NBA OPENING NIGHT PLAY

* NEW ORLEANS +7  vs   SAN ANTONIO

Rookie Guard Austin Rivers is probably going to play tonight, and whether or not he performs well tonight, something is making me believe in him.  Forget Eric Gordon being out because he's not going to be part of this team or their successes.  I think Monty Williams has done a damn good job thus far and his team played stingy defense and competitive games with the scrubs he had last year.  Now he has the Unibrow, who is going to develop into a game-changing player, in my opinion.  The other new faces he has added will help their inside game and their depth.  Manu is out for the Spurs tonight, and that's always good for the opponent, and the Hornets are at home for their opening game and their crowd is excited about this year's debut.  This will be a close game and like the Bee's chances.

THIS PAST WEEKEND

Well, I'm going to write myself a note to never pick totals, which I've already done before.  They are really unpredictable, at least for me, and I should have known Denver would have been extra prepared for the Saints' offense, coming off their bye. As for the Packers game, I guess 16 points is just too risky to lay in the NFL, and the trend of taking the big underdogs this year continues to roll on.  I was surprised, just like I think everybody was to see the Irish smash the Sooners.  It's like I said, though, Brian Kelly is an amazing coach and Stoops seems to underachieve in big games.  Hats off to Kelly and this program.  They are still playing with some of Weiss' recruits, so just wait another couple, few years.  What this guy is doing so far is almost miraculous.  So for next week I'm already anticipating a few interesting things, so let's start with college.  Last year around this time LSU coach, Les Miles was getting so much hype and everything with his team was just going so well, and he had a winning record vs Bama coach Nick Saban.  Well, I think that was your peak, Leslie. I hope you enjoyed your glory because I think it could be soon declining and never turning back.  LSU has won 22 straight at home at night and are 10 point underdogs, at home, at night, this next Saturday vs Alabama.  I think that's about right, considering how damn good the Tide is.  This is the best college football team I've seen since the '08 Florida Gators and they dominated and destroyed their opponents, lost a game, but won the ultimate prize.  So I'm saying like I said in '08 about Florida, "This team's winning the championship."  When I crunch the numbers for this game I see Bama winning by at least 10-13 points, but my fore sights are saying Crimson Tide 24-3.  I'll probably back em if I can get it at -9.5 to be completely safe.  As for bets, getting USC at home right now at + 7.5 seems like a decent investment because it's at USC and is the biggest game of the year for the Trojans.  Now in the NFL, I see the Panthers getting a win in Washington this week, due to the injuries on the Skins D and how bad they've been (Jim Haslett's their defensive coordinator), and that teams are starting to figure RG3 out a little.  Carolina is just so frickin desperate also.  Just look at how they played Chicago yesterday.  Tampa Bay looks to me as if they're about to go on a little streak, and it starts by winning a tough road game vs a lacking team that's on a small 2 game winning streak themselves.  The Oakland Raiders.  Tampa is actually getting a point and a half and I think they have this game and possibly a couple, few more consecutive wins after this game.  Philly is desperate and that can be dangerous, but the Saints are playing at home on prime time, so good luck calling that one. So till next week, stay tuned...

NFL WEEK 8 PLAY

** NEW ORLEANS   at  DENVER   over  55.5

This is going to be such a great game, it's not even funny.  I am so excited for my 2-4 Saints, that it's kind of sad.  They are getting their real interim coach back for this game and Joe Vitt said that RB Chris Ivory will get his chance in this game.  For all Saints fans, that has to rev you up, much like it could rev up the Saints' lacking run game, and make our offense even more explosive.  Graham should be back, but I like what Dave Thomas(Mr. Frosty) can do.  I sure hope they can win this game, but I just don't know.  I do know that there will be like sixty something points scored and that Peyton has still not gotten the last game he played vs New Orleans(SUPERBOWL XLIV) out of his head.  He wants his revenge and the yards and big plays that this defense is giving up right now, he may just get it.  They did make key stops to win the last two, so this should be interesting.

ANOTHER NFL WEEK 8 PLAY

For all followers, hope we profited from Thursday night with the Bucs.  I am back and above .500 in the NFL.  I know that's not that good, but I'm inclined for a bad stretch, just like most others.  What's trending now in the NFL this season is that every time it's seemed that one team will blow another out, it doesn't happen that way.  This is probablly due to the fact that the league may be more competitive than ever.  Well, good luck with that theory and good luck to you Jacksonville, because the Green Bay Packers are playing with a strong sense of urgency and their QB is showing why he's a champ.  I don't think they'll win the title this year, but they have the experience that will scare opponents in the play-offs, and as of right now I don't think anyone wants to play this red hot team.  This doesn't have all that much to do with Gabbert and Mojo being out, because Rashard Jennings is a good back, but Henne is no better than the starter and this team just doesn't have much.

