Announcement

**Udog** · 01-07-2016, 07:52 AM

Armadillo: Thursday's six-pack

College basketball referees work a lot from November-March; here is what referee John Higgins has been doing for the last 7-10 days.........

Dec 29-- Texas Southern @ Baylor

Dec 30-- Nevada @ New Mexico

Dec 31-- BYU @ St Mary's

Jan 1-- Utah @ Stanford

Jan 2-- Michigan State @ Minnesota

Jan 3-- Arizona @ Arizona State-- Higgins tossed Bobby Hurley at end.

Jan 4-- Oklahoma @ Kansas-- Game went triple overtime.

Jan 5-- Kansas State @ Texas

Jan 6-- Evansville @ Wichita State

**********

Armadillo: Thursday's List of 13: Ranking the NFL's playoff teams.......

12) Green Bay-- Rodgers was sacked 14 times in his last two games.

11) Washington-- Won last four games, three of which were on road.

10) Houston-- 7-2 in their last nine games after a 2-5 start.

9) Minnesota-- Going to be sub-zero for their game on Sunday.

8) Cincinnati-- Their last playoff win was in 1990: I had hair then!!!!

7) Steelers-- I beat this to death every time an NFL team fires a coach too soon; the Steelers have had three head coaches...........since 1969

6) Seahawks-- Ted Cruz was born in Calgary; if he shows up at a campaign event wearing a Calgary Flames jersey I promise to vote for him. Have some fun with it.

5) Chiefs-- They haven't lost since the Royals won the World Series; they haven't won a playoff game since 1993.

4) Denver-- Don't have lot of confidence in their chances, even at home.

3) New England-- Who are the three people who didn't vote for Junior Griffey for the Hall of Fame? They need to be identified.

2) Arizona-- Now is the hour for Carson Palmer and the Redbirds. Why did Mike Piazza have to wait four years to get into the Hall of Fame?

1) Carolina-- Think about Lovie Smith getting fired last night; in Ron Rivera's first two years with the Panthers, they went 13-19, but they kept him and they're 34-13-1 in three years since then. Firing a guy after two years makes very little sense.

**Udog** · 01-07-2016, 07:52 AM

Bettors buy back Clemson, sharp money moves CFP title game total

With sportsbooks moving Clemson to a touchdown underdog vs. Alabama in the national title game, bettors are starting to buy back the Tigers and the points.

It didn’t take long for sportsbooks to realize that they had greatly underestimated the Alabama Crimson Tide in their College Football Playoff odds. In fact, it took less than 60 minutes of football for books to figure out Alabama was the team to beat, as the Tide demolished Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

“About two weeks or so before the playoff games, we opened odds on all the potential matchups and had Alabama -4 versus Clemson. It drew zero handle – no one bet it,” Jason Simbal, vice president of risk management for CG Technology in Las Vegas, tells Covers. “But with Alabama up 31-0 in the third quarter versus Michigan State, we opened Alabama -4.5 (versus Clemson). They (bettors) laid that -4.5, laid -6, laid -6.5 and that’s how we ended up at -7.”

A similar story played out online at Sportsbook.ag, which opened the Crimson Tide as more conservative 6-point favorites. But after thrashing the Spartans in the semifinal, the betting public was in love with Nick Saban’s program and pushed their line toward a touchdown.

“Honestly, we thought using -6 was a bit of an inflated number but it wasn’t inflated enough as money poured in on Alabama,” Peter Childs, supervisor of risk management for Sportsbook.ag, tells Covers. “Looking back, it makes sense as Bama absolutely crushed Michigan State and that crushing was literally happening as we opened the line. As money came in on Alabama, we quickly went to -6.5 and then to -7.”

Once books adjusted the National Championship spread to a touchdown, money started to show up on the underdog from the ACC. According to multiple sportsbooks, Clemson money has started to come in as of midweek and some shops have trimmed half a point off the spread, dealing Alabama -6.5.

