caught 19 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Westbrook has never played a full season, has lost 16 games by a variety of ankle injuries, knee, ribs and triceps. Before last season, Westbrook signed a three-year contract worth $ 21 million, including $ 13 million guaranteed the first two years. The Eagles have the option of not renewing his contract for 2010.

NFL Week 11 Betting Parlay

NFL betting is getting tougher instead of easier as the season progresses. Big favorites like the undefeated Saints didn’t cover the spread last week. The rolling Cowboys lost to Green Bay. The NFL is throwing us curveballs every week, so advance preparation for our football picks is all the more important. Let’s get a parlay going.

Panthers -3 over Dolphins

The Dolphins’ bread and butter is their running game but Ronnie Brown almost certainly won’t play Thursday night after injuring his ankle. Can Ricky Williams shoulder a full workload? Tough to say. Even if he does, the Dolphins have other problems. They won’t pass on Carolina’s fourth-ranked pass defense and their leaky secondary could allow a big play to Steve Smith. Even though the Dolphins’ stout run defense could contain the Panthers’ NFC-leading rushing attack, Carolina looks good to cover at home. With wins over Arizona and Atlanta in recent weeks, the Panthers are forcing us to take them seriously.

Steelers -10 over Chiefs

It seems no lock is legit these days but the Steelers do seem like solid sportsbook picks to win this week after a frustrating home loss to Cincinnati in Week 10. The Chiefs don’t do anything well on defense so you have to think Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall will put some major points on the board for the Steelers. The Steelers’ dominant run defense should swallow Jamaal Charles whole.

Packers -6.5 over 49ers

Is there a more frustrating team in sports betting than the Green Bay Packers? They lose to Tampa, breaking our hearts, then upset the Cowboys? Come on. Based on the matchup, we’re cautiously optimistic about the Pack hosting San Francisco this week. If their “D” can contain the Cowboys’ offense, it should handle Alex Smith, Frank Gore and the 49ers. San Francisco’s pass defense is still suspect. It picked Jay Cutler off five times last week but still allowed over 300 yards, suggesting that Cutler may have been giving them the ball with dumb throws as opposed to them taking it. As long as Rodgers gets some semblance of pocket protection, he should lead Green Bay to a second straight win.

NFL Betting – More Week 10 Picks

On a busy sportsbook weekend, it makes sense to do our NFL picks in two installments, doesn’t it? We started you out on Monday with a few games; here are a few more to choose from.

Atlanta Falcons (-1.5) @ Carolina Panthers

Sunday, November 15, 1:00 p.m. ET

There are trap games hidden among NFL picks every week and this could be one of them. Matt Ryan has a bright future in the NFL and he’s looked like a Pro Bowler at times this season but he’s quietly struggling of late. He’s failed to top 200 yards in three of his last four games. Over that span, he’s been sacked 10 times and thrown eight interceptions versus six touchdown passes. He has a tough assignment again this week against the Panthers’ No. 6 pass defense.

The Falcons and Panthers each allow 120-plus rushing yards per game, so we should see big days from Michael Turner and DeAngelo Williams (if he’s healthy enough to play). Since the Falcons don’t stop the pass or the run too well, however, I like Carolina to outscore them and ride the home crowd to a minor upset.

Online betting pick: Panthers +1.5

New England Patriots @ Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)

Sunday, November 15, 8:20 p.m. ET

In the sports hierarchy this weekend, Pacquiao Cotto odds and this Sunday night football game reign supreme. The Colts remain undefeated but have cruised through a powder-puff schedule thus far. They may not have the killer instinct to handle a very confident Patriots team this week. Even though the Colts rush the passer well, the Pats are prepared for it; Tom Brady’s line only allowed one sack over two games against the aggressive Jets and Ravens. Brady is really clicking with his receivers right now and won’t hesitate to take shots downfield against an injury-riddled Colts secondary.

