Thursday 11-23-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Villanova vs. Tennessee Preview and Predictions

Villanova is undefeated and Jalen Brunson is playing like the Preseason Big East Player of the Year, but the Wildcats are far from satisfied. After sneaking past Western Kentucky in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas, No. 3 Villanova meets Tennessee in Thursday's semifinals.

The Wildcats are 4-0 and have given up 60 or fewer points three times, while Brunson came into the event averaging 17.7 points and essentially fell on that number with 18 in the opening round. The junior guard was 7-for-9 from the field and is 23-for-29 over the last three games for the Big East favorites. "We still have to get a lot better," Brunson told reporters following the victory. "We're still a work in progress." The Volunteers may pose a challenge after upsetting Purdue in overtime on Wednesday thanks to Grant Williams' dominant second-half effort.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT VILLANOVA (4-0): The Wildcats had their lowest-scoring effort of the season Wednesday due partially to a poor performance from their front-court players. Omari Spellman and Eric Paschall shot a combined 2-for-14 for six points, although Villanova's veteran guards bailed them out. In addition to Brunson's crisp performance, Donte DiVincenzo scored 14 points off the bench while Mikal Bridges contributed 17 along with eight rebounds, five steals, three blocks and three assists.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (3-0): Williams was scoreless at halftime against Purdue before erupting for 22 points after intermission - including the go-ahead bucket with 14.5 seconds left in overtime. "I thought we really showed the toughness we've been looking for from them," Tennessee coach Rick Barnes told reporters after the game. "I thought our guys just kept finding ways to fight back." Lamonte Turner chipped in 17 points in a reserve role, giving him 33 in the last two games since a scoreless season opener against Presbyterian.

TIP-INS

1. Bridges is averaging 21.3 points over his last three games and has recorded 12 steals in that span.

2. Paschall is 0-for-10 from 3-point range this season.

3. Admiral Schofield, who came into the event as Tennessee's leading scorer (18 points), was limited to 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Villanova 77, Tennessee 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

St. John's vs. Oregon State Preview and Predictions

St. John's is beginning to put two disappointing seasons in the rear-view mirror and can start with five victories for the first time since 2009-10 when it takes on Oregon State in the first round of the Advocare Invitational on Thursday at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Red Storm have rolled to four double-digit victories, including a 79-56 triumph over Nebraska, and held teams to 34.7 percent shooting.

"Our team, how we play, and how skilled and talented we are, we feel like we can play with anybody," St. John's junior forward Marvin Clark II told the New York Post, "but it's just a matter of if we're gonna come out and bring it from the jump." The Red Storm will have to get another strong effort when they meet Oregon State, which should be much improved after a 5-27 season with several key players back. The Beavers sandwiched a 75-66 loss to Wyoming with victories against Southern Utah and Long Beach State to start the season while shooting 50 percent from the field and scoring 84.7 per contest. Sophomore forward Tres Tinkle, the son of coach Wayne Tinkle, and 6-10 junior forward Drew Eubanks have averaged 41 points and almost 15 rebounds through the first three games for Oregon State.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT ST. JOHN'S (4-0): Sophomore guard Shamorie Ponds (17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, four assists), sophomore guard Marcus LoVett (15 points, 2.5 steals) and senior guard Bashir Ahmed (13 points) lead a balanced offense. Third-year coach Chris Mullin said recently that junior forward Tariq Owens, who is averaging 4.8 points along with six rebounds and 3.3 blocks, is perhaps his most important player. "He's the anchor of our defense," Mullin told the New York Post. "His blocks, they're great blocks, because he's in the right place. ... I think, to me, he kind of makes everything go, and he's pretty freakish athletically. He can do everything."

ABOUT OREGON STATE (2-1): Tinkle is averaging 21.3 points on 23-of-39 shooting and eight rebounds while Eubanks chips in with 19.7 and 6.7, respectively, draining 18-of-26 from the field. Junior guard Stephen Thompson Jr. has scored 13.7 per game in the first three, but is shooting 36.8 percent from the field overall - making just 1-of-15 from 3-point range. "We've just got to get him to relax," coach Tinkle told the Corvallis Gazette-Times of Thompson, who averaged 16.3 points in 2016-17. "We know he's a great shooter. I think he's really putting a lot of pressure on himself. ... It's just another piece to our deal that obviously puts us at a different level."

