NFL Betting – 2010 Top 5 Mock Draft

1st Overall – Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The sportsbook favorite at this point would be Ndamukong Suh, who is the best defensive tackle in the nation, but as we all know, a quarterback has more value than a tackle. Jimmy Clausen has arguably been the best quarterback in the nation this year, even if the Fighting Irish have been struggling. He’s smart, he’s efficient, he comes from a pro style offense and he’s worked with a coach who was an excellent offensive coordinator in the NFL. That will appeal to many teams.

2nd Overall – Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska Cornhuskers

This might be high for Suh, who is an excellent defensive tackle. The NFL has turned into a passing league, and NFL betting fans have to agree that a great defensive end is more valuable than a great defensive tackle nowadays.

3rd Overall – Russell Okung, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Going with the previous point, a potential bookend left tackle will provide plenty of value to NFL teams. When you look at who may be drafting near the top of the board – teams like the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs – you quickly see that they would snatch up a star like Okung. Although Oklahoma State has been a huge disappointment this year, their stud left tackle has been as advertised.

4th Overall – Eric Berry, Tennessee Volunteers

Internet betting cappers are well aware of Eric Berry, who is one of the best defensive backs in the nation. On top of that, he spent his last season at Tennessee under the tutelage of a great defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, which is only going to help his value out even more. There isn’t much that Berry doesn’t do on the football field: he’s a ball hawk, he’s a sure tackler and he’s got blazing speed. He is the type of player that will be a Rookie of the Year candidate early on.

5th Overall – Jake Locker, Washington Huskies

We all know the value of quarterbacks, so online betting cappers shouldn’t be too surprised to see Locker in the top five. Teams like St. Louis, Cleveland, Washington and maybe even Oakland will be looking for a new starter and Locker will provide a good option. Even the Buffalo Bills might be in the mix. If Sam Bradford were to leave college early and if his healthy concerns checked out, he could be in line for this slot instead of Locker.

NCAA Football Odds – Top 5 BCS Sleepers

Everyone in the sportsbook world thinks that they know who the participants in the BCS Championship Game will be: Texas, and the winner of the possible Florida-Alabama showdown for the SEC crown. Who else could sneak in through the back and overcome some major NCAA football odds?

Iowa (+1500)

The No.4 Hawkeyes are one of the biggest surprises of the year, and they don’t win pretty: seven of their nine wins have been by 11 points or less. This could come back to bite the Hawkeyes, especially as the Big Ten isn’t known as the power conference it once was (thanks for getting blown out in two straight BCS title games, Ohio State). The Hawkeyes first have to get past their visit to Ohio State next weekend, and then if they make it to the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten champions, they’ll most likely have to blow out their opponents for their NCAA football odds to be considered.

TCU (+2000)

The No.6 Horned Frogs, out of the Mountain West, should thank Utah for making a fuss about the smaller conferences being left out of the BCS title race after last year, and they’re powered by the No.1 defense in the country. They beat Clemson and Virginia on the road, and they also went to then-No.16 BYU and spanked the Cougars 38-7. Their last tough game comes next weekend at home against Utah, and if they get past the Utes, keep an eye on their NCAA football odds.

Boise State (+2000)

The No.7 Broncos are praying that Oregon keeps winning, because their season-opening win over the Ducks is their only strong victory. The Broncos are balanced, coming in 10th in defense in 21st in offense, but their schedule is weaker than a child with swine flu. Their conference, the WAC, has just hired a PR firm to help the Broncos’ bid for the BCS, but will that help Boise State be one of the NCAA football picks for the big bowls?

Cincinnati (+3000)

The No.5 Bearcats are quietly rolling through the Big East, even with an injury to quarterback Tony Pike. Their signature wins came on the road at Oregon State and South Florida, which isn’t all that great. But they have a great chance to sway from voters when they host West Virginia next Friday night, as well as their road trip to No.13 Pittsburgh to end the season. A win over the Panthers would surely boost their online betting odds.

LSU (+5000)

The Tigers have a loss to No.1 Florida, but they can blow the title race wide open if they were to upset No.3 Alabama on the road this weekend. Even the loss to Florida was only by 10 points at home, so it’s really not that bad. The Alabama game is their last chance to show voters what they have, because the road trip to Ole Miss isn’t as important due to the Rebels, well, sucking this year. Still, this weekend’s clash with the Crimson Tide could definitely shake up the internet sports betting lines in the NCAA.