Online betting pick: Patriots +2.5

NCAA Football Betting – Utah/TCU Pick

NFL odds and the slew of big fights will get lots of sportsbook attention this weekend. If you get too caught up in just those events, however, you’ll miss a pretty big college football matchup. In fact, Saturday’s battle with Utah may be the biggest game TCU has ever played. It’s not exactly Super Bowl betting but it’s pretty darned important.

(16) Utah Utes @ (4) TCU Horned Frogs

Saturday, November 14, 7:30 p.m. ET

Sportsbook favorite: TCU -19.5

Well, TCU, this game and the Mountain West Conference are yours to lose. The Horned Frogs are undefeated, enjoying their best season ever and warranting serious BCS title contention. Utah won’t sniff a national championship but could derail TCU’s dream season and challenge for the MWC with a road victory.

The 19.5-point spread seems a bit much but it’s a reflection of how dominant TCU’s offense has been of late (and of TCU playing at home). These guys can run the football like few other teams; they’ve hit 300 yards on the ground in two straight games and have seen eight different Horned Frogs find the end zone. Utah has its hands full facing a team ranking sixth in rushing and eighth in total offense.

On paper, Utah seems like it has a chance to bottle up TCU, as it hasn’t allowed more than 17 points in a game. But this isn’t last season’s smothering group; Utah simply hasn’t faced anyone worthwhile yet. It will need to score plenty of points to keep pace, but can the Utes’ O-line protect freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn?

It’s scary to think about what Wynn has ahead of him – travelling to TCU to battle the nation’s third-ranked defense. Only Florida and Texas rank higher than the Horned Frogs’ unit. That tells you how special this season is for TCU.

The first instinct is to bet against TCU covering that huge spread, but the matchup against a freshman QB is just too tempting. I like TCU to cover and keep generating BCS buzz. Pick TCU, then get ready for the Pacquiao Cotto odds.

Pick: TCU -19.5

Brady, Moss will devour Indy's Rookie Corner Backs

New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts

Sunday, Nov. 15 at 8:20 p.m. ET

NFL betting odds: Colts -3

The Colts have opened the season with eight straight wins, but the past two came with a much higher degree of difficulty than the first six. The Colts dodged a bullet by beating Houston 20-17 last week, while topping San Francisco 18-14 two weeks earlier. The offense hasn't been quiet as effective in recent weeks; perhaps the 29^th-ranked running game is finally catching up to the team. Peyton Manning is still excelling, of course. The veteran quarterback is making a run at the MVP award after surpassing 300 yards in all but one game this season.

New England can match Indy's offense. Tom Brady has thrown 10 touchdowns in his last three starts and finally looks like his old self. Randy Moss remains his most dangerous target, catching 19 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns in that span. Like Indianapolis, New England won't rely much on its running game. Something your betting system might have predicted: Laurence Maroney has enjoyed more action in recent weeks; he's averaging 82 yards per game with three touchdowns in his last three games.

Defensively, the Colts lead the NFL in fewest points per game. The "D" came through in a big way the past few weeks, bailing out the cool offense. Problems could be on the horizon, however. Marlin Jackson tore up his knee last week and will miss the season. Paired with Kelvin Hayden's knee injury and the Indy secondary is quite thin; two rookies—Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey—will start on Sunday. They'll need Indianapolis' active pass rush to create some havoc in the backfield.

The Patriots have been nearly as impressive on defense. They rank third in the NFL in fewest points per game and, while they aren't as sack-happy as the Colts, head coach Bill Belichick always creates schemes that confuse his opponents. Sportsbook fans have witnessed his genius plenty over the years.

Brady and Manning continue their rivalry but, in this one, Brady gets a big edge—he'll be facing two rookies. Yes, Indy's pass rush can cover some of those holes, but Brady is bound to slice and dice a few big plays. Randy Moss and Wes Welker will be too much for the Colts to handle; expect the Pats to outgun Indy on your NFL picks.

