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 College Basketball Preview by Great Lakes Sports.Great Lakes Sports - 11/1/2005 11:51 AM Welcome to another exciting year of College Basketball with Great Lakes Sports. We will give you our predictions for the top 10 best teams in the country, and who we think will win the NCAA Championship Game. Let's "Drown Your Man" this College Basketball season, and as always good luck from Great Lakes Sports. Duke is our choice for the number one team in the country, as they will have 3 returnin... |
| College Football Emotion Bryan Leonard - 11/1/2005 11:18 AM We all look at matchups and stats when assessing point spreads and potential winning angles. Another area most noticeable in college sports is emotion. Sometimes things happen on and off the field that can affect a team's attitude. Rivalry games, bounce-back spots and revenge situations are several. One factor cropped up on Saturday. Last week, undefeated USC dropped to No. 2 behind Texas in the... |
| Playing NFL Teasers Bryan Leonard - 10/29/2005 11:28 AM I don't recommend trying to make your sports betting living off teasers. However, there are times when teasers offer good wagering value. Sometimes you can tease an underdog you like over several key numbers offering excellent value. For example, if you like a +4 dog who you think should win the game, you can tease it to +10 or +10.5, offering plenty of insurance in case they don't win. Or, you ca... |
| Notre Dame the Big 10 and the MAC Tom Stryker - 10/26/2005 10:47 PM Notre Dame used a record-setting day to bury Brigham Young. The Big Ten continues to be a logjam with seven teams within one loss of each other. And a huge upset has turned at least one division in the Mid-American Conference into a wide open chase. Those were the highlights of Week 8, a dot on the schedule that witnessed only one down-to-the-wire contest. It was a week of blowouts. Gut-ch... |
| CONFERENCE ROAD WELL TRAVELED Tom Stryker - 10/26/2005 10:30 PM CONFERENCE ROAD WELL TRAVELED By Tom Stryker This week’s college system is one that took me by surprise. When I handicap games, I try and look for specific situations where I think a team will either rise or fall. In this particular set, I envisioned a team emotionally spent and on the verge of an upset loss. Not to my surprise, after some intensive research, the exact opposi... |
| NFL Random Thoughts Big Al McMordie - 10/25/2005 11:44 PM NFL Random Thoughts By Al McMordie Martyball: Chargers' coach Marty Schottenheimer is an unusual character. Some put for the argument that he's an above-average coach, who is able to take over weak teams, bring discipline and organization, and turn them around. Others argue he's overrated, and that his teams consistently blow games they should win because of his ultra-conser... |
| Pro Football Notebook: Week 7 Mike Neri - 10/25/2005 11:43 PM Pro Football Notebook: Week 7 by Mike Neri Lovie’s Way: It’s no secret what second-year head coach Lovie Smith is doing in Chicago. He has focused most of his energy and draft picks on rebuilding the Bears defense first. Chicago has a plodding offense that is averaging just 8.5 points per game on the road behind rookie QB Kyle Orton. Chicago is 5-1 “under” the total this s... |
| Pro Football Home Field Bryan Leonard - 10/25/2005 9:39 AM It’s probably not discussed as much as home court in basketball and even college football, but teams in the NFL often have significant edges at home and liabilities on the road. A key part of sports is emotion. Even though NFL players are professional athletes getting paid to do a job to the best of their abilities, playing well before the home fans really is more important than playing as well on... |
| College Football Notebook: Week 8 Mike Neri - 10/23/2005 9:47 PM College Football Notebook: Week 8 by Mike Neri Play Some Defense for the Gipper! If you’re a totals player, you have to like Notre Dame under new coach Charlie Weis. They have a devastating spread offense under Weis and a terrible defense, a great formula for “overs.” Notre Dame is 5-2 “over” the total this season. Saturday’s game with BYU went over the total halfway throug... |
| Betting Trends Bryan Leonard - 10/23/2005 9:03 AM I like matchups and situational handicapping. This includes such things as strengths against weaknesses, bad lines, homecoming and revenge spots. I’m not big into betting trends. Trends can be dangerous. Some novice sports bettors think, “This team has lost 3 straight against the number, they’re more likely to cover this game.” Well, you had better have more reasons on your side to back a team tha... |