** GREEN BAY  -16   vs   JACKSONVILLE

PREDICTED SCORE :  PACKERS 48  JAGS 14

HALFTIME

For all the real football lovers, I hope your tuned in on ESPN2 for a little Sun Belt Conference action.  UL Lafayette at Arkansas  State.  At half it's Red Wolves 26 Ragin' Cajuns 7, but I really think Laffy could come back and make it interesting in the second half.  I'm hoping, at least because this is usually a really good match up and fun game to watch, so check the second half.  As for this weekend a very intriguing game is catching my interest and it's undefeated Ohio St at Penn St.  I don't know what was wrong with Penn St in their first two games...yeah, no clue at all.  Since the third week, this team has been pretty good and is playing at home.  I kinda lean towards the Nittany Lions' way, but it's hard to go against Urban Meyer and his little toy Braxton Miller.  Penn St has played good defense (15.7 PPG allowed) and they can run the ball so this should be a hell of a game.  Can't wait!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 9 PLAY

* NOTRE DAME +10  at   OKLAHOMA

I've said this many times before and I'm still here today saying that Bob Stoops is an overrated coach.  He has been known for some serious choking. He lost five straight BCS games giving his team the nickname, "Chokelahoma".  These games that he lost, he was actually the favor in four of them, because he always has loads of talent on his teams, just seems to underachieve with it.  He also makes dumb, crucial decisions in big games, such as the 2008 BCS Championship game, where he went for it on 4th and goal at like the 2 yard line, when he could have got the 3 points and the lead.  Instead Bradford threw a pick in the end zone.  I happen to love what Brian Kelly has done with the Irish thus far, and I think he is amazing at what he does.  This Notre Dame defense is for real and I expect this game to be close.  Plus, the Irish have a very decent shot at pulling off the upset.

NFL THURSDAY NIGHT PLAY

* TAMPA BAY  + 6.5   at   MINNESOTA

I know the Vikings have been a surprise team and pretty good at home, but they still have sort of a dumb ass head coach.  Now I know the Buc's coach has looked like an ass, especially this week, but he's still got to be better than Leslie Frazier.  This Tampa team plays very tough and has a really good run defense.  They got stumped by a team that knows them well this past week and it was so close.  I see this next game being a dog fight also and I like their chances to win.

TEASER ACTION

For those who have betting accounts online or what not and receive a bonus free play from time to time, I would suggest maybe using it on a teaser.  They say these are sucker bets, but you are receiving an extra 6 points in your favor in these games.  That is if you play the 6 point teaser as I did.  I hit a 7 teamer in the NFL just two weeks ago, so we'll see how it goes this week.  There's even action tonight!



North Texas +10

LSU + 2

South Carolina +9

49ers  -1

Buffalo +3

Houston -0.5

Dallas +4.5

Chicago +0.5

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 8 PLAYS

*** LSU  -4  at   TEXAS A&M

I'm releasing these early because as you may see already, the lines are moving.  I'm thinking just get on them now for extra security, but I don't think it will be needed.  I have said this for a few weeks and am still saying it now for ones to remember at the end of the year.  The Florida Gators are overrated.  This team got up to No. 2 in the polls, but it doesn't mean shit, in fact it never really means anything this early.  They beat LSU, yes I saw, and that is more of a heated rivalry than any in the SEC.  LSU needed some maturing, and in all reality, should have won the game by 10.  Mettenberger showed even a little blossoming in the last game vs S.Carolina, with some really big drives, and this team showed that they don't have to put it in their QB's hands to get a signature win.  We'll see if they'll be able to do it in two weeks when the season's on the line vs a defense as good as theirs, but I say they get their first quality road win this weekend

PREDICTED SCORE :  TIGERS 31  AGGIES 10

*** SOUTH CAROLINA +3  at   FLORIDA

That's right the Gamecocks are getting points.  I think the line should be more like Cocks -3.5 or 4 but I also  don't think that the Gators are the second best team in the land.  This weekend could be their wake up call.  They have a good defense, but are a little one dimensional on the offensive side.  The Cocks are going to be playing a little like LSU was last week, with their backs to the wall, and a little pissed off.