College Football Betting – LSU/Alabama Pick

College football odds are posted and we have all the LSU/Alabama information you need right here. After that, your only job is to make a wager, eat some snacks and win some money. Sound good?

(9) LSU Tigers @ (3) Alabama Crimson Tide

Saturday, November 7, 7:30 p.m. ET

Sportsbook favorite: Alabama -9

We know Alabama will remain in the BCS picture for the balance of the season. The big question is whether or not LSU has any business being there too. The Tigers have just one loss on their record but the Crimson Tide are hungry to expose them as pretenders this weekend.

LSU has plenty of weapons on offense. Jordan Jefferson has a solid receiving corps at his disposal and Charles Scott has proven capable of big games. The problem: the Tigers haven’t proven that they can do it against good teams; they managed a measly three points against Florida. It’s hard to imagine them doing much against Alabama’s deep defense, considered the best in the country by some football picks experts.

The Tigers have a solid defense too but don’t pressure the quarterback too well. That means Greg McElroy could have a solid day. He hasn’t been great lately but he may have simply been tiring in his first season as a starter. Fresh off his bye week and playing at home, he’ll be sharp again. He only has to be a caretaker anyway; Alabama’s offense is all about Mark Ingram. He’s having a monster year, averaging 125.5 yards on the ground and totaling 11 touchdowns so far.

With no pressure from their front seven, the Tigers open themselves up to passing completions underneath and give Ingram a chance to run wild. It seems LSU’s number may be up; Alabama remains undefeated and is hungry to leapfrog Texas and regain the No. 2 position in the BCS rankings. Go with the Crimson Tide to cover the nine-point spread.

Online betting pick: Alabama -9

NFL Week 9 Betting Parlay, Part III

The NFL betting fun never stops. We gave you a fun parlay to try earlier this week; here are three more sports picks that can carry you to the promised land.

Falcons -10 over Redskins

How can we expect the Redskins to beat a 10-point spread when they’ll be hard-pressed to score 10 points at all? With Chris Samuels’ season-ending injury and Clinton Portis’ declining skill, Washington doesn’t run too well anymore. With Jason Campbell’s jitteriness in the pocket and unwillingness to look downfield, Washington can’t pass either. Though the Redskins defend the pass well, the Falcons have enough weapons to do damage just as the Eagles did in Week 7. Atlanta may not light the scoreboard up but should cover.

Packers -9.5 over Buccaneers

This may be your lock of the week. Not only do the Bucs sport the NFL’s worst record at 0-7, they’re likely debuting rookie quarterback Josh Freeman this week. The Packers have one of the league’s best pass defenses so they won’t make life easy for Freeman at all. Better yet for Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers is having a monster season; despite getting sacked more than any quarterback in the league thus far, he leads the NFL in passer rating. With a nice vacation against a terrible team, he could post career-best numbers on Sunday.

Titans +4 over 49ers

Call this one a sportsbook hunch. In theory, the 49ers should pound the lowly Titans, but the landscape has changed dramatically for both teams over the last couple of weeks. The Titans showed last Sunday that they still have some talent; they can run the ball and Vince Young even looked competent behind center. The 49ers are losing confidence quickly and their offensive line play has been highly suspect. Maybe, just maybe the Titans’ “D” shuts down Frank Gore and VY turns in another surprise performance in what is now a pressure-free part of the season for the Titans. Make them your online betting upset pick.

NFL Week 9 Betting Parlay, Part II

Yes, folks, NFL betting is that huge. Huge enough to require a “Part II” just to get all our picks in. We’ve already endorsed six teams this week; here are three more to consider for your football picks.