NFL Betting Picks – Week 9 Picks

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

Sportsbook Odds: Ravens -3

Even though the Cincinnati Bengals have a better record than the Baltimore Ravens, and they are at home in this contest, and they are coming off a bye week, they are the underdog in this contest. While the betting line may seem strange, sometimes you just have to go with it.

The Bengals have already defeated the Ravens once this season and that game was in Baltimore when they were a nine-point underdog. Clearly, the Ravens look pretty good coming off a win against the Denver Broncos last week but that was a different scenario. At that point, the Ravens were coming off a bye week and were desperate for a win. They had lost three straight games and were playing at home to prove that they belong among the AFC elite.

Now they have to head on the road to the Bengals, who are coming off of a bye week themselves. Everyone is still cautious to put faith in the Bengals but it’s time to start treating them fairly. The Bengals already know what they have to do to beat Baltimore and their task might be a little easier with defensive tackle Haloti Ngata potentially out of the lineup for Baltimore. The truth of the matter is the Ravens defense is not what it used to be and the Bengals have already exploited it once and should exploit it again this week.

NFL bet: Bengals +3

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles

Sports Betting Odds: Eagles -3

A couple of weeks ago, the Dallas Cowboys were a wreck, Tony Romo wasn’t considered a starting quarterback in the NFL and head coach Wade Phillips needed to be fired. Now all of the sudden, the Cowboys faithful is quiet as their team gets set to play for first place in the NFC East this week.

We’ll see how far the Cowboys have truly come as this game will be the litmus test. Their offensive line has to protect, the wideouts like Miles Austin will have to play well against a good secondary and the defense will have to prove that they are in fact legit.

It’s one thing to tear apart the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons pitiful defenses at home – it’s another to go on the road to Lincoln Financial Field inside your own division and get a big road win. Look for the old Cowboys to show up and for Romo to make some mistakes.

Internet Gambling Picks: Cowboys +3

College Football Betting – Pac 10 Picks

Southern California Trojans @ Arizona State Sun Devils

Sportsbook Odds: USC -10

It’s going to be a tough week for the Arizona State Sun Devils. They get to face a very, very, very angry USC Trojans squad and the truth of the matter is that they just don’t have the parts to compete.

The Trojans are coming off a very bad, ugly loss at Autzen Stadium last week as the Oregon Ducks beat the crap out of them. The good news is that they should have a much easier opponent this week. While the Ducks offense is among the best in the nation, Arizona State’s unit is far from it.

The Trojans defense had a ton of problems with the spread offense of Oregon last week but this week will be a different story. If Arizona State can play a clean game without making any turnovers or mistakes, they’ll be happy – never mind hanging a big number on the Trojans.

One key point to mention is motivation. The Trojans have now lost two games on the season and they are not likely headed to the BCS or their typical Rose Bowl. That means that they may not be so interested in winning this game. If that’s the case, the Sun Devils should be able to stick around for a half but even so, they don’t have the talent to make this one a game.

NCAA Football Predictions: USC -10

Oregon Ducks @ Stanford Cardinal

Online Betting Odds: Oregon -8.5

The Oregon Ducks are flying high right now after their huge win against the USC Trojans. It has been quite the turnaround for the Ducks, who nearly blew it all in their opening game of the season.

In the first primetime college football game of the year, the Oregon Ducks lost at Boise State and their star running back LeGarrette Blount punched out a member of the Broncos. After that, Oregon nearly lost at home to Purdue.

But since then, the Ducks have been unstoppable on offense and very good on defense.

This is another hangover game for the Ducks and don’t be surprised if Stanford plays with them. The Cardinal are at home for this contest and are off a bye week. They have a good running game of their own and they should be able to control the ball with it. Take the Cardinal with the points.

Betting Picks: Stanford +8.5

BetOnline.com College Football – Can Gators Avoid Another SEC Upset?

