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NFL
Washington -2.5 over Minnesota
CFB
Baylor -14 over Oklahoma
LA-Lafayette -11 over Troy
Oregon -10 over Stanford -
Todays Best Bets
5* - [109] Oklahoma +14.5 -110 vs Baylor
5* - [107] Washington Redskins -1 -130 vs Minnesota Vikings
5* - [114] Stanford +10.5 -110 vs OregonComment
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Oregon at Stanford: What bettors need to know
Oregon Ducks at Stanford Cardinal (+10, 61.5)
Oregon and Stanford are ranked in the top five of the latest BCS standings and the No. 2 Ducks can move closer to a possible national championship game appearance when they visit the No. 6 Cardinal on Thursday. Oregon is third in the BCS race and waging a tight battle with Florida State for the second spot while Stanford is sitting fifth and looking to elevate its position. The Cardinal defeated Oregon in overtime last season.
The Ducks have won each of their games by at least 21 points and a 42-14 trouncing of UCLA in their last contest was their lowest-scoring output of the campaign. Stanford hasn’t topped 24 points in any of its last three games, including a 27-21 loss to Utah that makes this contest a must-win affair per its national title hopes. The winner of this contest will likely win the Pac-12 North division and play in the conference title game. The Cardinal defense will be without standout defensive end Ben Gardner, who suffered a season-ending pectoral injury against Oregon State on Oct. 26.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the low 50s with clear skies and winds blowing WNW at 7 mph.
LINE: Oregon opened as low as -7.5 and has been bet up to as high as -10.5. The total opened at 60 and has jumped to 61.5.
ABOUT OREGON (8-0, 5-0 Pac-12, 7-1 ATS): Quarterback Marcus Mariota hasn’t been intercepted since last season’s loss to Stanford and is one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy with 20 passing touchdowns and nine rushing scores. De’Anthony Thomas (7.1 average) is back in top form after missing three-plus games with an ankle injury and Byron Marshall (879 yards, 12 touchdowns) is having a superb season for an offense that ranks second nationally in scoring (55.6) and total offense (632.1 yards). The Ducks allow just 16.9 points per game – tied for seventh nationally – with cornerback Terrance Mitchell (four interceptions) and defensive end Tony Washington (7.5 sacks) both enjoying stellar campaigns.
ABOUT STANFORD (7-1, 5-1 Pac-12, 4-4 ATS): The Cardinal allow 19.4 points per game and will seek to keep the game relatively low scoring, similar to last season’s 17-14 victory. The loss of Gardner hurts but the defense features two others stars in outside linebacker Trent Murphy (9.5 sacks) and inside linebacker Shane Skov (seven tackles for loss) as well as ballhawking strong safety Jordan Richards (three interceptions). Quarterback Kevin Hogan has thrown 13 touchdown passes for an offense averaging 32.6 points, while running back Tyler Gaffney (886 yards, 12 touchdowns) and receiver Ty Montgomery (39 catches for 619 yards) are also having fine seasons.
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Stanford.
* Over is 7-1 in the last eight meetings.
* Ducks are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings in Stanford.
* Ducks are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 meetings.
* Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Oregon has won nine of the past 11 meetings, but the teams have split the last four.
2. Stanford has won 13 consecutive home games, the nation’s third-longest active streak.
3. The Ducks have rushed for at least 325 yards in five games with a season low of 216.Comment
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Oklahoma at Baylor: What bettors need to know
Oklahoma Sooners at Baylor Bears (-14.5, 72.5)
Oklahoma looks to slow down Baylor’s record-setting offense and derail the Bears’ national title hopes Thursday in front of a sold-out crowd in Waco. The Big 12 showdown features the first real test for the fifth-ranked Bears, who lead the nation with averages of 63.9 points and 718.4 offensive yards per game. The eighth-ranked Sooners are 21-1 all-time against Baylor and have won two straight since losing 36-20 to Texas on Oct. 12.