TIP-INS

1. St. John's sophomore G Justin Simon, a transfer from Arizona, is averaging 10.3 points and a team-high 9.5 rebounds.

2. Oregon State sophomore G Jaquori McLaughlin is averaging just four points in the first three games after finishing at 10.5 last season.

3. The teams have split two meetings with the Red Storm winning the last 66-63 in the 2001 Great Alaska Shootout.

PREDICTION: St. John's 76, Oregon State 62

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Portland vs. North Carolina Preview and Predictions

Defending national champion North Carolina hopes to add another tournament title this weekend, as the ninth-ranked Tar Heels open the PK80 Invitational on Thursday against Portland. The tournament honoring Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday features two eight-team brackets and is being played in Portland, Ore.



The Tar Heels' title defense is off to a roaring start with three double-digit wins, including a 96-72 road victory at Stanford on Monday. North Carolina could face some tough competition later in the tournament - including either Arkansas or Oklahoma on Friday and a potential matchup with Michigan State two days later. First up, though, are the Pilots, who have won two straight - both against NAIA opponents. Former NBA star Terry Porter is in his second season as the coach at Portland after going 11-22 last campaign.

TV: 2:30 p.m., ESPN



ABOUT PORTLAND (2-1): Porter reinforced the roster for his second season at the helm, adding junior-college transfer Josh McSwiggan (14.3 points, five rebounds) as well as his son, Franklin Porter (11 points), among others. Those two have emerged as the team's top two scorers, while 7-2 center Philipp Hartwich averages eight points and 12 rebounds while ranking second in the nation with 4.7 blocks per contest. Hartwich's ability to protect the rim is a big reason why the Pilots rank third nationally in field-goal defense, holding opponents to 31.9 percent shooting.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (3-0): The Tar Heels have no shortage of offensive threats, as five players are averaging double digits in points. Luke Maye (19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds) and point guard Joel Berry II (18.5 points, 4.5 assists) lead the way, but sharpshooter Kenny Williams (13.3 points) poured in a career-high 20 points against Stanford. The Tar Heels also appear to have a big-time post player in the making with 6-11 freshman Sterling Manley, who is averaging 10.7 points and 8.7 rebounds off the bench.



TIP-INS

1. North Carolina is 6-0 all-time in Oregon.

2. The Tar Heels have shot better than 50 percent in two of their three games.

3. Portland has lost nine straight to ranked teams and is 0-24 against top-10 opponents.



PREDICTION: North Carolina 89, Portland 73

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Virginia vs. Vanderbilt Preview and Predictions

No. 25 Virginia is off to a faster start this season entering the NIT Tip-Off semifinal Thursday against Vanderbilt in Brooklyn, N.Y., and not just based on the Cavaliers winning their first four games. Traditionally one of the nation's slowest teams offensively, Virginia is averaging 76 points per game, 10 points more than its average in 2016-17 - fueled by Kyle Guy's 18 points per game - and its typical tough defense once again is among the nation's best.

"The coaches just told me to be confident and stay ready, and that's what I tried to do," Guy told reporters after Virginia topped Monmouth 73-53 on Sunday. Vanderbilt has split its first four games of the season, falling 93-89 in overtime Sunday to No. 10 USC in a game where it led by 10 points midway through the second half. The Commodores' top three scorers combined to shoot 13-for-35 from 3-point range in losses to Belmont and USC. "There are definitely things we could learn, positives we could take from it," Vanderbilt guard/forward Matthew Fisher-Davis told the media afterward. "But losing isn't satisfying."

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT VIRGINIA (4-0): Guy is shooting 9-of-18 from 3-point range, making five in Friday's 76-67 victory at VCU, and is 15-of-17 from the free-throw line. De'Andre Hunter scored a career-high 23 points in Sunday's victory as the Cavaliers shot 52.2 percent from the field, moving to 4-0 for the second consecutive season. One season after leading the nation in scoring defense (56.4), the Cavaliers have limited their four opponents to 54.3 points per contest.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (2-2): Fisher-Davis finished with 31 points in Sunday's loss, hitting 6-of-13 attempts from 3-point range. Fisher-Davis leads the Commodores in scoring at 18 points per game, followed by Riley LaChance (14.8) and Jeff Roberson (13.3 points, 10 rebounds). Vanderbilt, which led the SEC in 3-point shooting last season, is hitting 34.4 percent of its shots from beyond the arc through four games.