Florida is still the online betting favorite to repeat as national champions, but last year they had a stumble to an underdog at home, and they haven’t been the juggernaut of previous years. This week, the No.1 Gators head to Mississippi State, and the Bulldogs have pulled off a couple of upsets over Florida already in recent years. A Florida loss would be a huge surprise to those who bet on sports, and they’d probably try to recoup through this year’s World Series odds.

Florida vs Mississippi State odds – Saturday, October 24, 7:30 PM ET

The Gators (6-0, 4-0) needed a last-second field goal to beat Arkansas 23-20 at home, and Tim Tebow may have sealed his second Heisman with his performance. The numbers weren’t great: 17-of-26 for 255 yards and a touchdown, along with 69 yards on the ground, but he made big plays down the stretch to save Florida’s unbeaten season. The Gators almost paid for their gambling ways with four fumbles, and they lost defensive leader Brandon Spikes to a groin injury, but once against, Tebow and coach Urban Meyer fired up the charges and the Gators are still here. It’s like the

The Bulldogs (3-4, 1-2) snapped a three-game skid with a 27-6 win at Middle Tennessee State, and their defensive dominance was almost criminal. The Bulldogs forced four turnovers and allowed only 42 yards on the ground, whiole rushing for 178 yards themselves and putting a zero in the turnovers column. Tyson Lee was 14-of-20 for 155 yards and a touchdown, along with a 39-yard touchdown run, and Anthony Dixon added another 135 yards and two scores on the ground. They’ll also have a good knowledge of Florida’s offense: head coach Dan Mullen was the offensive coordinator in Gainesville from 2005-2008, and he’s worked with Meyer at Bowling Green and Utah. Meyer may be calling for Mullen to go to prison for insider knowledge after Saturday.

Florida is a 22.5-point college football betting favorite in this contest, but they’ve split their last four meetings with Mississippi State. The Gators were favored in their last two trips to Davis Wade Stadium, but have lost both times. This spread is dangerous and if you’re running a tight operation, betting it all on the Gators isn’t a smart play. Florida’s receivers have struggled, leaving Tebow to go alone far too much, and if Spikes is hurt, the Gators’ defense won’t be as good. They may not win, but avoid the Florida spread in your sports picks.

NFL Betting – Big Favorites Mean Big Money This Week

New England Patriots @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL odds: Patriots -14.5

The New England Patriots just finished playing one of the worst teams in the AFC and now they get a shot at one of the worst teams in the NFC. Not a bad two week stretch to get your head – and your offense – back in the game.

The Pats have struggled in the first month of the season as Tom Brady has recovered from a season-long knee injury. Most of the struggles have stemmed from the fact that Brady and his weapons were out of rhythm but the house is back in order after a 59-0 win where Brady threw five touchdown passes.

One key factor that has gone unnoticed is the fact that running back Laurence Maroney had a good game. He scored the Pats first touchdown on a 45-yard run and finished with 123 yards on 16 carries. Maroney now faces the NFL’s second-worst rush defense in Tampa Bay, which means the Pats should be able to move the ball both through the air and on the ground. The Bucs also have one of the worst passing defenses in the league as their secondary has given up the most passing plays of 40+ yards or more.

On defense, the Pats face quarterback Josh Johnson, who hasn’t spent much time starting in the NFL. Good luck.

Racebook Picks: New England -14.5

Indianapolis Colts @ St. Louis Rams

Online Betting Odds: Colts -12.5

The Indianapolis Colts should be considered one of the best teams in the NFL and now they go on the road to face one of the worst. The Colts are coming off a bye week and will be well rested for this game. Meanwhile, St. Louis did show some signs of life last week but they failed to win in Jacksonville.

The Colts may be on the road but they are still in a dome, which means Peyton Manning and the offense should be comfortable.  The elements won’t come into play.

Also, the Colts are getting healthier as Bob Sanders is expected back for this contest. The Rams are putting forth good efforts for coach Steve Spagnuolo but they aren’t good enough to win here.

NFL Picks:  Colts -12.5

NFL Betting – Saints, Giants Clash In Battle Of NFC Titans

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

Sportsbook: Saints -3

The New York Giants and the New Orleans Saints are two of the last undefeated teams in the NFL and on Sunday, they will meet up in what figures to be a classic game. The Saints will be the hosts but that shouldn’t affect much as the Giants play very well on the road. As a matter of fact, since the Giants went on their Super Bowl run, they have been fantastic on the road.