GAMECOCKS 28  GATORS 13

THIS WEEKEND'S PLAYS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 7

* NORTHWESTERN -3.5  at   MINNESOTA

NFL WEEK 6  MONEY PLAY

*** ATLANTA  -9   vs   OAKLAND

The Falcons are a very focused, well coached team, who are probably the best team in football inside their dome.  The Raiders, on the other hand, are just a complete mess of a franchise.  I mean where does one even start to begin?  They are coming off a bye, but that doesn't scare me because I don't think they're well coached at all, being the fact they have a dynamic RB and are averaging a mere 60.8 YPG.  They obviously don't know how to utilize the little talent they do have on offense.  Atlanta's offense will pose a problem for just about any defense in the Georgia Dome, not that Oakland's is any good.

PREDICTED SCORE :  FALCONS 38  RAIDERS 20

THURSDAY NIGHT NFL GAME

I have been listening more to the Las Vegas ESPN radio on my Android device and I've heard a female handicapper, Kelly in vegas (Kellyinvegas on twitter).  Her and another woman have a free site called hottiehandicappers.com.  I read her piece on the play with Rams +1.5 tonight.  She thought the Rams would be able to play well and stop the Cardinals light offense, but also mentioned how they love the home dogs this year.  She also said that 74 % of the betting public is on the Cardinals, so that helps her play.  Understand this bettors and such handicappers, no trend, and I mean no trend at all, such as betting against a side because a big majority went the other way, will help your play.  In fact, once you do your research and make your bet, it's out of your control.  Nothing helps you, and sometimes the "public" are smart bettors who have been picking games for a very long time.  So good luck to both sides tonight.  I actually lean toward the Cardinals to win tonight in a sort of a slug match.  Ryan Williams is getting the start at RB, due to Stephens-Howling being hurt, and I think that is a good opportunity for them to get the run game and whole offense going.  St. Louis has a solid shot at pulling the upset, though

ANOTHER COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 6 MONEY PLAY

*** OKLAHOMA  -5   at   TEXAS TECH

The Sooners are coming off an extra week's rest and seeking revenge on the Red Raiders from last year.  This is the type of game Stoops' teams come up big in.  Right after their first loss of the season, which gives them a lesser chance of playing in the game that they wanted to.  I also think this will be a reality check for Tech, because they haven't played anybody yet.

NFL WEEK 5 PLAY

* MIAMI +3.5   at  CINCINNATI

I think Tannehill and this team are still better than what most think.  I know this may not seem to be so bold, but I think this Dolphins team, with this rookie QB, will go into Cincy on their second consecutive road trip and win.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK

*** BOSTON COLLEGE   at   ARMY
Not that this will be one of the featured games or a don't miss, but this is my play of the week.  BC is not too good, but they play in the ACC and have been somewhat competitive.  Army, on the other hand, probably wouldn't be able to stay within 10 points of any team in that conference.  They can score a little, but I personally don't think they could stop a high school team.

PREDICTED SCORE : GOLDEN EAGLES 41  BLACK KNIGHTS 21

TO JAY CUTLER :

Oh Jay, you poor, dumb, diabetic piece of stool.  Who in the hell do you think you are?  You haven't ever won anything, you waste of a great talent, and even if you had, nothing excuses your attitude.  Even if you don't agree with what a coach is telling you, you don't walk away.  It's called respect, and leading by example.  The guys that win in this league, or any league if that, follow the rules, respect their teammates and coaches at all times possible, and are modest.  Ask Aaron Rodgers, ask Drew Brees, or Tom Brady.  It's a shame too, because you had a great game last night and you have an unbelievable talent, but you won't ever win shit because you're not a true leader and don't have what it takes to be a champion, in my opinion.  Your Bears are pretty good, but I'd take a QB with a better head on his shoulders or a real team where everyone gets credit for winning.  Good luck asshole.

NFL MONDAY NIGHT PLAY

** DALLAS  vs  CHICAGO  over 41

I typically never bet on game totals.  Maybe  4 or 5 times in my life, usually for recreation.  These two teams have gun-slinging QBs, which may not get the best protection, but have good RBs and WRs.  Guys like Peppers for the Bears and Marcus Spears and DeMarcus Ware for the Cowboys are playing this game banged up.  That should tell you there could be more points than usual, and I think it would go at least 43 anyway. 

PREDICTED SCORE : 27-23 EITHER WAY.   ENJOY!