Jaguars -6.5 over Chiefs

Picking between these two teams, both of which have horrible defenses, is like choosing the lesser of two evils. The Chiefs and Jags both rank near the bottom of the NFL against the run and the pass and have a combined 14 sacks. How sad is that combined stat: 26 NFL teams have 14 or more sacks this season. With no defense happening, this game should go over the sportsbook total. The Jags have the overall edge thanks to the human bowling ball known as Maurice Jones-Drew. He should absolutely demolish the Chiefs’ front seven as Jacksonville romps in a half-filled stadium.

Panthers +13 over Saints

That’s not a misprint. The Saints should win outright but their online betting prospects to cover the big spread aren’t too great. They’re without their best run stopper, Sedrick Ellis, for the second straight week. Last Monday they couldn’t contain Michael Turner without him; that means DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart should have big days this Sunday. The Panthers turned some heads with a powerhouse road win over Arizona last week and should push the Saints harder than expected this week.

Seahawks -10 over Lions

The Seahawks are an extremely disappointing 2-5 but we shouldn’t count them out quite yet, as their schedule gets a lot easier starting this week. Matt Hasselbeck gets a tasty matchup versus the Lions, who may struggle after making a long road trip and have to battle the deafening Seattle crowd noise. You know how Seattle explodes for a massive 30-point win a couple of random times per season? Week 9 should be one of those times.

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. Temple Owls Picks and Sportsbook Betting Odds

The fans at Lincoln Financial Field will be treated to a game between the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks and the Temple Owls when they take their seats on Thursday.

BetUS currently have the Owls listed as 17-point favorites versus the RedHawks.

Miami (Ohio) won a MAC matchup with Toledo, 31-24, at Yager Stadium in Week 9.

The RedHawks covered as a 5-point home underdog while the final score played under the 57.5-point score.

Temple got a late touchdown to beat Navy 27-24 at Navy Memorial Stadium in Week 9.

Temple was a 6.5-point road underdog while the final score played over the 41-point total.

Miami (Ohio) most recently:
When playing in November are 3-7

When playing on grass are 4-6

After being outgained are 1-9

When playing within the conference are 1-9

Temple most recently:
When playing in November are 3-7

When playing on grass are 6-4

After outgaining opponent are 7-3

When playing within the conference are 8-2

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami (Ohio)'s last 5 games

Miami (Ohio) is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

Miami (Ohio) is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games on the road

Miami (Ohio) is 1-13 SU in its last 14 games

Temple is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

Temple is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games

Temple is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Temple's last 6 games

NFL Week 9 Betting Parlay

Once the World Series odds wind down this week, the NFL will take over as the No. 1 sport to bet on for the next couple of months. Time to get serious with our NFL picks, starting with this Week 9 parlay.

Cardinals +3 over Bears

Arizona beats the Giants on the road then follows up that great performance with a stinker at home against Carolina. Go figure. After a six-turnover performance versus the Panthers, Kurt Warner should be much better on the road, where the Cards are playing better for whatever reason. The Bears’ secondary can be beaten deep. The Arizona defense should also bounce back against a Chicago O-line that has struggled at times this season. Go with Arizona at your sportsbook.

Giants -4.5 over Chargers

The Giants have stumbled badly of late, mainly due to injuries in their secondary, but they’re still a good team. Against the pretender Chargers, who’ve only beaten Oakland (twice), Kansas City and Miami this season, Eli manning and company should bounce back. The Chargers allow 132.1 rushing yards per game so the Giants should cram Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw down their throats. New York will cover, no problem.

Eagles -3 over Cowboys

Tony Romo has a good track record in November and the Cowboys are certainly playing improved football of late but they haven’t faced a decent pass rush since the Broncos in Week 4. Every once in a while, Romo treats online betting fans to one of his multi-turnover “stinker” performances. One of his worst to date was his debacle against the Eagles in Week 17 last year; what if Philly’s in his head? The Eagles will throw everything they have at him. Dallas will pressure Donovan McNabb too but it’s hard to bet against the Eagles when McNabb and DeSean Jackson have such a great big-play rapport going. Pick Philly.