Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears renew NFL’s oldest rivalry in NFC Championship

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Jan 212011

Packers-Bears.

The two names ooze football history, and this Sunday the oldest rivalry in the NFL will once again be renewed as the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears battle for the NFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl XLV at Soldier Field (3 pm ET, FOX).

NFL Odds and Football Picks have the Packers as a 3.5-point, -200 moneyline favorite and the over/under total at 43.

The Packers and Bears first faced off 90 years ago. The teams have met 181 times since 1921, with the Bears holding a 92–83–6 SU lead in the all-time series.

Things are a little more even in the recent head-to-head history, with both teams 5-5 straight up and against the spread in the past 10 meetings.

They split the season series, Chicago getting a 20-17 win in the first clash Sept. 27, covering as a 3-point home underdog, and Green Bay winning the last meeting 10-3 in the season finale on Jan. 2, but failing to cover as an 11.5-point home favorite.

Last Saturday, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers lit up the Falcons secondary to pace a 48-21 win over Atlanta in their NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. The Packers (10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS) covered as 1–point road underdogs and the score went over the total of 44.

And last Sunday, Chicago (11-5 SU, 9-6-1 ATS) stormed out to a 28-0 lead over the beleaguered Seattle Seahawks but had to hang on for a 35-24 win in their NFC divisional tilt. Chicago just barely covered as 10.5–point home favorites and the score went over the total of 43.5.

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Slumping New York Knicks visit white-hot San Antonio Spurs in NBA action

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Jan 202011

The New York Knicks take on the San Antonio Spurs in NBA action on Friday at the AT&T Center (8:30 pm ET, ESPN).

New York, which looked like a legitimate contender just a few weeks ago, is slumping and has lost four straight.

New York opened a Southwest road trip Wednesday with a 104-89 loss to the surging Houston Rockets. The Knicks failed to cover as a 2.5-point road underdog. The score went under the total of 223.

San Antonio, conversely, has won seven straight and remains the best team in the NBA. The Spurs beat the visiting Toronto Raptors 104-95 on Wednesday – but it wasn’t easy.

The Spurs opened the game on a 10-0 run and looked like they’d run away with it. But the Raptors called a timeout, responded with a 13-5 run, and ended up with the lead at the half.

San Antonio stormed back in the second half to hand Toronto, who were without key players Peja Stojakovic and Leandro Barbosa, its fifth straight defeat.

The Spurs failed to cover the spread as a 12-point home favorite and the score went under the over/under total of 204.5.

In the head-to-head series, San Antonio is 8-2 SU in the past 10 meetings and both teams are 5-5 against the spread. This is the second meeting this season. The Knicks are one of just six teams to beat the Spurs, getting a 128-115 win on Jan. 4. New York covered as a 5.5-point home underdog and the score went over the total of 208.

New York is 22-19 SU and 25-15-1 ATS while San Antonio is 36-6 SU and 25-16-1 ATS this season.

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Indiana Hoosiers take on No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers in Big Ten play

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Jan 192011

College Basketball action on Thursday features a Big Ten Conference matchup as the Indiana Hoosiers take on the No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center (9 pm ET, ESPN).

The Badgers are a bit of an enigma right now, particularly on offense. Currently in a ‘win-one-lose-one’ rut, Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in free throw shooting (85.1 per cent) and fewest turnovers committed per game (6.2) but, conversely, has gone 10 straight games below 50 percent shooting.

Head-to-head, the Badgers have dominated the past 10 meetings, going 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS. The teams last met Feb. 25 last season, when Wisconsin romped to a 78-46 win, easily covering as a 12-point road favorite.

Some other head-to-head betting trends include: the favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings; Indiana is 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings in Wisconsin; and five of the past seven meetings in Wisconsin have gone under the total.

In their last game, the Hoosiers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 80-61 win over the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday. They cashed as a 2-point home favorite and the score went over the total of 128.

Wisconsin beat the Illinois Fighting Illini 76-66 on Saturday, covering as a 6-point home favorite. The score went over the total of 124.

Indiana (10-8 SU, 4-7 ATS) is 1-4 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin (13-4 SU, 9-4 ATS) is 3-2 in the conference.

NCAA Basketball Odds for this Big Ten conference battle are available at online sportsbooks.

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Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks clash on ESPN Wednesday

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Jan 182011

A pair of NBA Western Conference teams headed in opposite directions clash Wednesday when the Dallas Mavericks take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the American Airlines Center (9 pm ET, ESPN).

The defending NBA champion Lakers appear to have righted the ship, going 8-2 SU in their past 10 for a 31-12 SU (19-24 ATS) record just past the midway point of the season.