According to William Hill sportsbooks in Nevada, 61 percent of the betting handle for the January 11 title game is riding on the Crimson Tide with 71 percent of wagers being placed on the SEC power. However, one trend showing up at sportsbooks is moneyline bets being placed on the Tigers, with bettors passing on the points and taking Clemson to win outright at +220.

The total for the National Championship Game has also moved significantly at some sportsbooks, opening as high as 53.5 and drawing one-sided sharp action on the Under since the Alabama-Clemson matchup was made.

“They’ve been betting the Under hard, which makes sense because that (opening) total was too high,” Scott Kaminsky, sportsbook director at TheGreek.com, tells Covers. “We opened 53 and dropped to 50.5. I would have made the total much lower.”

But like most high-profile games, while the sharp money may side with the Under, the betting public is hoping for an exciting high-scoring game, and gravitates toward the Over. This number may not be done moving, with plenty of time for the public to make its opinion felt between Wednesday and Monday night’s kickoff.

“Being a championship game and knowing the betting public is going to get involved in this game in a big way, we opened our total high assuming sharps would bet it Under and the public would bet it Over," says Childs, who opened the total at 53 points. “For now, we’re happy with our action and it’s somewhat balanced with just over 60 percent on the Over. But I do see us having to at least get back to 52 as we get closer to game time.”

The total may not be the only odds looking different come Monday night. The books that are dealing Alabama -6.5 have a feeling they will get back to a touchdown spread with the public pounding the Crimson Tide, after such a dominant display in the Cotton Bowl and the prestige of the SEC – compared to the lack of depth in the ACC.

“You have to think the game will close seven,” says Kaminsky. “Based on Alabama’s performance against MSU, and that I just think the line should be -7. Clemson is good and all, but I think the Alabama defense is the big difference. I think they’ll be able to stop that Clemson offense. Defense is the key when it comes to winning championships and this defense is exceptional.”

Alabama has covered in its last four meetings with ACC schools and is 5-2 ATS in its last seven bowl games. Clemson has covered in four straight postseason games and is 5-2 ATS in its last seven non-conference contests.

**Udog** · 01-07-2016, 07:52 AM

NHL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, January 7

Hot teams
-- Washington won eight of its last ten games. Islanders won three of last four.
-- Florida won its last ten games, allowing 12 goals.
-- Jets won four of their last six games.
-- Coyotes won five of their last eight games. Calgary won four of its last six games.
-- Detroit won its last two games, allowing three goals.
-- Maple Leafs won six of their last eight games. Kings won five of their last six.

Cold teams
-- Florida lost five of its last seven games.
-- Flyers lost three of their last four games. Minnesota is 4-5 in its last nine games.
-- Dallas Stars lost four of their last five games.
-- San Jose lost four of its last six games.

Series records
-- Islanders lost three of last four games with Washington.
-- Florida is 5-3 in its last eight games with Ottawa.
-- Flyers won four of last six games with Minnesota.
-- Winnipeg-Dallas split their last ten games.
-- Flames won five of last six games with Arizona.
-- Sharks won six of last seven games with Detroit.
-- Kings lost three of last four games with Toronto.

Totals
-- Four of last five Islander-Washington games stayed under.
-- Five of last seven Florida-Ottawa games stayed under.
-- Four of last five Philly games went over the total. Under is 5-1-1 in last seven Wild games.
-- Six of last eight Dallas-Winnipeg games went over.
-- Six of last eight Arizona-Calgary games stayed under.
-- Over is 6-0-1 in last seven San Jose games.
-- Under is 5-1-1 in last seven Toronto-Los Angeles games.

Back-to-backs
-- Toronto is 1-8 if it played the night before.