The Bears are riding a school-record 11-game winning streak, but are beginning a daunting stretch that includes contests against Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, TCU, and Texas to end the season. “We feel like this season is just getting started,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “We are anxious to get into the grind time.” The Bears have been especially dominant at home, where they’ve outscored five opponents by a combined score of 353-72.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the mid 50s with partly cloudy skies and winds blowing NNE at 5 mph.
LINE: Baylor opened at -13.5 and has been bet up as high as -15. The total climbed from 72 to as high as 73.5 points.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA (7-1, 4-1 Big 12, 4-4 ATS): The Sooners rank 10th in the country in total defense and ninth in pass defense, and forced three turnovers in a 38-30 victory over previously unbeaten Texas Tech on Oct. 26. Oklahoma will lean on its solid offensive line and a deep roster of running backs to control the clock against Baylor, but fullback Trey Millard will miss the game after suffering a season-ending knee injury against the Red Raiders. Quarterback Blake Bell has shown improvement over the past two games, and wide receiver Jalen Saunders is tied for the team lead with five touchdown receptions.
ABOUT BAYLOR (7-0, 4-0, 6-1 ATS): Quarterback Bryce Petty has thrown 18 touchdowns and one interception while completing 69.3 percent of his passes to lead the Bears, who posted 743 yards in total offense in a 59-14 win over Kansas before last week's open date. Running back Lache Seastrunk averages 9.1 yards per carry and the Bears are four rushing touchdowns away from breaking their single-season school record of 37 set in 2011. Linebacker Bryce Hager has a team-high 58 tackles to lead the defense, which ranks 11th in the country with 316 yards allowed per game.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Sooners are 7-2 ATS in their last nine meetings in Baylor.
* Sooners are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
* Underdog is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
* Road team is 14-3 ATS in their last 17 meetings.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Oklahoma has won 40 consecutive games when leading at halftime.
2. Baylor has outscored the opposition 164-20 in the first quarter.
3. The Sooners are 78-1 under coach Bob Stoops when scoring at least 40 points, including 8-0 against Baylor.Comment
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Thursday Night Football betting: Redskins at Vikings
Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings (+1, 51)
The Washington Redskins may have salvaged their season with a pulsating overtime victory on Sunday, but they cannot afford a misstep when they visit the sliding Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. The Redskins won their final seven games to win the NFC East title in 2012 and hope Sunday's dramatic win fuels another playoff run. “The way we won the game, I think it can be a turning point for us," quarterback Robert Griffin III said. "It’s definitely a bonding experience."
Washington needed a last-second goal-line stand to hold off San Diego before winning overtime, but Minnesota was unable to do the same in Dallas and allowed the Cowboys to drive 90 yards for the winning touchdown in a 27-23 defeat. It marked the fourth consecutive loss for the Vikings, leading to some grousing from the players regarding the coaching staff. "There’s some things that are going on internally that are not allowing us to close out games," defensive end Brian Robison said.
TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network.
LINE: Washington opened as a 1-point road favorite and has moved as high as -2.5 at some books. The total has climbed from 48 to 50.5 points.
WEATHER: N/A
COVERS POWER RANKINGS: Redskins (+2.5) - Vikings (+7.0) + Home Field (-3.0) = Vikings +2.0
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (3-5, 3-5 ATS): Although Griffin received much of the credit for the team's success in his rookie campaign, much of last season's success hinged on a powerful ground game led by Alfred Morris, who rumbled for a season-high 121 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against the Chargers. Griffin threw for 291 yards and completed a season-high 71.9 percent (23-of-32) of his passes in the most well-rounded offensive performance of the season. "Whenever we’ve been on throughout the season, we’ve done a better job of just mixing things up," Griffin said.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS (1-7, 3-5 ATS): Minnesota has already had three different quarterbacks start this season, but Christian Ponder will be under center for a third consecutive game. Ponder was solid against the Cowboys, although he will be without one of his favorite targets in tight end Kyle Rudolph, who suffered a fractured foot against Dallas and is expected to be sidelined for about a month. Running back Adrian Peterson, who had been dealing with a hamstring issue for weeks, tied his season high with 140 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's defeat.