TIP-INS

1. Fisher-Davis pulled down 11 rebounds Sunday, Vanderbilt's first player to score 30-plus points and record 10-plus rebounds in the same game since 2009.

2. Virginia has led the nation in scoring defense in three of the last four seasons.

3. Thursday's winner faces either Rhode Island or Seton Hall on Friday.

PREDICTION: Virginia 63, Vanderbilt 61

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Saint Mary's vs. Harvard Preview and Predictions

Saint Mary's is hoping its third appearance in the Wooden Legacy tournament proves to be the proverbial charm. The 21st-ranked Gaels tip off the eight-team extended-weekend tournament Thanksgiving afternoon with a matchup against preseason Ivy League favorite Harvard at Titan Gym in Fullerton, Calif.



After losing in the opening round and going 2-1 in the 2008 Wooden Legacy tourney, Saint Mary's returned four years later and won its opener before falling short in the semifinals and third-place game. Now, the 4-0 Gaels enter as the favorite to take home the title in the tournament, which also includes St. Joseph's and Washington State in the top half of the bracket and Georgia, host Cal State Fullerton, San Diego State and Sacramento State in the bottom half. The semifinals will be played Friday, with the championship and the other three place games set for Sunday after an off day. The holiday tournament is in its 11th season with UCLA and Michigan State having won the last two titles.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNews



ABOUT SAINT MARY'S (4-0): A sixth seed in last season's NCAA Tournament, coach Randy Bennett's Gaels have won their first four contests by an average of 18 points, scoring at least 76 in each outing. Calvin Hermanson, a 6-foot-6 junior wing, leads the team in scoring at 19.0 points per game while 6-foot-11 center Jock Landale (17.5 points, team-best 8.0 rebounds) and guard Emmett Naar (12.8 points) are also averaging double figures. Naar also is averaging 9.5 assists - tied for fourth nationally - for the Gaels, who have 74 assists and only 27 turnovers on the season while their opponents have 47 of each.

ABOUT HARVARD (2-2): With coach Tommy Amaker in his 11th season and having already established himself as the winningest coach (195-104) in the program's history, the Crimson have stumbled of late after a 2-0 start, falling at Holy Cross and Manhattan by identical 73-69 scores. Sophomore guard Bryce Aiken is pacing the squad with 16.8 points and 3.5 assists while forwards Seth Towns (16.5) and Chris Lewis (10.5) also are averaging double digits. Towns (6.3 boards) and guard Justin Bassey (5.5) are the leading rebounders for the Crimson, which has struggled with taking care of the ball, averaging 17.3 turnovers and only 11.3 assists per outing.



TIP-INS

1. This will be the second meeting between the two programs with Saint Mary's winning 70-69 at home on New Year's Eve in 2012.

2. The Gaels have been on target this season, shooting a sizzling 52.1 percent from the floor, 43.8 percent from 3-point range and 79.7 percent at the free throw line.

3. Harvard has enjoyed recent success in neutral-site tournaments, winning both the 2013 Great Alaska Shootout and 2011 Battle 4 Atlantis titles and finishing second in the 2015 Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.



PREDICTION: Saint Mary's 76, Harvard 65

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Portland State vs. Duke Preview and Predictions

Top-ranked Duke looks like it's ready to turn things up to 100 at the PK80. The Blue Devils look to build on a 29-point rout of Furman in the opening round of the Phil Knight Invitational as they travel to Portland, Ore., for a date with Portland State.

After rolling to four consecutive home victories - each coming by at least 17 points - Duke leaves the comfortable confines of Cameron Indoor Stadium with its sights on winning the event held in honor of Nike founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday. Marvin Bagley III poured in 11 of his 24 points in a 2 1/2-minute stretch of the first half to lead the Blue Devils in their 92-63 triumph over Furman; he said afterward: "It was just a time in the game when I was hitting, my teammates kept finding me. They kept coming back to me, they believed in me enough to keep going and keep pushing, and I just executed on the plays we were running." Duke likely won't be tested by Portland State, despite the Vikings also coming in unbeaten. Bryce Canda and Michael Mayhew had 17 points each as Portland State edged Utah State 83-79 last time out.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT PORTLAND STATE (4-0): Canda has been the Vikings' best all-around player through the first four games of the season, leading the way in scoring (17.5 points per game), rebounding (8.0) and steals (3.3) while adding a team-high 11 3-pointers. But Canda is shooting an inconceivable 35.7 percent from the free-throw line after connecting on 79.2 of his attempts as a freshman. Foul shooting has been a team-wide problem to date, with Portland State shooting just 57.7 percent from the line - ranking the Vikings 336th out of 351 teams in Division I.

