Magic vs Suns betting – Friday, December 10, 10:30 PM ET

The Magic (17-4 before Thursday’s game in Utah) had won nine in a row on the road as of Thursday, and this isn’t a new thing as they were 27-14 away from home last year.

They can win defensive struggles against teams like Miami and Atlanta, while winning shootouts with New York and Golden State. In Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis, Orlando has a trio capable of combining for 60 points a night, while they’re sixth in points allowed. Howard had 25 points to lead six Magic players in double figures in a 122-100 home over the Suns on November 4th.

The Suns (15-7) have lost four of their last five, and after scoring 100 or more in their first 17 contests, Phoenix has failed to do so in three of their last five. The Suns can’t afford to score less because their defense hasn’t gotten any better. Amare Stoudemire is averaging 16.8 points in his last five games, which may have something to do with the Suns’ problems. However, he had 25 points and 14 boards in their first meeting with the Magic, and they’ll need more of that if they want a sports betting win in your sportsbook.

NBA betting odds in your sports betting book should be very close in this contest, given the Magic’s prowess on the road. However, Orlando has lost seven straight in the desert, and they play on Thursday night in Utah, while the Suns have been off since Tuesday and are anxious to return home after losing four in a row on the road. If the Magic’s unbelievable run doesn’t end on Thursday, it definitely will on Friday.

Betting picks: Phoenix

Sports betting sharps never rest in December, as the bowl games arrive and we see NFL matchups popping up on Thursdays and eventually Saturdays. This Thursday’s Steelers/Browns matchup was supposed to be a dud but suddenly means something. Pittsburgh probably can’t afford another loss this season and the Browns would love to break their division rivals’ hearts on the national stage.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns

Thursday, December 10, 8:20 p.m. ET

NFL odds favorite: Steelers -10

Well, it’s official: the Super Bowl hangover has arrived in Pittsburgh. Several strange obstacles have contributed to the Steelers’ first four-game losing streak in five years, most notably Troy Polamalu’s multiple knee injuries and Ben Roethlisberger’s concussion. You have to think Bruce Gradkowski wouldn’t have marched down the field for Oakland the way he did last week if Polamalu was lurking downfield and that Pittsburgh would’ve scored the extra four points needed to beat Baltimore if Big Ben took the snaps instead of Dennis Dixon.

That said, we shouldn’t panic with our NFL picks just yet. The Steelers struggles have been more about defensive lapses than anything else. With Roethlisberger back in the lineup (even if Hines Ward is out) and Rashard Mendenhall carving up defenses since he won the starting running back job, the Steelers’ offense should take it to Cleveland, which has the NFL’s worst defense (400.3 yards allowed per game).

Brady Quinn definitely surprised against a high-ranked Chargers pass defense last week, but his numbers are somewhat deceiving. He threw for 271 yards and three scores but that performance came against an overrated defense with a ranking puffed up by matchups against the Raiders and Chiefs. It’s tough to imagine Quinn matching that performance Thursday night at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Steelers’ top-ranked run defense should totally neutralize James Harrison and Chris Jennings – there’s nothing wrong with James Harrison and the Steelers’ front seven – so all the pressure will fall on Quinn to deliver. Whom do you trust more – the Super Bowl champs or Brady Quinn?

The Steelers have frustrated many bettors this season with their inconsistent play but, if there’s one thing they’ve done well over last few seasons, it’s come through in the clutch. Not only is this game a must win, it’s a must-win against arguably the worst team in football. If the Steelers don’t crush the Browns by a double-digit margin, something’s seriously wrong.

Sportsbook pick: Steelers -10

Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers
NFL Betting Odds: Packers -3

If the NFL playoffs were to start today, bot the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers would be on the inside looking out – for the time being. The Ravens appear to be on more tenuous ground as they have been struggling on defense all season long.

Last week, the Ravens barely beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were on the road and starting their third string quarterback, Dennis Dixon. And by the way, that was Dixon’s first NFL start. That was the type of offense that the Ravens of old would eat up for breakfast. Instead, they needed a rookie mistake in overtime just to get the win.

The Green Bay Packers do have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL and they will surely get throttled this week just as they do every week. But even though the Packers give up more quarterback sacks than anyone in the NFL and their running game is rarely there for support, they still put up points aplenty.

The same will happen this week as the Ravens will force Aaron Rodgers to run around but he’ll have excellent advantages on the outside with his wide receivers against the Ravens feeble cornerbacks.