| TEASERS... THIS IS WHY YOU STAY AWAY Rick George - 10/22/2005 9:11 AM I can not believe that people actually try to charge for teaser plays in this business, but then again I take that back after all my time in this business nothing surprises me anymore, but it would surprise me if people out there waste money on them, ok I am not surprised at that either. First of all let me say that if anyone tells you there is value in teaser plays and tries to get your money th... |
| World Series News and Notes Big Al McMordie - 10/21/2005 2:25 PM World Series News and Notes By Al McMordie In a most intriguing World Series matchup between two franchises that earned everything they got this year, I give the slightest of nods to Chicago to win in 7 games (notwithstanding the fact that I'm sitting on a small ticket on Houston to win at 40-1 odds (I bet on Oakland at 30-1 and Houston at 40-1 odds in Late July). Here's my b... |
| HEAT IT UP WITH THE GEM LINE Rick George - 10/21/2005 8:49 AM As the weather cools down the Gemline heats up. With the NBA just around the corner Rick George is on fire in football action building a nice bankroll for the easy money that is to come in the baskets. With the teams and some of my systems settling in as the 2nd half of the football season approaches I will have many more bigger plays along with most of my NCAA conference GEMS of t... |
| College Football Notebook: Week 7 Mike Neri - 10/20/2005 6:40 PM College Football Notebook: Week 7 by Mike Neri One Fantastic Finish: Was there are more incredible finish than No. 1 USC’s comeback against Notre Dame? If you missed it, check out the rebroadcast on ESPN Classic someday – it will surely be broadcast again. The Trojans appeared dead with a fourth-and-nine play on the final drive, then QB Matt Leinart came inches away from g... |
| The Take on Turnovers Mike Neri - 10/20/2005 6:39 PM The Take on Turnovers by Mike Neri You can’t win with sloppy play. This is a no-brainer, especially in football, where sloppy play is characterized by stupid penalties and turnovers. Turnovers are a huge factor in football. Offensively, it’s not easy to score points and teams practice for hours to get down timing and learning plays that will help them move the footb... |
| Road Chalk That Doesn’t Walk Tom Stryker - 10/20/2005 4:26 PM Road Chalk That Doesn’t Walk, by Tom Stryker The general public loves to bet favorites. It doesn’t matter what sport. College football, the NFL, buckets and bases – you name it. Just give “Joe Public” a piece of chalk and let him fire away. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been known to chew on a little wood myself. But, there are times when laying the lumber is the wrong thing to do. Let m... |
| Examine Those NFL Schedules Big Al McMordie - 10/19/2005 5:03 PM Examine Those NFL Schedules By Al McMordie During the course of the pro football season, it's always important to check schedules. Some teams might be looking ahead to next week's opponent, while others might be in the middle of a grueling schedule against strong teams or even several road games. We've played six weeks of the NFL season and here's a look at some potential &quo... |
| NFL Trend Report Week 6 Mike Neri - 10/19/2005 4:42 PM NFL TREND REPORT By Mike Neri New Orleans at St Louis: The Saints are 3-1 SU and ATS the last four in this series and the total has gone OVER in four straight games in this series. The road team is 20-11 SU and 24-7 ATS in this series. The Saints are 10-1 ATS as a road dog of six points or more and the Saints are 7-0 ATS after allowing 30 points or more in their last game. St L... |
| Rush That Pigskin! Bryan Leonard - 10/18/2005 9:22 AM Last week I wrote about the Denver Broncos unique zone blocking schemes. Let’s take that a step further and look at how important rushing is in the NFL. In 2004, passing the football got all of the attention, with QBs like Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper and Peyton Manning having extraordinary seasons. However, for the most part, you win with defense, rushing the football and passing, in that ord... |