ABOUT DUKE (5-0): Bagley is looking every bit the part of a top prospect, having scored 24 points or more in three of his first five games in a Blue Devils jersey; he joins Jabari Parker and Johnny Dawkins as the only Duke freshmen with three 20-point efforts in their first five outings. Fellow first-year player Trevon Duval has been nearly as impressive, entering Thursday ranked third in the nation in assists (38) while boasting a 5.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. Yet, like Portland State, Duke could use some work on its free-throw shooting, entering the non-campus portion of the PK80 ranked 323rd at 61.7 percent.

TIP-INS

1. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski has 199 career victories with Duke as the top-ranked team in the nation.

2. The Blue Devils will face either Butler or Texas in the second round of this event.

3. Duke's 44.3 percent offensive rebound rate against FBS teams ranks second in the country.

PREDICTION: Duke 89, Portland State 63

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Arkansas vs. Oklahoma Preview and Predictions

A pair of unbeaten teams go head-to-head in a marquee matchup when Arkansas and Oklahoma square off Thursday in the first round of the PK80 tournament in Portland, Ore. The tournament honoring Nike co-founder Phil Knight's 80th birthday features two eight-team brackets.



The scoreboard should get a workout in this matchup, as the Sooners lead the nation with an average of 108 points per game while Arkansas is 18th at 93 points. Oklahoma has been dominant in its first two games, outscoring Omaha and Ball State by an average of 29 points while shooting 56.3 percent. The Razorbacks also have a pair of lopsided wins to their credit, and they're coming off an 83-75 home triumph over Fresno State on Friday that ran their record to 3-0. Oklahoma has won seven of the last 10 meetings, but Arkansas leads the all-time series 15-12 and is 4-0 in neutral-site games against the Sooners.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2



ABOUT ARKANSAS (3-0): The Razorbacks have a quartet of players who average double digits in points, with Jaylen Barford (20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists) leading the way. Barford, Daryl Macon (16 points, 4.3 assists) and Anton Beard (13.3 points) give the team a trio of seniors who start in the backcourt, while 6-11 freshman Daniel Gafford (16.7 points, five rebounds) has made an impact coming off the bench. Coach Mike Anderson's teams also wreak havoc on defense, and this season has been no different thus far as the Razorbacks are forcing 17.7 turnovers per contest.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (2-0): The Sooners have one of the nation's best freshmen in home-grown point guard Trae Young, who leads the team with 18.5 points per game and tops the nation with an average of 11.5 assists. Fellow freshman Brady Manek (13.5 points) and senior forward Khadeem Lattin (14, 7.5 rebounds) give the team a pair of capable post players to complement Young. Junior guard Christian James (13.5 points) also is off to a great start after averaging 7.9 points last season.



TIP-INS

1. Young is the first Sooner to record consecutive point-assist double-doubles since John Ontjes in the 1994-95 season.

2. Arkansas has outscored its first three opponents by 64 points in the first half.

3. Macon is 8-for-8 from the foul line this season and has made 15 straight free throws dating to last campaign's NCAA Tournament.



PREDICTION: Oklahoma 85, Arkansas 82

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Xavier vs. George Washington Preview and Predictions

Fourteenth-ranked Xavier won the Advocare Invitational in 2015-16 and the Tire Pros Invitational last season. The Muskeeters will try to win a holiday tournament for a third straight year when it faces old Atlantic 10 Conference rival George Washington on Thursday in the semifinals of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

"I want to win a trophy," senior forward Sean O'Mara said after the visiting Musketeers crushed Hampton, 96-60, on Monday night. "What am I? Three-for-four in Thanksgiving tournaments if we can get this done, so that's definitely a goal of mine." Xavier is 6-0 over the last two tournaments but just needs to go 2-0 this time around. The winner plays the winner of Thursday night's other semifinal between Arizona State and Kansas State on Friday afternoon for the championship.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, FS1

ABOUT XAVIER (4-0): The Muskeeters return three starters from a team that went 24-14 and advanced all the way to the Elite Eight a year ago. Senior guard Trevon Bluiett is a national player of the year candidate who is averaging 24.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists and earned Big East Player of the Week honors after scoring 25 points and pulling down nine rebounds in Xavier's 80-70 victory at Wisconsin last week. Senior guard J. P. Macura, the only Musketeer to start every game last season, is second in scoring (13.5) and assists (4.3) and leads the team in steals (2.3) while forwards Tyrique Jones (12.5 points) and Kaiser Gates (11.3) also are averaging in double figures.

ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON (2-2): The Colonials return five players who started 10 or more games last season on a squad that finished 20-15 and advanced to the second round of the College Basketball Invitational. Senior guard Yuta Watanabe, a 6-8 native of Kagawa, Japan, leads the team in scoring (13.5), rebounding (9.3), blocks (4.5) and free throw percentage (10-of-11, 90.9 percent). Sophomore guard Jair Bolden (13.3 points) and senior forward Patrick Steeves (12.8) also are averaging in double figures with Bolden also averaging a team best 4.0 assists.

TIP-INS

1. Xavier leads the Big East and ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage at 56.8 percent.

2. Bluiett, a two-time first team All-Big East pick, has scored at least 21 points in each of the first four games.

3. Bluiett (1,682) and Macura (1,108) have combined for 2,790 points so far in their careers.

PREDICTION: Xavier 94, George Washington 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Central Florida vs. Nebraska Preview and Predictions

Isaac Copeland gave Nebraska a glimpse of what he could provide last time out and the Georgetown transfer hopes for more of the same when the Cornhuskers take on Central Florida on Thursday in the first round of the Advocare Invitational at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Copeland, who had back surgery nine months ago, scored 30 points Sunday in the 92-70 victory over North Dakota.

"He's been doing this his whole life," Nebraska senior guard Anton Gill said of Copeland, who averaged 11.1 points in 2015-16 at Georgetown. "I've known him forever. This is him. This is what we expected." Copeland had just 21 points in the first three games of the season combined, including five in the Cornhuskers' only loss to St. John's, and will need another big effort against an unbeaten UCF team that has allowed 37.1 percent shooting. The Knights have knocked off Mercer, Gardner-Webb and William & Mary despite injury issues and can start the season 4-0 for the first time since 2010-11 on Thursday just a short ride from their campus. "On the defensive end, we're doing a good job of holding guys' field goal percentage to a low level, but we could be better," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins told reporters. "I think our guys realize that too. A lot of times we give up too many easy baskets and we're not as focused as we should be."

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (3-0): The Knights have been without first-team All-American Athletic Conference preseason pick B.J. Taylor (broken foot) for the last two games, but 7-6 junior center Tacko Fall made his season debut with 13 points in the 75-64 victory over William & Mary on Saturday. Senior forward A.J. Davis has gotten off to a strong start, averaging 13.3 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. Davis shares the team scoring lead with sophomore guard Chance McSpadden, who is shooting 50 percent from the field overall and recorded a season-high 18 points on Saturday.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (3-1): The Cornhuskers have been quite balanced overall with six players averaging double figures in scoring, led by junior guard Glynn Watson Jr. at 13.5 points per contest. Miami (Fla.) transfer James Palmer Jr. and Copeland are next at 12.8 while Gill, who came over from Louisville last season, has averaged 11.5 in his first two games of 2017-18. Sophomore forward Isaiah Roby has also made quite an impact in the early going, averaging 10.3 points with team-highs of 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 22.3 minutes per game.

TIP-INS

1. UCF freshman G Ceasar DeJesus, averaging 11.7 points and 2.3 steals, was named AAC rookie of the week Monday.

2. Nebraska is shooting just 40.5 percent from the field overall and 30.4 from behind the 3-point arc.

3. Fall registered 164 blocks in his first two seasons with the Knights and swatted one in his 2017-18 debut Saturday.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 72, Central Florida 68

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Seton Hall vs. Rhode Island Preview and Predictions

No. 22 Seton Hall expected big things after returning 90 percent of its scoring and rebounding from a team that won 21 games last season, and the Pirates open the NIT Season Tip-Off Thursday in Brooklyn, N.Y., against Rhode Island unbeaten in four games. A trio of Pirates lead the charge offensively as Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado and Desi Rodriguez each have surpassed 1,000 career points, and several reserves played well in Saturday's 82-53 victory over New Jersey Tech.

