Bettor's best friend: Today's helpful tips
Sunday, December 13
Missing in action
When
NFL players miss a Friday practice, it's usually a good indication they
won't play on Sunday. This is the case for Falcons quarterback Matt
Ryan and running back Michael Turner. Both missed Atlanta's previous
game and both are listed as questionable for Sunday.
If Turner
can't go, he will be replaced by Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling who
combined for 53 yards on 22 carries with no touchdowns last week. Ryan
will give way to veteran Chris Redman for the second straight week.
Redman had a forgettable outing in the loss to the Eagles, completing
just over 50 percent of his passes while tossing two interceptions.
Falcons' receiver Roddy White is also listed as questionable but is expected to play.
The
line for this game was postponed at some books until later in the week
because of the injuries, but opened at 9.5 in favor of the undefeated
Saints and is as high as 10.5 at some shops now. The total is set at 51
and the last four games in this series have gone over.
Buckeye State shootout
The
annual Crosstown Shootout between Cincinnati and Xavier is always a
game of epic proportions in the state of Ohio. The Bearcats will try to
disrupt the Musketeers with their furious full-court press.
Freshman
phenom Lance Stephenson has been upgraded to probable after suffering
an eye injury in Cincy's win over Miami-Ohio on Thursday. Stephenson is
tied for the team lead with an 11.6 ppg average and ranks second on the
squad with 5.9 rpg.
The underdog has cashed in eight of the last
10 meetings between these programs. The X-Men's 76-66 victory as
2-point road favorites last year was the first time the chalk had
covered since 2001.
Xavier opened as a 3.5-point favorite with a total of 136.5.
Purple, powerless?
The
Vikings could be without dynamic wideout Percy Harvin on Sunday. The
rookie did not practice all week because of migraines and has a 50
percent chance of playing. Harvin is second on the team in receptions
(48), receiving yards (681) and touchdowns (6), and is Minnesota's
primary kick returner.
Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield
could be back on the field for Minnesota. He has missed the last six
games with a right foot injury, but said he should be able to play
against Cincinnati.
"I think this is the week I finally get back
out there and get some action," the Pro Bowl cornerback said. "We'll
see how warmups go and hopefully I'm up."
The Vikings are listed
as 6.5-point favorites over the Bengals with a total of 43. Minnesota
is 1-7 ATS in their last eight December games.
Hawk a lugee
The
worst team in the NBA goes against one of the best in the league when
New Jersey visits Atlanta. The Nets aren't playing as a unit right now
and should be double-digit dogs in four of their next five games.
"We're a little divided as a team right now. We got to find a way to pull it together," said Devin Harris.
Harris
left Friday's game in the third quarter with a finger injury. He is
listed as questionable for the game against the Hawks with a sprained
left pinky.
Oddsmakers installed Atlanta as 13-point favorites
with a total of 198.5. Despite this year's disparity between the two
teams, the Nets have gone 8-2 ATS in the last 10 games of this series
and covered in four straight as the underdog.
Restbrook
Running
back Brian Westbrook will miss his fourth straight game due to
concussion injuries, but that could be a good thing for Eagles bettors.
Philadelphia is 5-1 straight up and 4-2 ATS without Westbrook in the
lineup this season.
Philadelphia faces the Giants in a
monumental NFC East battle on Sunday. The visiting Eagles are 1-point
favorites with a total of 44. The underdog has covered the spread in 10
straight games between these rivals.
Notable quotable
"Unfortunately,
since it is a legal matter, I will not be able to comment further at
this time, but my family and I have faith that you will see, I'm not
guilty of these charges."
-- Falcons defensive tackle
Jonathan Babineaux, who is expected to play on Sunday despite being
arrested on Thursday night after police found more than an ounce of
marijuana in his car during a routine traffic stop.
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