| Zone Blocking Dissected Bryan Leonard - 10/15/2005 10:27 AM The Denver Broncos know how to rush the football. Fifth in the NFL in 2002, fourth in 2003, second in 2004 and currently ranked fourth. They do this despite an undersized offensive line, utilizing discipline and a zone-blocking scheme, as opposed to drafting stud offensive linemen such as Orlando Pace. They continue to have success despite replacing so many talented running backs through they year... |
| Weekend Trend and System Report Big Al McMordie - 10/14/2005 3:28 PM Here are some trends/angles for the upcoming weekend. And don't miss my TV Game of the Year and SEC Game of the Year on Saturday. Good luck, as always...Al McMordie System of the Week: Play on any .200 or better home dog of +3 or more points off back to back losses at home. System's record is 27-9 ATS since 1980 This week's play: Vanderbilt +16 over Georgia College Trends Alabama... |
| The Value of NFL Coaches Big Al McMordie - 10/14/2005 1:39 PM The Value of NFL Coaches By Al McMordie Stats, revenge situations, matchups, bounce-back opportunities and situational handicapping all are areas to examine when trying to find winners against the spread. But don't overlook how important coaching can be when it comes to winning and covering. Football requires teams to be prepared in so many ways, far more so than basketball... |
| NFL Trend Report Week 5 Mike Neri - 10/12/2005 11:11 PM NFL TREND REPORT WEEK 5By Mike Neri NY Giants at Dallas: The Giants are 4-1 SU and ATS in this series with the total going OVER four of the last six in this series. The home team is 24-11 ATS in this series and Dallas is 10-4 ATS at home versus the Giants. The Giants are 11-2 ATS after scoring 35 points or more. Dallas is 9-1 ATS after playing Philadelphia. The Giants are now 4-12 ATS after a bye... |
| Toms Notre Dame, Big 10 & MAC Week 6 Review Tom Stryker - 10/12/2005 11:06 PM Tom's Notre Dame, Big 10 & MAC Week 6 Review This is just like it was scripted, right? Michigan and Purdue have three losses. Ohio State and Iowa have two losses apiece. Meanwhile, Penn State is 6-0 and probably the best of the Big Ten. Minnesota is 5-1 and Indiana is 4-1. Can you think of a whackier first half of the college football season? Penn State and Minnesota m... |
| NL Championship Series Big Al McMordie - 10/12/2005 10:50 PM NL Championship Series By Al McMordie We're into October of the baseball playoffs, and it's no secret what wins this time of year. Offensively, the Astros were 14th in the National League in batting average and 11th in runs, while the Cardinals were third in runs and batting average. However, a quick look at the pitching stats finds them No. 1 and No. 2. Houston ranked second... |
| The Big Engine that Will Tom Stryker - 10/12/2005 10:47 PM The Big Engine that WillBy Tom Stryker If you’re a chalk eater, you’re going to love this College System of the Week. Sometimes, it feels good to take a big bite out of a piece of wood and lay a little lumber. When you invest your hard earned dollars on a big favorite, you usually have the better team on both sides of the ball. There’s nothing wrong with that is there? To be perfectly honest with... |
| College Football Notebook Mike Neri - 10/12/2005 10:44 PM College Football Notebook by Mike Neri Observations on this past weekend in college football. Irish/Trojans Showdown: USC is 7-3 ATS the last 10 years against Notre Dame, including a 41-10 rout last year as a 24-point favorite. Notre Dame’s sophomore running back Darius Walker leads the team with 528 yards on 116 carries. ND ranks 39th nationally in rushing offense. Th... |
| Pro Football Notebook: Week 5 Mike Neri - 10/12/2005 10:43 PM Pro Football Notebook: Week 5 by Mike Neri This might be remembered as the "Year of the Injuries" in Pro Football. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise suffered during a 24-22 victory at San Diego on Monday. The injury isn't serious and he shouldn't miss much, if any, time. But backup QB Tommy Maddox w... |
| Defense, Defense! Mike Neri - 10/12/2005 10:38 PM Defense, Defense! by Mike Neri You can’t not play defense and expect to win in football. You can’t win in any sport, for that matter. Many times we’ve seen teams with strong offenses run up and down the field, but if the defense has a weak spot or is bad overall, it will catch up with them at some point. Opposing teams, for instance, will key in on one weak... |