TRENDS:
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings.
* Over is 5-2 in Redskins last seven road games.
* Over is 5-0 in Vikings last five home games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Minnesota has won two of the last three meetings - all in Washington - but the Redskins prevailed 38-26 last season.
2. Griffin ran for a career-high 138 yards in last season's matchup with the Vikings.
3. Minnesota and Washington rank 30th and 31st in points allowed at 31.5 and 31.6 points, respectively.Comment
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Football lines that make you go hmmm...
by Jason Logan
Some would call Oregon running back De'Anthony Thomas spouting off about hanging 40 points on Stanford “bulletin board material”. But if you looked at the Ducks’ offensive output this season, it seems more like a complement to the Stanford defense.
"I feel like, this team, we should at least put up 40,” Thomas said on Oregon's website, throwing gas on the fire of what is already a heated Pac-12 battle between teams ranked No. 3 and No. 5 in the country this Thursday.
A forty-point effort from Oregon would be more than two touchdowns less than its season scoring average (55.6 points per game). Stanford’s defense is giving up just 19.4 points per game but hasn’t faced many teams with the fire power of the Ducks. The Cardinal did limit Arizona State, which ranks sixth in the country in scoring (46.6 points per game), to 28 points in a win over the Sun Devils in Week 4.
Nevada-based odds service The Sports Club suggested a total of 67 points for Thursday’s marquee matchup, which would be Oregon’s second lowest total of the season and shortest number since the Ducks rolled Virginia 59-10 and topped the 60-point total in Week 2. However, most books are opening this over/under around 62 points.
The 62-point total is also Stanford’s highest over/under of the year, with Cardinal bettors sizing up an average total of 51.5 over their eight games. Stanford is 4-4 O/U on the year, and averaging 32.6 points per game.
If Thomas’ prediction is right, and the Ducks score 40 in Palo Alto, the Cardinal would have to do some heavy lifting on the other side of the scoreboard, versus an Oregon defense allowing an average of only 16.9 points, to threaten that 62-point total.Comment
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Beyond the BCS: Capping college football's small conferences
By DOC'S SPORTS
Some of the best betting value in college football is hiding beyond the BCS, in the small conferences. Each week, Doc’s Sports will look at the little programs that could help you make big cash this college season.
Total Team: UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (6-2 SU, 5-3 O/U)
This week: 67.5 vs. Troy
Louisiana-Lafayette is averaging 43.7 points per outing in its current six-game winning streak. It scored 35 in the second half of last week's 49-35 win over New Mexico State and running back Alonzo Harris ran for five touchdowns. Troy, Thursday's opponent, may be without stud safety Camren Hudson, who will be a game-time decision. For ULL, linebacker Chris Hill (sixth leading tackler on the team with 30, including three for loss) missed last week’s game against New Mexico State due to a concussion and is questionable.
The 'over' is 6-0-1 in UL Lafayette's last seven home games.
It is 14-2 in Troy's last 16 overall, 4-1 in its last five on the road, and 8-2 in its last 10 conference games.Comment
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No. 6 Stanford hosts No. 2 Oregon Thursday night
by Mark Kern
Kickoff: Thursday, 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: Oregon -10.5, Total: 63
No. 2 Oregon travels to Palo Alto Thursday night to take on No. 6 Stanford in a game that has huge implications in both the Pac-12 and national title races.
Last season, the Cardinal were able to end the Ducks national title hopes by winning 17-14 in an overtime thriller in Eugene. In that game, Stanford executed the perfect game plan to slowing down the Oregon offense. First, the offense had the ball for an astonishing 37 minutes, never allowing the high-flying Ducks offense to truly ever find any rhythm. The defense also did an outstanding job of limiting the big plays, and also flying from sideline-to-sideline to not allow Oregon to use its great speed. As dominating as Oregon has been in the Pac-12 the past few seasons, it has been even better on the road. The last time the Ducks lost a conference road game was at Stanford, and that was back in 2009. Oregon is 11-0 ATS on the road in Pac-12 play over the past three seasons, while being favored in all but one of those games. RB De’Anthony Thomas is back healthy for Oregon, giving QB Marcus Mariota another offensive weapon to try and score against a very good Cardinal defense. If Stanford is able to play like it did last season in Eugene, then it has a great chance of getting the victory. However, if the Ducks' offense gets rolling, it could be a disappointing night for the Stanford faithful.