Pick: Packers -3

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
NFL Football Betting Odds: Patriots -5

This is an interesting spread to say the least. The Miami Dolphins played the New England Patriots very tough a few weeks back when the two teams played in New England. Now the Patriots are coming off a tough loss on Monday Night Football and have to play their second consecutive road game.

The Pats defense just isn’t right this season but the good news is that the team is relatively healthy. Only one player (Fred Taylor) missed practice on Wednesday.

New England has some serious edges when their receivers go down the field against the Dolphins secondary. That will eventually be the difference as they capitalize on a couple of Chad Henne mistakes to win the game.

Pick: Patriots -5

New Mexico State Aggies @ Boise State Broncos
Sportsbook Odds: Boise State -47.5

The Boise State Broncos are the fifth-best team in the nation and they need to keep winning in emphatic fashion to make sure that they do get into a BCS bowl. On Saturday, they shouldn’t have any problems with that as the New Mexico State Aggies come to visit.

The Broncos are always dominant on their smurf turf but this should be a destruction of epic proportions. The Aggies haven’t topped 21 points in any contest this year and has scored a total of 46 points in their last six games combined. Meanwhile, Boise State hasn’t scored less than 44 points in any of their last six games.

As the tale of the tape shows, this will be a very one-sided game. The Broncos have plenty of weapons and they have plenty of motivation. For the Aggies, they have lost six straight games are really have nothing to play for.

As you should expect, this game will be extremely one-sided. Lay the points with the Broncos – as crazy as that sounds.

Picks: Boise State -47.5

Arizona Wildcats @ USC Trojans
College Football Lines: USC -7.5

The USC Trojans don’t usually lose at home. In the Pete Carroll era, the Trojans have lost just twice at home and both losses came to the Stanford Cardinal. Clearly, the Wildcats task is going to be a difficult one this weekend.

Two weeks ago, Arizona was considered a Rose Bowl contender. When Oregon was visiting, they actually controlled their own destiny a couple of weeks back but now the Wildcats are just another mediocre Pac 10 team.

The Wildcats did squeak by over their rivals Arizona State but if you look at this teams body of work, which has produced seven wins and four losses, it quickly becomes evident that they’ll have a tough time at USC this weekend.

The Trojans have their swagger back after a bye week and after a dismantling of rival UCLA. This game won’t be pretty as the defenses will dominate but Arizona just won’t score enough points to win.

Pick: USC -7.5

Uh-oh. Somebody poked the sleeping…well, Bruin. The Boston Bruins had a very disappointing start to the season after many sports betting sharps picked them to win the Stanley Cup this year. They did, however, have an excuse, as Marc Savard and Milan Lucic both missed significant time with broken bones. While Lucic is nicked up again, Savard is good to go for Friday. He’s the catalyst in Boston, a creative player who makes others around him better. It’s also worth noting that blue-chip goaltending prospect Tuukka Rask has been sensational filling in for injured Tim Thomas.

After an amazing 9-0 start on the road, the Devils have dropped three straight away from home. They’re still playing phenomenal defense under Jacques Lemaire but they’re struggling to find scoring after the Parise-Zajac line. The Bruins are almost as stingy and should hold the Devils down if they send Zdeno Chara out to shadow Parise. Pick Boston.

Pick: Bruins

Buffalo Sabres @ Philadelphia Flyers
Friday, November 27, 1:00 p.m. ET

The Flyers have a natural advantage here not simply because they’re playing at home but also because they play more matinees than any other NHL team. They’re more likely to be fresh as they host the Sabres. Philly alternates hot and cold streaks but it’s worth noting that most of their struggles come on the road. At home, the Wachovia Center plays like an NFL betting stadium, complete with vicious fans and an extremely physical Flyers team that loves to intimidate on the forecheck.

The Sabres are wounded puppy dogs right now, having lost four straight. Aside from Tyler Myers and Craig Rivet, they’re a small team. Look for the Flyers to hit them early and often. Chris Pronger and Mike Richards will star as Philly romps at home.

Pick: Flyers

This week’s NFL odds feature multiple games on Thursday as it’s Thanksgiving week. There’s no time to waste! Let’s string some picks together for Week 12’s early action.