| College Football Changes Bryan Leonard - 10/12/2005 9:21 AM At the end of Penn State’s 17-10 victory over Ohio State Saturday, someone asked Coach Joe Paterno if Penn State “was back.” Paterno replied, “Well, we’ve never really been away.” This isn’t the case, as the Nittany Lions have been down for several years. But what has happened at Penn State this season is the infusion of some young talent, particularly... |
| College Trend Report Mike Neri - 10/7/2005 11:37 PM College Trend Report By Mike Neri Illinois at Indiana: Indiana is on an 8-20 ATS run. Illinois is 0-6 ATS versus teams playing with revenge. Wisconsin at Northwestern: Northwestern is 7-1 ATS the last eight games in this series. Northwestern is 7-1 when playing with revenge. Kansas at Kansas St: Kansas St is 17-4 ATS in it's last 21 conference straight up wins. Kansas St is 10-... |
| College Blowout System Tom Stryker - 10/7/2005 10:48 PM Tom Stryker's College Blowout System Sometimes sports investors think too much. I can’t tell you the number of times I didn’t wager on a certain team because I “felt” the situation wasn’t right. Admit it or not, but karma has a lot to do in the mindset of a gambler. I’m guilty. Thankfully, I have my college football database to keep things simp... |
| Notre Dame, Big 10 and MAC Week 6 Preview Tom Stryker - 10/7/2005 10:45 PM Tom's Notre Dame, Big 10 & MAC Week 6 Preview It has been a long time since a game this crucial has been played at Happy Valley. And just two months ago, not many Penn State fans had Oct. 8 circled on their calendar. But when powerful Ohio State comes calling this Saturday, all eyes will be on the precocious Nittany Lions, 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in the conference after... |
| Whats Wrong With... Big Al McMordie - 10/7/2005 10:37 PM What's Wrong With... by Big Al McMordie We've had a full month to assess all NFL teams. Some clubs will make adjustments and begin to fix problems. These are always teams that are well coached, or have significant depth with which to change things around. For example, last season the Buffalo Bills were getting no ground game, until they decided to throw young RB Willis McGahee... |
| NFL TREND REPORT WEEK 5 Mike Neri - 10/7/2005 3:32 PM NFL TREND REPORTBy Mike Neri Chicago at Cleveland: The Bears are 9-1 ATS as a dog when playing with rest and the Bears are 25-11 versus the AFC ATS. Cleveland is 0-5 both straight up and ATS in their last five home games and they have gone UNDER seven of their last 10 home games. New Orleans at Green Bay: The Packers are 6-3 straight up and 7-2 ATS versus New Orleans and the Packers are 10-2 af... |
| Undervalued NFL Teams Bryan Leonard - 10/6/2005 7:41 PM We have four NFL weeks in the books, which gives us a good look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of all teams. The 49ers, for instance, are in complete rebuilding mode, which is not surprising after a 2-14 season. San Fran is allowing 473 total yards per game, last in the NFL, and it’s clear they are going nowhere, especially since they’ve decided to give rookie No. 1 pi... |
| College Football Rivalry Saturday Mike Neri - 10/6/2005 6:37 PM College Football Rivalry Saturday! by Mike Neri This is the time of year when stats can sometimes take a back seat to rivalries, several of which will be on display this Saturday. Rivalries add an extra dimension to college football handicapping. Teams that are off to poor starts can point to a heated rival, or key conference game on the horizon, and think, “We may no... |
| Pro Football Notebook: Week 4 Mike Neri - 10/6/2005 6:35 PM Pro Football Notebook: Week 4 by Mike Neri QB Shuffle: The Curly Shuffle? Let’s call it the “QB Shuffle,” which the NFL season is quickly becoming, even though the season is one month old. In Arizona, Kurt Warner is injured and backup Josh McCown is running the show. The Jets are down to their third string quarterback, Brooks Bollinger, because of injuries to Chad Penningt... |
| College Football Notes: A Look at USC Big Al McMordie - 10/4/2005 11:19 AM College Football Notes: A Look at USC By Al McMordie This was an interesting week for me, as I won my highest rated football game of the year to date (Arizona State over USC), but also was rooting for the Trojans to win the game straight up because I bet on them (at +150) to win the 2005 National Championship. It was a sweat, but it worked out perfectly as USC came back from... |