Oregon comes into this game ranked second in the country in both rushing yards (331.5 yards per game) and scoring (55.6 points per game). Much of this success can be placed on star QB Marcus Mariota, who is a top Heisman Trophy candidate. He has been incredible this season, throwing for 2,281 yards and 20 touchdowns, while not throwing a single interception. His ability to run the ball (511 yards and 9 TD) makes him nearly impossible to slow down. If you put another defender in the box, then he has wide receivers Josh Huff (38 catches, 703 yards, 6 TD) and Bralon Addison (38 catches, 609 yards, 7 TD) that are able to stretch the defense. The offense is playing incredibly, but it is the defense that has made the Ducks a true contender this season. Heading into the matchup against Stanford, Oregon ranks seventh in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 16.9 points per game. The secondary is one of the very best in the country, and is led by Terrance Mitchell. He ranks first on the team with four interceptions, including a 51-yard return for a touchdown in a 62-38 victory over Washington State on October 19. He has great size at 6-foot-1, and has the speed to keep up with any receiver in the country. The matchup against Stanford standout WR Ty Montgomery will be the key in the game. If Mitchell is able to lock Montgomery down, Stanford QB Kevin Hogan will struggle to move the ball through the air. However, Montgomery is more than capable of having a huge performance, and can take over a game in many different ways.
Last season, Montgomery had only three catches for nine yards in the victory in Eugene, and that probably will not happen in this game. This season, he has 39 catches for 619 yards and five touchdowns, while adding two more scores on kickoff returns. The ability to change the game in both the offense and special teams plays a huge role for Montgomery, but the offense all starts with QB Kevin Hogan. He has been solid this season with 1,493 yards, 13 TD and 5 INT, but this is the type of game where he is going to have to go out and make plays down the field. Hogan is a very athletic quarterback, and has the ability to buy extra time for his receivers with his feet. He will also lean on Tyler Gaffney (886 rush yards, 12 TD) to help the Cardinal control the game the way departed rusher Stepfan Taylor did last season in the game. Gaffney is a big strong running back, and he has the ability to carry the ball 25-to-30 times a game. If he is able to have success early, that will open up Montgomery and the other receivers down the field. On defense, the Cardinal had the perfect scheme last season, and they will look to execute it again this season. Linebacker Shayne Skov is the star of the defense, entering the game with 62 tackles. He is an athletic linebacker with a high IQ, and will be counted upon to put the defense in the best position to slow down the Oregon offense.Comment
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No. 12 Oklahoma faces No. 5 Baylor Thursday night
by Mark Kern
Kickoff: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Baylor -14, Total: 74
One of the biggest games in school history takes place on Thursday night as No. 5 Baylor hosts Big 12 rival, No. 12 Oklahoma in Waco.
Last season, the Bears played spoiler as they upset No. 1 Kansas State. This season, they are the team with national title aspirations, and will be looking to avenge last season’s 42-34 loss in Norman. While they were unable to get the victory, they had success running the ball, gaining 252 yards on the ground. However, that offense is not near as electric as this season’s team is, and this game is also in Waco where Baylor is 16-2 ATS at home over the past three seasons. Art Briles has completely turned the program around, and a win over Bob Stoops and Oklahoma would go a long way in cementing their place as legitimate national title contenders. However, the Sooners are playing for a lot as well, as a win here puts them right back into the Big 12 title race. OU quarterback Blake Bell has had his ups and downs, but he can still be very good running the ball. In the victory over Baylor last season, Bell scored the winning touchdown by running 55 yards to the end zone. However, he must have a big game throwing the ball too, because the Sooners are going to have to score a ton to keep up with the Bears who lead the nation in both scoring (63.9 PPG) and total offense (718 YPG). For the Sooners to stay in this game, they are going to have to dominate the time of possession with one of the best rushing attacks in the country.