**Udog** · 01-07-2016, 07:53 AM

NHL

Thursday, January 7

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Trend Report
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7:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. NY ISLANDERS
Washington is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Islanders
Washington is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
NY Islanders are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the NY Islanders last 6 games

7:30 PM
FLORIDA vs. OTTAWA
Florida is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Florida's last 7 games when playing Ottawa
Ottawa is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ottawa's last 6 games

8:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. MINNESOTA
Philadelphia is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
Minnesota is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Philadelphia

8:30 PM
WINNIPEG vs. DALLAS
Winnipeg is 8-16 SU in its last 24 games when playing Dallas
Winnipeg is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing Winnipeg
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Dallas's last 12 games when playing at home against Winnipeg

9:00 PM
ARIZONA vs. CALGARY
Arizona is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona's last 5 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Calgary's last 23 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games at home

10:30 PM
DETROIT vs. SAN JOSE
Detroit is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against San Jose
Detroit is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing San Jose
San Jose is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Jose's last 7 games

10:30 PM
TORONTO vs. LOS ANGELES
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Los Angeles is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto

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**Udog** · 01-07-2016, 09:51 AM

NHL
Dunkel

Thursday, January 7

Arizona @ Calgary

Game 9-10
January 7, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arizona
8.974
Calgary
10.552
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Calgary
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Calgary
-165
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Calgary
(-165); Under

Detroit @ San Jose

Game 11-12
January 7, 2016 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Detroit
10.896
San Jose
12.414
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Jose
by 1 1/2
6 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Jose
-120
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
San Jose
(-120); Over

Toronto @ Los Angeles

Game 13-14
January 7, 2016 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toronto
12.533
Los Angeles
11.496
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toronto
by 1
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Los Angeles
-230
5
Dunkel Pick:
Toronto
(+195); Under

Washington @ NY Islanders

Game 1-2
January 7, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
10.560
NY Islanders
12.043
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Islanders
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Islanders
-110
5
Dunkel Pick:
NY Islanders
(-110); Over

Florida @ Ottawa

Game 3-4
January 7, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Florida
11.174
Ottawa
12.579
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ottawa
by 1 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ottawa
-110
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Ottawa
(-110); Under

Philadelphia @ Minnesota

Game 5-6
January 7, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Philadelphia
10.773
Minnesota
12.284
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
-170
5
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(-170); Over

Winnipeg @ Dallas

Game 7-8
January 7, 2016 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Winnipeg
11.529
Dallas
10.497
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Winnipeg
by 1
4
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Dallas
-200
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Winnipeg
(+170); Under

**Udog** · 01-07-2016, 12:10 PM

NHL
Short Sheet

Thursday, January 7

Washington at NY Islanders, 7:05 PM ET
Washington: 22-11 SU in road games after playing a road game
New York: 29-35 SU after playing a home game

Florida at Ottawa, 7:35 PM ET
Florida: 9-1 SU off a road win
Ottawa: 45-52 SU at home revenging a close loss vs opp of 1 goal or less

Philadelphia at Minnesota, 8:05 PM ET
Philadelphia: 17-44 SU in road games
Minnesota: 12-3 SU in a home game where where the total is 5 or less

Winnipeg at Dallas, 8:35 PM ET
Winnipeg: 10-32 SU in road games off a road win
Dallas: 11-2 SU after 1 or more consecutive losses

Arizona at Calgary, 9:05 PM ET
Arizona: 6-14 SU when playing with 2 days rest
Calgary: 7-1 SU in home games off a home

Detroit at San Jose, 10:35 PM ET
Detroit: 14-7 SU in road games in non-conference games
San Jose: 5-11 SU in home games

Toronto at Los Angeles, 10:35 PM ET
Toronto: 56-85 SU after a 3 game unbeaten streak
Los Angeles: 17-8 SU revenging a road blowout loss vs opp by 4 goals or more

**Udog** · 01-07-2016, 12:14 PM

NHL
Long Sheet

Thursday, January 7

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WASHINGTON (29-7-0-3, 61 pts.) at NY ISLANDERS (22-13-0-5, 49 pts.) - 1/7/2016, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
NY ISLANDERS are 31-16 ATS (+12.2 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
NY ISLANDERS are 9-1 ATS (+7.4 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NY ISLANDERS are 9-1 ATS (+7.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season this season.
WASHINGTON is 29-10 ATS (+13.5 Units) in all games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 9-6 (+2.7 Units) against the spread versus NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON is 9-6-0 straight up against NY ISLANDERS over the last 3 seasons
9 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.5 Units)

