Football picks for weekend of Dec. 5-7
The Thanksgiving weekend started shaky as I lost with the Lions and Seahawks, but fortunately I was able to bounce back with college football winners on Saturday with Baylor +21.5 vs. Texas Tech and Syracuse +21.5 vs. Cincinnati (the latter was a lucky back-door cover but I'll take it). Sunday was an even better day as I went 3-0 with my top plays (the Rams lost to the Dolphins but covered and the Panthers and Falcons pulled outrigth upsets of the Packers and Chargers, respectively).
In my Vegas football contests under the ViewFromVegas.com name, I went 3-2 in the Hilton SuperContest to improve 40-24-1 to move into a tie for 11th place (I used the Thanksgiving Day games but rallied with the three above) and 4-1 in the Leroy's Pro Challenge to improve to 44-21 (fortunately they only use Sunday/Monday games).
Feel free to ask me about any of the game below or any other games in the ViewFromVegas.com Forums.
I'll start with a college football game FRIDAY NIGHT with Buffalo +15 vs. Ball St. This line continues to climb and I think the Buffs can hang with undefeated Ball St.
Picks for SATURDAY:
Arizona St. +10.5 vs. Arizona
East Carolina +13 vs. Tulsa
Boston College pk vs. Virginia Tech
Oklahoma-Missouri UNDER 79 (been hearing lots of reports about poor condition of Arrowhead Stadium field which could slow these teams...and it doesn't take much with this high of a total...I was touted on this Sunday and I've heard other handicappers I respect coming in on the under as well)
For the NFL, here are the writeups that are running with my top three picks in Saturday's print editions of Daily Racing Form, followed by other games I'm either betting or considering for my contests:
Texans +6 vs. Packers: The advance line on this game a week ago was Packers -6, and after they lost to the Panthers at home and the Texans routed the Jaguars on Monday Night Football I never imagined I would still get this many points with red-hot rookie running back Steve Slaton going against the Packers' 27th-ranked rushing defense, which is allowing 141.8 yards per game. However, the books opened it back up at 6 earlier this week and it's stayed right there. This looks like an early Christmas present.
Browns +14 vs. Titans: This is scary as I'm about to go against the two teams with the best against-the-spread records in the league. The Titans are 10-1-1 against the spread, but I can't help but think this line is inflated to attract action on the other side. I'll bite, even with Ken Dorsey being forced into the starting role for the Browns. Double-digit underdogs are still 17-4 against the spread vs. the closing line at the Las Vegas Hilton, and even though the Lions and Seahawks let me down on Thanksgiving Day, I have to go with this one on Sunday (note: I'm passing on the Bengals +13 1/2 vs. the Colts and Rams +14 vs. the Cardinals because even I have my limits).
Eagles +7 vs. Giants: I liked this play even before the continued distraction of the Plaxico Burress situation played out this week. The Eagles, who have had off-field problems of their own, played much better in their Thanksgiving night win over the Cardinals and still have an outside shot at the playoffs, while the Giants don't need this game nearly as bad. The Giants, who are 10-2 against the spread and have covered a league-high seven straight games, beat the Eagles 36-31 in Philadelphia four weeks ago, but Andy Reid has shown an ability for taking his team on the road to avenge a division loss by covering the last seven times in this spot and is 12-2 in his career (10-4 straight up).
Lions +9 vs. Vikings
Falcons +3 vs. Saints
Dolphins PK vs. Bills
Chiefs +8.5 vs. Broncos
Rams +13.5 vs. Cardinals
Cowboys +3 vs. Steelers
Patriots -5 vs. Seahawks
Good luck, everyone.
In my Vegas football contests under the ViewFromVegas.com name, I went 3-2 in the Hilton SuperContest to improve 40-24-1 to move into a tie for 11th place (I used the Thanksgiving Day games but rallied with the three above) and 4-1 in the Leroy's Pro Challenge to improve to 44-21 (fortunately they only use Sunday/Monday games).
Feel free to ask me about any of the game below or any other games in the ViewFromVegas.com Forums.
I'll start with a college football game FRIDAY NIGHT with Buffalo +15 vs. Ball St. This line continues to climb and I think the Buffs can hang with undefeated Ball St.
Picks for SATURDAY:
Arizona St. +10.5 vs. Arizona
East Carolina +13 vs. Tulsa
Boston College pk vs. Virginia Tech
Oklahoma-Missouri UNDER 79 (been hearing lots of reports about poor condition of Arrowhead Stadium field which could slow these teams...and it doesn't take much with this high of a total...I was touted on this Sunday and I've heard other handicappers I respect coming in on the under as well)
For the NFL, here are the writeups that are running with my top three picks in Saturday's print editions of Daily Racing Form, followed by other games I'm either betting or considering for my contests:
Texans +6 vs. Packers: The advance line on this game a week ago was Packers -6, and after they lost to the Panthers at home and the Texans routed the Jaguars on Monday Night Football I never imagined I would still get this many points with red-hot rookie running back Steve Slaton going against the Packers' 27th-ranked rushing defense, which is allowing 141.8 yards per game. However, the books opened it back up at 6 earlier this week and it's stayed right there. This looks like an early Christmas present.
Browns +14 vs. Titans: This is scary as I'm about to go against the two teams with the best against-the-spread records in the league. The Titans are 10-1-1 against the spread, but I can't help but think this line is inflated to attract action on the other side. I'll bite, even with Ken Dorsey being forced into the starting role for the Browns. Double-digit underdogs are still 17-4 against the spread vs. the closing line at the Las Vegas Hilton, and even though the Lions and Seahawks let me down on Thanksgiving Day, I have to go with this one on Sunday (note: I'm passing on the Bengals +13 1/2 vs. the Colts and Rams +14 vs. the Cardinals because even I have my limits).
Eagles +7 vs. Giants: I liked this play even before the continued distraction of the Plaxico Burress situation played out this week. The Eagles, who have had off-field problems of their own, played much better in their Thanksgiving night win over the Cardinals and still have an outside shot at the playoffs, while the Giants don't need this game nearly as bad. The Giants, who are 10-2 against the spread and have covered a league-high seven straight games, beat the Eagles 36-31 in Philadelphia four weeks ago, but Andy Reid has shown an ability for taking his team on the road to avenge a division loss by covering the last seven times in this spot and is 12-2 in his career (10-4 straight up).
Lions +9 vs. Vikings
Falcons +3 vs. Saints
Dolphins PK vs. Bills
Chiefs +8.5 vs. Broncos
Rams +13.5 vs. Cardinals
Cowboys +3 vs. Steelers
Patriots -5 vs. Seahawks
Good luck, everyone.
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