Dallas, on the other hand, has struggled to adjust to the loss of Caron Butler. When the small forward went down with a season-ending knee injury on New Year’s Day, Dallas was cruising at 24-6 SU and hanging with the San Antonio Spurs atop both the Southwest division and the league. The Mavericks (26-14 SU, 19-19-2 ATS) are mired in a horrible 2-8 SU slump and have lost six straight.

Head-to-head, LA is 8-2 straight up and 4-6 against the point spread in the past 10 meetings. This is the first meeting of the season, and the teams split the 2009-10 season series at 2-2 SU and ATS. Dallas won the last clash by a 101-96 count in February.

The Lakers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-94 on Monday and cashed as a 4.5-point home favorite. The score stayed under the total of 202.5.

The Mavericks lost 103-89 to the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Dallas failed to cover as a 4.5-point road favorite. And the score went over the total of 188.   

With the way the Mavericks are playing lately, NBA Odds and NBA Picks will have the Lakers as road favorites.

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Atlanta Hawks visit Miami Heat in Southeast division matchup

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Jan 172011

Southeast division rivals the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat meet Tuesday in NBA action at Miami’s American Airlines Arena (7:30 pm ET, NBA TV).

The Hawks (27-15 SU, 19-22 ATS, 2nd Southeast) almost got caught looking ahead to this divisional showdown when they hosted the lowly Sacramento Kings (9-30 SU) on Monday, as they needed two last-second free-throws to squeeze out a win in a game in which they’d been favored by 8 points.

The Heat (30-12 SU, 19-22-1 ATS, 1st Southeast) have lost three straight and the Big 3 are on the limp. Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh all sat out practice Monday with various injuries. Bosh and James are both suffering from sprained left ankles while Wade was out with a sore knee.

Miami is 6-4 SU and ATS in the past 10 head-to-head meetings. Seven of the past 10 have gone under the total.

This is the second meeting of the season between the division rivals. Miami won the first clash on Dec. 4, beating the Hawks 89-77. The Heat cashed as an 8.5-point home favorite and the score was under the over/under total of 192.5.

Atlanta shooting guard Joe Johnson scored a season-high 36 points to lead the Hawks to a 100-98 come-from-behind win over Sacramento on Monday. His most important points were two free throws with 0.6 seconds left to get Atlanta the win.

Miami lost 99-96 to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, failing to cover as a 2.5-point road underdog. The score went over the total of 187.5.

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Big East rivals No. 4 Syracuse Orange, No. 5 Pittsburgh Panthers meet Monday

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Jan 162011

Big East conference rivals the No. 4 Syracuse Orange and the No. 5 Pittsburgh Panthers clash in College Basketball action on Monday at the Petersen Events Center (7:30 pm ET, ESPN).

The Orange and Panthers haven’t met since Jan. 2 last season, when Pitt beat Syracuse 82-72. The Panthers covered as an 11-point road underdog.

Pittsburgh has had the Orange’s number for the past five years, as Syracuse hasn’t beaten the Panthers since a 65-61 win on March 11, 2006. Going further back in the head-to-head series, Pittsburgh is 8-2 SU and ATS in the past 10 meetings. Six of the past 10 meetings have gone under the over/under total.

Syracuse is undefeated at 18-0 SU and 5-9 ATS and Pittsburgh is 17-1 SU and 6-6 ATS, its one setback of the season against the now-No. 13 Tennessee Volunteers on Dec. 11. Both teams are 5-0 in the Big East.

Syracuse beat the Cincinnati Bearcats 67-52 on Saturday, covering as a 7.5-point home favorite. The score was under the total of 131. The Orange were led by Rick Jackson, who scored 15 points.

Pittsburgh beat the Seton Hall Pirates 74-53 on Saturday, cashing as a 13.5-point home favorite. The score was under the total of 141.5. The Panthers’ Gary McGhee led all players with 13 points.

NCAAB Odds and NCAAB Picks will likely have the Panthers as favorites.

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New York Jets, New England Patriots clash in AFC divisional playoffs

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Jan 152011

Sunday’s big AFC divisional playoffs game between the New York Jets and New England Patriots has generated no shortage of trash talk.

It started Monday with Jets head coach Rex Ryan saying the matchup is “personal,” that it’s between him and New England head coach Bill Belichick.

The players may have something to say about that, and on Wednesday, Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie did just that, ramping up the verbal jabs by calling Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a pretty bad word.

Now it’s time to walk the walk, as the fierce AFC East rivals square off at Gillette Stadium on Sunday (4:30 pm ET, CBS).

New England is a 9-point, -400 moneyline favorite and the over/under total is 45 in NFL Odds.

The Patriots have dominated a lot of teams this season, but none so convincingly as their complete destruction of the Jets on Monday Night Football in early December. New England routed New York 45-3 as a 4-point home favorite.