The Sooners enter Thursday night’s game ranked 14th in the country in rushing, with 234 yards per game. They are the prime example of running back by committee, with four players having rushed for at least 235 yards. Brennan Clay (90 carries, 538 yards, 3 TD) is the leader of the bunch, and is a strong running back that is very patient when hitting the hole. If Oklahoma is going to be able to run the ball, then the playmakers on the outside will have a chance to make big gains all night. One of those guys to look out for is Jalen Saunders (35 catches, 431 yards, 5 TD), who is quickly becoming QB Blake Bell’s go-to receiver, and he is coming off an outstanding performance in the Sooners most recent game, a 38-30 victory against Texas Tech two weeks ago. In that game, Saunders had 153 yards and two touchdowns, providing the big plays that his team needs in order to keep up with Baylor. Sterling Shepard (33 catches, 391 yards, 5 TD) is another guy that has the ability to attack the Baylor defense deep. While the offense is going to have to score some points, the defense is going to have to make some plays too. The Sooners rank 14th in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 18.8 points per game. However, they have not been challenged by an offense like this. Aaron Colvin is an outstanding cornerback, and he is going to be a key in slowing down the Bears' great passing attack. He is also very good against the run, and will be used all over the field. The Sooners defense must play well, because if they don’t, the Bears could turn this game into a rout early.
The Bears offense enters the game ranking first in the country in scoring (63.9 PPG) and passing (417.3 YPG), but they also rank seventh in rushing with 301.1 YPG. What Baylor is doing on offense right now is downright scary. Quarterback Bryce Petty is emerging as a legitimate Heisman trophy candidate, throwing for 2,453 yards and 18 touchdowns, while throwing only one interception. Petty has one of the strongest arms in the country, and has the ability to go deep to receivers Antwan Goodley (38 catches, 894 yards, 8 TD) and Tevin Reese (33 catches, 824 yards, 8 TD). Both of these receivers have elite speed that can take it the distance every time they touch the ball, forcing the safeties to stay back and make sure they don’t get beat deep. This opens up running lanes for Lache Seastrunk, who is one of the elite running backs in all of the country. On the season, he has rushed for 869 yards and 11 touchdowns, on a staggering 9.1 yards per carry. Seastrunk in the offseason was very confident in his team’s ability, and so far he has more than backed up his talk. While the offense gets most of the credit for their incredible production, the defense is quietly putting together an incredible season. The Bears rank 6th in the country in scoring defense, giving up a mere 15.9 points per game. The defense started to show improvements late in last season, and have continued throughout the 2013 campaign. Senior Ahmad Dixon has played very well all season, and is one of the leaders on the Bears defense. He currently has 40 tackles on the year, and is a factor in both the run and the pass. Waco will be rocking like never before on Thursday night, and the key will be whether the Bears can handle the atmosphere in a positive way, or if they come out too emotional and make mistakes.Comment
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Today's NFL Picks
Washington at Minnesota
The Redskins look to build on their 5-1 ATS record in their last 6 games in November. Washington is the pick (-2) according to Dunkel, which has the Redskins favored by 6 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Washington (-2). Here are all of this week's picks.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Time Posted: 8:00 p.m. EST (11/6)Game 107-108: Washington at Minnesota (8:25 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 129.196; Minnesota 122.754
Dunkel Line: Washington by 6 1/2; 54
Vegas Line: Washington by 2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-2); OverComment
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Atrain Sports
CFB
Baylor-14
Stanford+10Comment
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Chicago Syndicate
CFB
UL Lafayette/Troy Over 67
Oregon -10
NFL
Vikings/Redskins Over 49.5
NHL
Senators -115
Wild/Capitals Under 5.5
Islanders/Hurricanes Over 5.5
Blue Jackets -136Comment
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LA Syndicate
Oregon -10
Baylor/Oklahoma Over 72.5Comment
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Sean Higgs
4* Minnesota Vikings +3 -115Comment
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