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (-10.5)

Thursday, November 26, 12:30 p.m. ET

The Detroit lions let Brady Quinn throw for 304 yards and four touchdowns against them last week. Brady Quinn. Now, they face MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers has absorbed a league-worst 43 sacks in just 10 games this year and still managed an eye-popping 19 touchdown passes. Now, he finally faces a weak pass rush; with time to throw, he could have his best game of the season. The Lions likely won’t have Matt Stafford (shoulder) and may not have Calvin Johnson either, so it’s hard to see them competing at all in this one. Make the Packers your NFL picks.

NFL betting pick: Packers -10.5

Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys (13.5)

Thursday, November 26, 4:15 p.m. ET

The Raiders shocked the sports betting world with a last-minute victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last week. Can they repeat their success at Cowboys Stadium this week? Their No. 12 pass defense may give the Cowboys trouble considering that Dallas has scored a combined 14 points over its last two games. Dallas should have no trouble running the ball on Oakland but may scuffle in the passing game at times, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Bruce Gradkowski and the Raiders stay within two touchdowns (and lose).

NFL betting pick: Raiders +13.5

New York Giants (-6.5) @ Denver Broncos

Thursday, November 26, 8:20 p.m. ET

A bye week did the Giants good; they returned refreshed last week, especially Eli Manning, and moved the ball well against Atlanta. They should do the same against the struggling Broncos this week, especially in the running game. New York ranks seventh in the NFL in rushing yards and the Broncos have allowed at least 174 yards on the ground in three straight contests. The Broncos are a sinking ship and their quarterback situation is shady with Kyle Orton battling an ankle injury, so they’re in no shape to end their losing streak this week.

NFL betting pick: Giants -6.5

The Colorado Buffaloes have been brutal this year and time may be running out for head coach Dan Hawkins. Last week, the Buffaloes shot themselves in the foot once again, coughing up three turnovers and committing 11 penalties en route to a home loss to Iowa State.

They’ll have a shot this Thursday – albeit a slim one – as the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who are still vying for an at-large BCS bid, may be without starting quarterback Zac Robinson (concussion). If Robinson plays and is healthy, this really won’t be much of a contest. If he misses the game, the door opens for the Buffaloes to take advantage.

Regardless of who is at quarterback for Oklahoma State, one issue for Colorado will be stopping the Cowboys rushing attack. Last week against Texas Tech, the Cowboys churned out 243 yards and controlled the ball for 37:20. This is a short week for both teams, which actually hurts the Cowboys more since Robinson needs time to recover.

Keep in mind that while the Buffaloes are finished, the Cowboys could still get an at-large BCS bid if they win against Colorado and then top Oklahoma next week.

Offshore Sportsbook Pick: Oklahoma State -19

Kansas Jayhawks @ Texas Longhorns
College Football Lines: Texas -28

What has happened to the Kansas Jayhawks? Now that the college basketball season is starting, less people will care about the KU football program but some fans have to wonder where it all went wrong. On top of that, the frustrations have boiled over as head coach Mark Mangino is being investigated by the NCAA for improperly contacting some of his players.

If that’s the bad news, the worse news is that the Jayhawks have to go to Texas this week – the No. 2 team in the nation.

The Longhorns have been rolling recently and are coming off a performance where they flattened Baylor. They still have everything to play for and they can’t afford any type of slip up. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks don’t have anything left as far as motivation because they are just 1-5 in Big 12 play and have lost five straight games overall. This should be a relatively easy win for the Longhorns this weekend.

College Football Predictions: Texas -28

Josh Koscheck (13-4) vs Anthony Johnson (8-2)
Sportsbook odds: Koscheck -105, Johnson -125

Josh Koscheck and Anthony Johnson probably have a few guys in their way before they can top the welterweight contender ladder — Dan Hardy, Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves — but they’re fearsome up-and-comers in the division. Both guys can be classified as next-generation mixed martial artists in that they’re athletes who absorb new skills like sponges.

Koscheck in particular has improved dramatically over the last few years. He was always a phenomenal wrestler and remains arguably a top-five wrestler in the entire UFC for any weight class. He’s become more dangerous over the years, however, by improving his kickboxing and developing some serious punching power. A well-rounded Koscheck has a better chance to contend for a title than he did a few years ago but his new skills sometimes hurt him too. He too frequently abandons his real strength — his wrestling — in favor of “showing” off his newfound striking ability. That cost him his fights with Thiago Alves and Paulo Thiago. It’s the equivalent to a good rushing team in NFL betting getting caught up in a passing shootout.