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FLORIDA (24-12-0-4, 52 pts.) at OTTAWA (19-15-0-6, 44 pts.) - 1/7/2016, 7:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 35-25 ATS (+9.7 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 24-16 ATS (+7.9 Units) in all games this season.
FLORIDA is 9-1 ATS (+7.8 Units) after a 3 game unbeaten streak this season.
FLORIDA is 32-19 ATS (+12.2 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
FLORIDA is 22-10 ATS (+11.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
FLORIDA is 5-5 (+0.0 Units) against the spread versus OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
OTTAWA is 5-5-0 straight up against FLORIDA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=-0.8 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)

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PHILADELPHIA (16-15-0-7, 39 pts.) at MINNESOTA (21-11-0-7, 49 pts.) - 1/7/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 4-17 ATS (+24.3 Units) in road games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 12-3 ATS (+8.2 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 11-7 ATS (+20.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 11-7 ATS (+20.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record in the first half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 2-2 (+0.7 Units) against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 2-2-0 straight up against PHILADELPHIA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.8 Units)

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WINNIPEG (19-19-0-2, 40 pts.) at DALLAS (28-10-0-4, 60 pts.) - 1/7/2016, 8:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 28-14 ATS (+43.8 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 16-4 ATS (+10.2 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5.5 this season.
DALLAS is 33-21 ATS (+54.8 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 204-134 ATS (+26.0 Units) after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game since 1996.
DALLAS is 10-21 ATS (-19.6 Units) in January games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 5-5-0 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+1.5 Units)

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ARIZONA (19-16-0-4, 42 pts.) at CALGARY (19-18-0-2, 40 pts.) - 1/7/2016, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CALGARY is 69-63 ATS (+138.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 52-46 ATS (+108.3 Units) second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 31-20 ATS (+54.6 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 8-3 ATS (+12.1 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
ARIZONA is 8-2 ATS (+10.6 Units) after a division game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 7-4 (+3.4 Units) against the spread versus ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 7-4-0 straight up against ARIZONA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+2.1 Units)

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DETROIT (20-13-0-7, 47 pts.) at SAN JOSE (18-17-0-2, 38 pts.) - 1/7/2016, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 7-14 ATS (-12.9 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 401-290 ATS (-115.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1996.
DETROIT is 33-37 ATS (-20.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record in the first half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 14-7 ATS (+22.1 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 58-61 ATS (-30.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 9-15 ATS (-16.8 Units) in home games second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 2-7 ATS (-8.6 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 9-14 ATS (-14.0 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN JOSE is 84-84 ATS (-45.2 Units) in home games after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN JOSE is 4-1 (+2.9 Units) against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
SAN JOSE is 4-1-0 straight up against DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+0.8 Units)

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TORONTO (16-15-0-7, 39 pts.) at LOS ANGELES (25-12-0-2, 52 pts.) - 1/7/2016, 10:35 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 11-35 ATS (+54.7 Units) second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 57-86 ATS (-40.2 Units) after a 3 game unbeaten streak since 1996.
TORONTO is 11-6 ATS (+18.9 Units) in non-conference games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 65-56 ATS (+140.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 9-19 ATS (-24.9 Units) in January games over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-16 ATS (-10.5 Units) after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 3-2 (+2.3 Units) against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 3-2-0 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+1.0 Units)

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**Udog** · 01-07-2016, 12:23 PM

NHL

Thursday, January 7

Will Florida keep the streak alive? The Panthers go for their 11th-straight win when they visit the Sens Thursday.

The Minnesota Wild are 1-for-19 on the power play in the last nine games.

Stars G Kari Lehtonen, who is 6-1-1 lifetime against Winnipeg, is expected to get the start Thursday.

Announcement

Thursday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 1/7

Thursday's NHL Trends and Indexes - 1/7

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