"The other guys gave us a lot of energy," Rodriguez told reporters after scoring 19 points in the victory. "Our starters were sluggish today and they came and picked us up and ran up the score." The Rams have won two of their first three games, rebounding from a loss to Nevada to defeat Holy Cross 88-66 on Sunday. Andre Berry scored a career-high 20 points in the victory and Rhode Island played solidly, recording 22 assists and 13 steals with only nine turnovers. "Any win that we get this year - and hopefully, there are going to be a lot of them - is a great win," Rhode Island coach Dan Hurley told the media afterward.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT SETON HALL (4-0): Rodriguez leads the Pirates in scoring at 17 points per game, helping to lead an offense scoring 82.8 points per contest. Delgado, who averaged 13.1 rebounds per game last season, is averaging 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds through four games. Carrington, who led the Pirates in scoring at 17.1 points per game last season, has made a smooth transition to point guard, averaging 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals to go with 12 points per game.

ABOUT RHODE ISLAND (2-1): The Rams are averaging 84.3 points per game so far, using a four-guard starting lineup to push the tempo. Jared Terrell equaled his career high with 25 points against Holy Cross and has scored 49 points in his past two games after being held to six points in the season opener. That guard play is important with E.C. Matthews, who has scored 1,547 career points, sidelined for six weeks with a fractured wrist.

TIP-INS

1. Rhode Island has forced an average of 19.3 turnovers per game and has caused at least 14 turnovers in every game so far this season.

2. Seton Hall freshman F Sandro Mamukelashvili blocked four shots against NJIT, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

3. Thursday's winner faces either Vanderbilt or Virginia on Friday.

PREDICTION: Seton Hall 81, Rhode Island 76

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NFL opening line report: Patriots open Week 12 as biggest betting favorites of the season
Patrick Everson

“It really doesn’t matter who’s under center for Miami in this game, it had to be the biggest spread of the season. Not sure what else to say here. It’s going to be ugly.”

Week 12 of the NFL season kicks off with a trio of Thanksgiving Day games, although only one of those matchups appears to be worth pulling you away from the kitchen or the dining room table. Patrick Everson checks in on the opening line for that contest and three others this week, with insights from Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu.

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (pick)

Minnesota continues to get it done on the field and at the betting window, winning six in a row while cashing in the last five. The Vikings (8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS) pulled away from the Los Angeles Rams in the second half Sunday, nabbing a 24-7 victory as a 1-point home favorite.

Detroit (6-4 SU, 5-4-1 ATS) followed a three-game skid with a three-game win streak (2-0-1 ATS), though it was a struggle to get that last one. The Lions went to Chicago as a 3-point chalk and twice trailed by 10, but rallied for a 27-24 victory.

Bookmaker.eu opened the game pick ‘em, but the Vikings moved to -1.5 late Sunday night for the first game on Turkey Day, a 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

“The Lions can’t afford to fall behind here, as they seemingly do week after week,” Cooley said. “Minnesota has proven to be one of the best teams in the NFC, but Detroit is a quality club as well. It feels like the public will be on the chalk, but sharps may side with the home squad. We’ll just wait and see where this one goes.”