| Baseball Playoffs Bryan Leonard - 10/4/2005 8:52 AM Offense is going to dominate the topic of a lot of baseball conversation this week as the playoffs start. But it’s easy to overlook the fact that defense and pitching are essential to playoff success. If you recall just over a year ago, the Red Sox made a trade of one of their best players, shortstop Nomar Garciapparra, to the Cubs. In return, they didn’t get equal valu... |
| College Football Notebook Mike Neri - 10/2/2005 10:23 AM College Football Notebook by Mike Neri Observations on this past weekend in college football, the first Saturday in October! Alabamy Bound: The last time Alabama beat a top five team was 1982, when Bear Bryant was coaching. That is, until Saturday when the Tide drowned Florida in an impressive rout. There was no doubting the talent that Alabama had, but there was concern about... |
| Pitching & Pennant Races Bryan Leonard - 10/1/2005 10:16 AM All eyes may be on Fenway park this weekend for the climatic final pennant chase in the American League. However, the Indians are also in the thick of it, playing three games against the White Sox, a team that has no reason to play. This has been one of the most eventful endings to a baseball regular season in years, with much at stake, even though there are only a few days remaining in the regula... |
| COLLEGE TREND REPORT Mike Neri - 9/30/2005 12:11 PM TOP COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRENDS Illinois at Iowa: Iowa is 13-1 ATS in their last 14 home games while Illinos is just 1-8 SU and ATS on the Conference Road. Syracuse at Florida St: Ok, follow me on this one. Syracuse us just 4-43 ATS when they lose Straight Up on the road. Florida St is now 90-6-1 Straight Up at Home. Michigan at Michigan St: Michigan is 14-3 ATS as a road dog of less ... |
| NFL Surprise Teams Big Al McMordie - 9/28/2005 4:46 PM NFL Surprise Teams By Al McMordie Three weeks are in the books in the NFL season. Some things aren't a surprise, such as the Rams' poor defense and the Saints' struggles. After all, New Orleans is being asked to play 16 road games this season. And don't even think about them possibly playing more road games if they make the postseason – they won't. Other players and teams have been... |
| College Football’s Edge Mike Neri - 9/28/2005 4:44 PM College Football’s Edge By Mike Neri So what would you rather do, pass the football or run it? Certainly passing the ball gets all the flashy headlines and TV viewers. But the good old fashioned ground attack gets the wins (and often the money). Here are the top 10 teams rushing the football: 1) Minnesota (1,306 yards, 5.9 ypc), 2) Texas (891 yds, 6.5 ypc), 3) Missouri (862 y... |
| Sweet College Rest Tom Stryker - 9/28/2005 4:36 PM Sweet College Rest If someone tries to tell you that rest equals rust on the college gridiron, don’t believe them for a second. Nothing could be further from the truth. College football bye weeks can be money-makers if you get the right set. Unlike the NFL, college athletes don’t get the entire week off during a bye. Instead, they’re back on the practice field doi... |
| Toms Notre Dame, Big 10 and MAC Week 4 Review Tom Stryker - 9/28/2005 4:34 PM Tom's Notre Dame, Big 10 & MAC Week 4 Review The thuds you heard Saturday afternoon and evening didn’t come from Ty Bowl 1. In that game, Notre Dame wasn’t overly impressive, but was methodical enough to dispose of Washington and former coach Tyrone Willingham, 36-17. It was a game that had much more hoopla surrounding it than was deserved. The thuds you heard early, mid-afternoo... |
| NFL POWER RATINGS WEEK 3 Mike Neri - 9/28/2005 4:14 PM NFL Power Ratings By Mike Neri POWER TEAM RATING Indianapolis 97 New England 97 Philadelphia 96 Pittsburgh 96 Atlanta 95 Cincinnati 95 San Diego 95 Dallas 94 Denver 9... |
| NFL TEAM RANKINGS WEEK THREE Computer Crushers - 9/28/2005 3:59 PM NFL TEAM RANKINGS WEEK THREE Offense Defense Total Rush Pass Total Rush Pass Ariz 18 28 9 22 28 16 Atl 22 *1 30 16 27 9 Balt 26 32 10 18 5 22 Buff 31 11 31 7 32 *1 Car 25 16 22 11 12 12 Chi 28 14 29 4 7 5 Cin 3 7 7 14T 8 20 Cleve 10 26 4 30... |
| Who Will Win? Toledo or Fresno St? William Kidd - 9/27/2005 12:53 PM When Fresno State runs: Fresno State running back Bryson Sumlin is turning into the next Rodney Davis: a former 1,000-yard rusher who did little as a senior. Wendell Mathis will start, but the Bulldogs want to get Sumlin rolling. Toledo's 3-4 defense uses speed to swarm the line of scrimmage. Senior linebackers Anthony Jordan and David Thomas are big-time clogs inside. Advantage: Bull... |
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