Earlier this season, the Jets beat the Pats 28-14 in New Jersey. New England had been a 3-point road favorite.

New York (11-5 SU, 9-7 ATS) beat the Indianapolis Colts 17-16 in their AFC Wild Card game last week, cashing as a 2-point road underdog.

New England (14-2 SU, 10-5-1 ATS), who had a bye last week, beat the Miami Dolphins 38-7 in their season finale as a 4-point home favorite.

The Jets are 12-3 SU in their last 15 games on the road and the Patriots are 5-0 SU in their last five games at home.

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Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears clash in NFC Divisional Playoffs

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Jan 142011

The Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears square off in the NFC Divisional Playoffs on Sunday at Soldier Field (1 pm ET, FOX).

Chicago is a 10-point, -470 moneyline favorite and the over/under total is 41 in NFL Betting Odds.

The teams met on Oct. 17 this season, when the Seahawks scored a 23-20 upset of the Bears at Soldier Field. Seattle cashed as a 6-point road underdog and the score went over the total of 38. Head-to-head, Seattle is 4-3 SU in the past seven meetings, while Chicago is 4-3 ATS.

The Seahawks (7-9 SU, 7-9 ATS) will try to become the Cinderella team of this season’s NFL Playoffs after knocking off the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints last weekend. 

Seattle beat the Saints 41-36 in an NFC Wild Card game last Saturday at home. The Seahawks covered as a 10-point underdog and the score went over the total.

Chicago (11-5 SU, 9-6-1 ATS) won the NFC North division and enjoyed a bye last weekend. In their regular-season finale on Jan. 2, the Bears lost 10-3 to division rival Green Bay Packers, but covered as an 11.5-point underdog.

The total has gone over in 5 of Seattle’s last 5 games when playing Chicago, in 4 of Seattle’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Chicago, in 9 of Seattle’s last 10 games, and in 5 of Chicago’s last 6 games.

Chicago is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games overall and 16-7 SU in its last 23 games at home.

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Green Bay Packers visit Atlanta Falcons in NFC divisional playoff game

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Jan 132011

The Green Bay Packers and the Atlanta Falcons square off for the second time in less than two months Saturday in an NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome (8 pm ET, FOX).

NFL Lines have the Falcons as a 2.5-point, -140 moneyline favorite and the over/under total at 43.5.

One of the keys to this matchup could be the Packers running game, which was pretty much non-existent the entire regular season but suddenly sprang to life in last week’s Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Green Bay running back James Starks, a rookie taken in the sixth-round out of Buffalo, came out of nowhere to rush for 123 yards. When the Packers and Falcons met in November, the Falcons shut down anything the Packers did on the ground but if Starks can have a repeat performance, Green Bay’s offense will look a lot different than it did the last time the teams clashed.

Head-to-head, Atlanta is 4-3 SU and 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings. The Falcons won 20-17 when the teams met on Nov. 28, cashing as a 2-point favorite. The score went under the total of 48.

Green Bay (10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS) beat the Eagles 21-16 in an NFC Wild Card last week, covering as a 1.5-point road underdog. Atlanta (13-3 SU, 11-5 ATS) had a bye, and beat the Carolina Panthers 31-10 in its regular season finale, cashing as a 14.5-point home favorites.

Green Bay is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games overall and Atlanta is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games overall, and 8-1 SU in its last nine at home.

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AFC North rivals Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers meet in NFL divisional playoffs

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Jan 122011

AFC North rivals the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers clash Saturday in the NFL divisional playoffs at Heinz Field (1:30 pm ET, CBS).

NFL Odds and Football Picks have the Steelers as a 3-point, -175 moneyline favorite and the over/under total is at 36.

In the head-to-head series, the Steelers have a slight edge at 6-4 straight up and 5-4-1 against the point spread. Baltimore and Pittsburgh split the season series in 2010, each winning as a road dog: the Ravens won 17-14 as a 2-point road underdog on Oct. 3, with the score staying below the total of 37.5, and the Steelers won the last meeting 13-10 as a 3-point road underdog on Dec. 5. That score was below the total of 39.3

The Ravens won their Wild Card game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, beating the Chiefs 30-7 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Ravens cashed as a 3-point favorite and the score was under the total of 41.

The Steelers won the AFC North and had a bye in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. The Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 41-9 in their last regular season game on Jan. 2. Pittsburgh covered as a 6.5-point road favorite and the score went over the total of 38.5.

The Ravens are 12-4 SU and 8-7-1 ATS while the Steelers are 12-4 SU and 10-6 ATS.

Baltimore is a perfect 5-0 SU in its last five games overall, and is 4-1 SU in its last five on the road. Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last seven overall, and 17-5 SU in its last 22 games at home.

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