This will be a big challenge for them and this could very well be a preview of a playoff match we’ll see later in the season. One major difference should be the fact that the Saints are coming off a bye. The Saints have had an additional week to prepare for this game, which often makes a difference in the on-field results. For the Saints, this is a must win because if they can’t win this game at home, they will likely lose some credibility in the NFL ranks.

The biggest difference between the two teams is the fact that the Giants run the ball while the Saints running game is still a work in progress. The Saints will use a time share between Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell, who both should be healthy now. Meanwhile, the Giants have a lethal duo of their own in Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

The Giants have a fantastic pass rush and they are going to put some heat on the Saints and they’ll force the Saints to run the ball to get the win. The Giants are just the better team overall so look for them to pull out a win.

Racebook Picks: Giants +3

NFL odds for total: 47

The total for this contest is very high but the question is will these two offenses put up as many points as the odds makers think they can? One underrated note in this game is that both defenses are underrated. The Saints defense has a quality line and a good secondary. Meanwhile, the Giants unit is also underrated.

47 is a lot of points in a contest between two teams that will probably try to run the ball, control the game and keep the opposing defense off the field.

NFL Predictions: Under 47

Top Four Lovable Losers of the NFL

With the Cincinnati Bengals being 4-1 with three credible wins that NFL betting fans can’t nitpick with, it might mean that there is a changing of the guard in the NFL. Sure, the Bengals could lose this week in typical Bengal fashion and lose their credibility, but they are a favorite in the sportsbook and they are expected to move to 5-1 with a win over the hapless Houston Texans.

So that begs the question: who are the new Bungles? Who are the new lovable losers of the NFL that find new ways to lose? Here are four options:

Houston Texans

People making their NFL predictions are going to start hating this team. The Texans are 2-3 on the year but could easily be 4-1. They lost at home to Jacksonville when they were stuffed for a last-second, game-tying field goal on their one-yard line. And then against the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Texans scratched and clawed to climb back from a 21-0 deficit only to throw a pick-six with less than three minutes to go, and then again get stuffed on the goal line for a game-tying touchdown. This team is a pain to watch.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have to be in the conversation here. After all, they are simply pathetic. Horrible quarterback? Check. Potential legal troubles? Check. Abysmal defense? Check. Lack of effort? Check. The only thing the Raiders don’t have going for them is that they aren’t losing games in heartbreaking fashion –they’re losing them in a very ugly fashion.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins deserve some credit among the worst teams in the NFL. Why? Because they have done the least with what is one of the easiest schedules in NFL history. The Redskins have yet to face a team that had a win in the week they played them. In Week 1, the Redskins faced the Giants. In Week 2, they faced the Rams. In Week 3, they faced the Lions. In Week 4, they faced the Buccaneers. In Week 5, they faced the Panthers. And this week, they face the Kansas City Chiefs. Their record so far? 2-3. Simply pitiful.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Speaking of the Bucs, which no sports betting blog even wants to talk about, they are embarrassing. For starters, they have the most salary cap space in the NFL and ownership doesn’t even care to help the team out. On top of that, the team on the field is horrible. The defense is pitiful and the offense has no direction. Also, head coach Raheem Morris looks like he might be coaching in the UFL very shortly. They are the worst team in football.

NCAA College Football – Previewing the Florida vs LSU odds

Everyone is paying attention to the Florida vs LSU lines, waiting to see how the health of Gators’ star Tim Tebow affect the betting spread for this massive SEC showdown that takes place on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium, as known as Death Valley. These two have won the last three national championships and four of the last six overall. Here’s a look back at their last five meetings, three of which was well worth the price per head for fans who went to the games.

1) Tigers get Swamped – 2008

Last year’s matchup was a beating, as the then-No.11 Gators racked up 265 rushing yards en route to a 51-21 mauling of the then-No.4 Tigers in Gainesville at “The Swamp”. Jeff Demps had 129 yards on just 10 carries, while Tebow had 210 passing yards and a pair of scores, along with a rushing touchdown.

