Saturday's betting tips: Nevada on ATS bowl skid
Who’s hot
NFL: The Raiders are 5-0 ATS in their last five games in Kansas City.
NFL: Carolina is 16-6 ATS in its last 22 December games.
NFL: The over is 31-12-4 in the Chargers’ last 47 road games.
NCAAF: Southern Miss is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 games.
Who’s not
NFL: The under is 1-10 in the Patriots’ last 11 games vs. AFC East opponents.
NFL: The 49ers are 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 games as road favorites.
NFL: The Ravens are 1-5 ATS in their last six games vs. losing teams.
NCAAF: Nevada is 1-5 ATS in its last six games, and 0-4 ATS in its last four bowl games.
Key stat
75 – That’s the percentage of throws San Diego QB Philip Rivers completed over the past three games, all convincing wins. Rivers has thrown 8 TDs and 0 INTs over his last four games. He’s 23-2 as a starter in December. Still alive in the playoff chase, San Diego is a 1-point dog at Detroit on Saturday.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Cowboys RB Felix Jones has not practiced all week due to a hamstring injury, and is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Eagles. "It would surprise me if Felix does not go," owner Jerry Jones said Friday. "On the other hand, it would be madness not to recognize that he hasn't practiced all week, so you better have another plan in place." If Jones doesn’t play, 12-year vet Sammy Morris will carry the load. Dallas is a 1-point favorite over the surging Eagles.
Game of the day
New York Giants at New York Jets (-3, 45.5)
Notable quotable
“I've never worn sleeves, but I've been wearing sleeves in practice this week to try to get used to that. I won't wear a glove, maybe on my right hand, but not on my (left) hand. I don't plan to, anyway." – Tim Tebow to the Denver Post on dealing with temperatures in the 30s on Saturday in Buffalo. Tebow’s previous coldest game was 42 degrees at kickoff for last year’s season finale at home vs. San Diego. The Broncos are 1.5-point favorites over the Bills.
Notes and tips
QB Ben Roethlisberger will rest his badly sprained ankle Saturday, meaning 38-year-old Charlie Batch gets the start against the 2-12 Rams. Pittsburgh is laying 12 points at home. Look for the Steelers to try to pund the Rams’ 32nd-ranked rush defense with Rashad Mendenhall and Isaac Redman.
The Bears will start Kahlil Bell, not Mario Barber, at running back Sunday night at Green Bay. Barber won’t play with a calf injury. Bell's only backup will be undrafted rookie Armando Allen, fresh off the practice squad. Bell amassed 108 total yards and a TD in last week’s home loss to Seattle. But Chicago is perilously thin at the position. Green Bay is laying 12.5.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva had their suspensions reduced because of the shortened NBA season. Bynum, given a five-game suspension for making excessive contact with Mavs point guard J.J. Barea in the Western Conference finals, will only be out four games. Villanueva also received a five-game suspension for tangling with Cleveland’s Ryan Hollins late last season. He served one game and will sit the first three games of this season.
Sad news out of College Station, Tex., where Texas A&M senior offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio was killed in a car accident. The tragedy comes as the Aggies prepare for the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas on Dec. 31. Villavisencio, 22, who saw limited action in his career with the Aggies, was heading to his home in Jacksonville, Tex., at the time of the crash. "He was one of the most respectful and high-character players I've ever coached," former A&M coach Mike Sherman, who was fired Dec. 1, told the Houston Chronicle. "It was an honor and privilege to have known him and coached him."
Who’s hot
NFL: The Raiders are 5-0 ATS in their last five games in Kansas City.
NFL: Carolina is 16-6 ATS in its last 22 December games.
NFL: The over is 31-12-4 in the Chargers’ last 47 road games.
NCAAF: Southern Miss is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 games.
Who’s not
NFL: The under is 1-10 in the Patriots’ last 11 games vs. AFC East opponents.
NFL: The 49ers are 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 games as road favorites.
NFL: The Ravens are 1-5 ATS in their last six games vs. losing teams.
NCAAF: Nevada is 1-5 ATS in its last six games, and 0-4 ATS in its last four bowl games.
Key stat
75 – That’s the percentage of throws San Diego QB Philip Rivers completed over the past three games, all convincing wins. Rivers has thrown 8 TDs and 0 INTs over his last four games. He’s 23-2 as a starter in December. Still alive in the playoff chase, San Diego is a 1-point dog at Detroit on Saturday.
Injury that shouldn’t be overlooked
Cowboys RB Felix Jones has not practiced all week due to a hamstring injury, and is questionable for Saturday’s game against the Eagles. "It would surprise me if Felix does not go," owner Jerry Jones said Friday. "On the other hand, it would be madness not to recognize that he hasn't practiced all week, so you better have another plan in place." If Jones doesn’t play, 12-year vet Sammy Morris will carry the load. Dallas is a 1-point favorite over the surging Eagles.
Game of the day
New York Giants at New York Jets (-3, 45.5)
Notable quotable
“I've never worn sleeves, but I've been wearing sleeves in practice this week to try to get used to that. I won't wear a glove, maybe on my right hand, but not on my (left) hand. I don't plan to, anyway." – Tim Tebow to the Denver Post on dealing with temperatures in the 30s on Saturday in Buffalo. Tebow’s previous coldest game was 42 degrees at kickoff for last year’s season finale at home vs. San Diego. The Broncos are 1.5-point favorites over the Bills.
Notes and tips
QB Ben Roethlisberger will rest his badly sprained ankle Saturday, meaning 38-year-old Charlie Batch gets the start against the 2-12 Rams. Pittsburgh is laying 12 points at home. Look for the Steelers to try to pund the Rams’ 32nd-ranked rush defense with Rashad Mendenhall and Isaac Redman.
The Bears will start Kahlil Bell, not Mario Barber, at running back Sunday night at Green Bay. Barber won’t play with a calf injury. Bell's only backup will be undrafted rookie Armando Allen, fresh off the practice squad. Bell amassed 108 total yards and a TD in last week’s home loss to Seattle. But Chicago is perilously thin at the position. Green Bay is laying 12.5.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva had their suspensions reduced because of the shortened NBA season. Bynum, given a five-game suspension for making excessive contact with Mavs point guard J.J. Barea in the Western Conference finals, will only be out four games. Villanueva also received a five-game suspension for tangling with Cleveland’s Ryan Hollins late last season. He served one game and will sit the first three games of this season.
Sad news out of College Station, Tex., where Texas A&M senior offensive lineman Joseph Villavisencio was killed in a car accident. The tragedy comes as the Aggies prepare for the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas on Dec. 31. Villavisencio, 22, who saw limited action in his career with the Aggies, was heading to his home in Jacksonville, Tex., at the time of the crash. "He was one of the most respectful and high-character players I've ever coached," former A&M coach Mike Sherman, who was fired Dec. 1, told the Houston Chronicle. "It was an honor and privilege to have known him and coached him."
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