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NFL
Long Sheet

Week 12

Thursday, November 23

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MINNESOTA (8 - 2) at DETROIT (6 - 4) - 11/23/2017, 12:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in November games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 19-7 ATS (+11.3 Units) in games where the line is +3 to -3 over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 30-13 ATS (+15.7 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 30-13 ATS (+15.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 21-8 ATS (+12.2 Units) in all games where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 22-9 ATS (+12.1 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in dome games over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 21-6 ATS (+14.4 Units) in games played on turf over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) after 2 or more consecutive wins over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 132-172 ATS (-57.2 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 3-2 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 3-2 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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LA CHARGERS (4 - 6) at DALLAS (5 - 5) - 11/23/2017, 4:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LA CHARGERS is 94-68 ATS (+19.2 Units) in road games when playing with 6 or less days rest since 1992.
LA CHARGERS is 46-27 ATS (+16.3 Units) in games played on turf since 1992.
LA CHARGERS is 29-14 ATS (+13.6 Units) in road games in weeks 10 through 13 since 1992.
DALLAS is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) in games played on turf over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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NY GIANTS (2 - 8) at WASHINGTON (4 - 6) - 11/23/2017, 8:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY GIANTS are 37-63 ATS (-32.3 Units) in November games since 1992.
NY GIANTS are 34-58 ATS (-29.8 Units) in weeks 10 through 13 since 1992.
WASHINGTON is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 31-52 ATS (-26.2 Units) as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points since 1992.
WASHINGTON is 59-93 ATS (-43.3 Units) as a favorite since 1992.
WASHINGTON is 84-116 ATS (-43.6 Units) in home games since 1992.
WASHINGTON is 84-116 ATS (-43.6 Units) in home lined games since 1992.
WASHINGTON is 84-116 ATS (-43.6 Units) in home games in games played on a grass field since 1992.
WASHINGTON is 22-46 ATS (-28.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1992.
WASHINGTON is 13-27 ATS (-16.7 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 2-2 against the spread versus NY GIANTS over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 2-2 straight up against NY GIANTS over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NFL

Week 12

Trend Report

Thursday, November 23

MINNESOTA @ DETROIT
Minnesota is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Detroit's last 8 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 6 games

LA CHARGERS @ DALLAS
LA Chargers is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Chargers's last 5 games
Dallas is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games at home
Dallas is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games

NY GIANTS @ WASHINGTON
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Giants's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
NY Giants is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Washington
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing at home against NY Giants

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NFL

Week 12

Thursday's games
Vikings (8-2) @ Lions (6-4)— Detroit won/covered its last four Thanksgiving games; Lions won their last three games overall, scoring 31.7 ppg- they’re 2-3 SU at home. Since 2011, Detroit is 2-8-1 vs spread as a home underdog. Minnesota’s last loss was 14-7 home setback to Detroit in Week 4; they were -3 in turnovers, but outgained Detroit 284-251. Vikings won their last six games, covered last five- they’re 2-1 on road, with only loss at Pittsburgh. Lions were +3 in turnovers- their only TD drive was 29 yards. Detroit won last three series games and five of last seven- average total in last three meetings: 29.3. Three of last four Minnesota games, five of Lions’ last six games went over. Dogs are 4-1 vs spread in NFC North divisional games this year.

Chargers (4-6) @ Cowboys (5-5)— Dallas lost last two games 27-7/37-9, allowing 12 sacks with LT Smith hurt- check status here. Cowboys lost three of their last four home games- they’re 2-2 as a home favorite this year. Chargers covered five of last six games; they’re 2-3 on road, 4-1 vs spread as a road underdog. In its last five games, LA is +10 in turnovers- they didn’t get inside opponents’ 20-yard line in either of last two road games. Dallas is 6-4 in this series, but Chargers won three of last four meetings, winning 32-21/20-17 in last two visits here. NFC East non-divisional home favorites are 4-5 vs spread; AFC West road underdogs are 4-4. Last three Dallas games stayed under total, as have four of last five Charger games.

Giants (2-8) @ Redskins (4-6)— Washington lost four of its last five games; they blew a 31-16 lead with 3:10 left in Superdome LW, lost in OT. Redskins are 2-3 at home, 0-1 as a home favorite- their last win by more than three points was in Week 3. Giants are 2-3 in their last five games after an 0-5 start; they’re 3-1 vs spread as road underdogs this year- dogs covered four of their five road games. In their last four games, Big Blue was outscored 65-21 in second half. Giants won six of last eight games with Redskins, winning three of last four visits here. Favorites are 4-1 vs spread in NFC East divisional games this season. Over is 5-1 in last six Washington games, 5-3 in last eight Giant games.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NFL
Dunkel

Week 12

Thursday, November 23

Minnesota @ Detroit

Game 107-108
November 23, 2017 @ 12:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
142.010
Detroit
136.535
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 5 1/2
43
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
by 2 1/2
45
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(-2 1/2); Under

LA Chargers @ Dallas

Game 109-110
November 23, 2017 @ 4:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Chargers
136.668
Dallas
132.141
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Chargers
by 4 1/2
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Chargers
by 2
47
Dunkel Pick:
LA Chargers
(-2); Over

NY Giants @ Washington

Game 111-112
November 23, 2017 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Giants
130.670
Washington
131.653
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 1
57
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 7 1/2
44 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
NY Giants
(+7 1/2); Over