Anthony Johnson is likely crossing his fingers hoping that Koscheck wants to stand and trade with him. The reason: Johnson is an absolute killer. He’s 6′2″ and reportedly walks around as heavy as 220 pounds when he’s not training, so the fact that he’s fighting at 170 pounds is almost unfair. He’s an imposing physical presence with devastating knockout power. He doesn’t pound out TKOs with flurries — he can floor an opponent with a single punch or head kick. On the feet, Johnson has an advantage. On the ground, he does have a wrestling background but he’s largely untested in the UFC. Online betting fans have to think Koscheck has the advantage on the canvas, though Johnson at the very least will be hard to hold down.

Sports picks choice: Johnson -125. Koscheck can absolutely win this fight if he plays it smart and goes for the takedown, but he’s fallen in love with the striking game too much. The longer he stays standing with Johnson, the more likely he is to have his head taken off. Pick Johnson but understand that this fight could really go either way.

Randy Couture (16-10) vs Brandon Vera (11-3)
Sportsbook odds: Couture -125, Vera -105

COUTURE WILL WIN IF: He closes the gap quickly and limits Vera’s ability to get full extension on his kicks and punches. Couture, a Greco-Roman wrestling dynamo, will likely try and pin Vera against the cage, squeeze the energy out of him, dirty box him and throw him to the ground.

VERA WILL WIN IF: He uses his reach to keep Couture at bay and forces him to strike. Vera, a Muay Thai specialist, is a much better striker than Couture. If he catches Randy, who has taken many big shots over the years, he could drop him.

PICK: Couture -125. Randy is a smarter fighter and will probably be in better shape despite being 14 years older than Vera. He’ll have a set, wrestling-oriented game plan and stick to it. If he can wrestle 250-pound Gabriel Gonzaga like he’s nothing, he can handle Vera at 205 pounds. Go with the veteran just like you should go with Tom Brady’s NFL odds against Indy.

Mike Swick (14-2) vs Dan Hardy (22-6)
Sportsbook odds: Swick -220, Hardy +180

SWICK WILL WIN IF: He uses all the tools in his belt. He’s a more versatile fighter than Hardy. Whereas Hardy is an excellent boxer, Swick has kicks to go with his boxing. Swick is also a better ground fighter so he’d be smart to take Hardy down. Hardy can survive on the canvas but never mounts much of an offense from that position.

HARDY WILL WIN IF: He baits Swick into a street fight. A brawl gives Hardy a chance to catch Swick with his heavy hands. As Chris Leben once showed, Swick can be dropped with a well-timed shot.

PICK: Swick -220. Online betting fans shouldn’t hesitate even though Swick doesn’t offer huge value. He’s in a different class than Hardy is, simply more prepared for a jump to No. 1 contender status. If he fights smart, he’ll win.

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, November 15 at 1:00 p.m. ET
NFL odds: Steelers -7

The Steelers defense has been lights-out over the past three weeks, holding Cleveland, Minnesota and Denver to just 13.6 points per game. The run “D” has been especially impressive in that stretch, as those three opponents could muster just 69 yards per outing. Better yet, the Steel Curtain has been contributing to the offense; a return touchdown in Monday’s 28-10 win over the Broncos was Pittsburgh’s third defensive score in the last two games.

Pittsburgh’s offense has been doing its part, too. The Steelers have scored at least 27 points in five straight games, all victories. Offensive balance has been a big key; Ben Roethlisberger is obviously enjoying a fine campaign (14 touchdowns, fifth in yards) but Rashard Mendenhall has been great since taking over for Willie Parker. The former first-rounder has 528 yards, four touchdowns and a 5.6 yards per carry average in his last five games.

The Bengals love running the ball too. Cedric Benson has been a revelation this season; he’s averaging over 100 yards per game and has at least 16 carries in every game, including five 20-plus carry games. The passing game isn’t quite as strong. Remove Carson Palmer’s five-touchdown effort against the Bears from the equation and his numbers are rather pedestrian (nine touchdowns, seven interceptions).

Instead, the Bengals rely on their “D.” The secondary has been bolstered by two young corners–Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph–who might form the NFL’s best duo. The run defense has been even better, ranking second in the NFL in yards allowed.

This should be a rough-and-tumble boxing match a la Pacquiao Cotto betting odds. It was close before and it will be close again, but Pittsburgh has the edge. The Steelers keep looking better each week and, while Cincy has the second-best run defense, Pittsburgh has the best. That means Benson can be removed from the equation, putting the game in Palmer’s hands. He won’t get it done against the Steelers. Bet on Pittsburgh with your NFL predictions this weekend.