2) “The Greatest Game Ever Played” – 2007

In the run-up to this game, LSU fans got Tebow’s phone number and flooded him with calls the night before the game. When Tebow scored in the second quarter, he made a telephone gesture to the LSU fans at Death Valley. But the Tigers fought back from a 17-7 halftime deficit in this clash of unranked teams, and LSU ran for 247 yards in a 28-24 win, en route to their second BCS championship since 2003.

3) Tebow introduces himself to the Florida faithful – 2006

Before Tebow was an offshore sportsbook favorite for the Heisman, he was a freshman pivot sharing time with senior Chris Leak, who was much more of a passer. But it was Tebow who threw for touchdowns on his only two pass attempts in a 23-10 win over the Tigers, and he also ran for one as well. The Gators went on to win the BCS title.

4) Addai carries LSU at Death Valley – 2005

In a hard-hitting game at Tiger Stadium that featured 21 penalties for both teams, the difference was a 3-yard run by Joseph Addai, who ended the day with 156 yards on the ground. Somehow, the Tigers managed to overcome a whopping five turnovers in their 21-17 victory, while not forcing a single one out of the Gators. Still, with future NFL picks such as Addai, JaMarcus Russell and Dwayne Bowe on the squad, LSU pulled it out.

5) Tigers shock Gators with comeback – 2004

In another wild meeting in which the Tigers committed three turnovers, they fought back with ball control as they held the pigskin for over 36 minutes. Marcus Randall replaced the ineffective JaMarcus Russell, who threw two picks, and brought the Tigers back from a 21-7 deficit to beat the Gators 24-21 in “The Swamp”. Randell threw two touchdowns, including one of four yards to Addai with 27 seconds remaining on the clock.

Honorable mention: LSU beats a No.1 team for the first time when they upset the Gators at Death Valley. LSU won as a 14-point underdog at home, making some sports picks look really bad.

NFL Odds – Epic Monday Night Football Matchups

Last Monday’s Packers-Vikings game offered tons of drama and excitement. Monday Night Football doesn’t necessarily deliver the goods week-in and week-out, but sportsbook bettors usually get treated to one or two instant classics every year. Let’s review some of the more epic Monday Night Football games of the past few years.

Cowboys 41, Eagles 37
September 15, 2008
This was a wild one that included lead changes, highlight reel efforts and ridiculous bloopers. The first 17 minutes saw a 70-yard touchdown by Terrell Owens, a 98-yard kick return touchdown by Felix Jones and back-to-back Philly scores just 14 seconds apart. The most memorable moment came when DeSean Jackson raced toward the end zone for a would-be touchdown. His celebration came prematurely, however, as he dropped the ball in celebration just before he crossed the goal line.

Cowboys 25, Bills 24
October 8, 2007
When heartbreak is involved, the Bills usually aren’t far behind. Thanks to a positively absurd six turnovers by Tony Romo—including two picks for touchdowns—Buffalo held a 24-13 lead entering the fourth quarter. Yet Romo rallied, leading the Cowboys to nine points in the final 20 seconds. He drove Dallas 80 yards for a score with just 20 ticks left on the clock; one onside kick and a few pass plays later, Nick Folk’s 53-yard kick crushed Buffalo’s soul. If you had the Bills’ NFL betting line, we feel sorry for you.

Bears 24, Cardinals 23
October 16, 2006
Yes, this game gave us Dennis Green’s famous “They Were Who We Thought They Were” tirade. Chicago turned the ball over six times and scored just three points on offense yet, despite trailing 23-3 with a few minutes left in the third quarter, staged an absurd comeback. Three touchdowns later—two on fumble returns, another on a punt return—and the Bears put on a show for anybody who bothered to stay up and finish the game. We’re betting management knew there and then that Green was finished.

Colts 38, Buccaneers 35
October 6, 2003
Largely thanks to a three-touchdown effort by Keenan McCardell, the Buccaneers enjoyed a huge lead almost all night, including a crushing pick-six by Ronde Barber that made the score 35-14 with about four minutes left. It wasn’t enough; Peyton Manning guided the Colts to three quick touchdowns and sent the game to overtime. Mike Vanderjagt missed a game-winning kick but—after being bailed out by a dubious penalty against Tampa—he made his second attempt to finish off one of the greatest comebacks that no NFL bet could have predicted.