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Saturday, January 11
Pittsburgh at TENNESSEE (-4)
By Hunt Archbold, Contributing Editor
One has to wonder how much teams like Pittsburgh and San Francisco have this week after huge fourth quarter rallies last week. For Pittsburgh, they get short-changed a day as they’re forced to play today at Tennessee just six days after coming back against Cleveland.
Of course, since 1990, divisional playoff hosts are 42-10 SU and 31-19-2 ATS. They’re other trends pointing against Pittsburgh, including its 2-8 mark versus the number in their final 10 games. Also in this hotly contested series, the home team is 18-8-1 ATS.
But forgetting trends just for a moment, the truth is that Tennessee is the better football team in this game. Jeff Fisher’s troops finished the season as the league’s hottest team, winning 10 of their final 11 games, including the final five. Over the course of the final eight games of the year, Tennessee had the league’s second-ranked defense, and should receive a boost with the return of Jevon Kearse, who is excepted to get in 25-30 snaps today.
The offense, behind the MVP-caliber play of quarterback Steve McNair, was ranked 14th over the final eight contests. Tennessee finished the year with dominating wins over New England, Jacksonville and Houston. They limited their opponents in those games to an average of 6.7 points and 204 yards while racking up an average of 23.6 points and 338 yards in those wins.
Pittsburgh quarterback Tommy Maddox turned it on in the fourth quarter against Cleveland last week. But really, he hasn’t been the same since his last visit to the Music City on Nov. 17. In that easy Tennessee win, in which the home team led 31-7 at one point, Maddox suffered a scary spinal concussion injury. But that wasn’t before he had tossed three picks as Maddox has a poor 7-8 touchdown-to-interception ration in the last six games. And he better not rely to much on the overrated Pittsburgh ground game, which had just 45 yards last game against Tennessee.
Pittsburgh has been good defending the run, but certainly Fisher will have McNair attack through the air. Pittsburgh has a poor secondary and will have to come up with some kind of a pass rush against a Tennessee defense that allowed only 21 sacks this season. In the last game between the two teams, McNair was steady in passing for 257 yards, two scores and no interceptions.
Rested and ready, Tennessee should dominate this game. Fisher is 8-2 ATS versus Bill Cower and is 3-1-1 versus the number in the playoffs. Tennessee, which was 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games, is rallying like Pittsburgh. But Tennessee is rallying around each other, however, as they feel snubbed after no player on the roster was selected to play in the post-season all-star game in Hawaii.
At home and playing with a chip on its shoulder, Tennessee is the play today.
PICK: 4 TENNESSEE
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Atlanta at PHILADELPHIA (Toatl 38')
By Hunt Archbold, Contributing Editor
The two most exciting and mobile quarterbacks in league meet tonight at The Vet. The question is, how effective will Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb be coming back from injury and how effective will Atlanta’s Mike Vick be against a style of defense that has stymied him this season?
McNabb, out since Nov. 17 with an ankle fracture, won’t have anything close to the kind of mobility he had prior to his injury. He still has his accurate arm, though. But how rusty will he be? Certainly, Atlanta defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and his 3-4 scheme of blitzes, will try to confuse the Philly passer. And for sure, Philadelphia hardly has world-class receivers to help bail their quarterback out.
With an out-of-game shape McNabb adjusting himself back to live action, it would appear Philly will have to win this game with defense. And they can as they have the league’s fourth-ranked unit. Of course, that means stopping Vick.
The Philadelphia defense is much like the Tampa Bay defense that dominated Atlanta and Vick twice this year. Philly, much like Tampa, has a solid defensive front as players on the line had 40 of Philly’s league-best 56 sacks this year. Atlanta took advantage of a Green Bay team that was dissipated by injury last week. With star safety Darren Sharper out, Vick had some early passing success that opened the door for Atlanta’s running game.
That won’t be the case tonight as Philly is healthy and ready. Really, Atlanta had just one sustained drive for a touchdown last week as they scored off a blocked punt and a short scoring drive following one of Green Bay’s five turnovers.
Atlanta has had terrible red zone struggles this season as the team has bogged down close to the goal line. Taking a page from Tampa’s book, I expect Philly will bring tons of pressure against Vick and force the rest of the Atlanta offensive skill players beat them.
There are several trends siding with home team Philly in this game, but Atlanta has played its best football away from home this year. They’re 7-2 ATS away this season and are 4-3 versus the number against playoff teams. Philadelphia benefited from playing the league’s second-easiest schedule.
Atlanta has gone under on the road in cold weather the past two weeks. Atlanta is facing maybe the best defense (or second-best with a tip of the cap to Tampa Bay) it has faced this year. McNabb hasn’t played in almost two months. I just don’t see where the points are going to come from.
This one’s going to be tight and low scoring.
PICK: 3 UNDER
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACES HIGH
College Basketball:
2 Units on Georgia Tech -3 -110
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonight's NBA Picks:
Indiana -8 over Golden State
Today's NCAA Picks:
AFTERNOON:
Appalachian State -9 over UNC-Greensboro (1:00)
Kansas -21 over Nebraska (1:45)
Michigan State -2- over Iowa (2:30)
LOCK: LaSalle -4 over George Washington (4:00)
Georgia Tech -3- over NC State (4:00)
NIGHT:
Missouri -13 over Baylor (7:00)
LOCK: New Orleans -1 over LA-Lafayette (8:00)
Richmond -7- over Temple (8:00)
Vanderbilt +3 over Alabama (9:00)
LOCK: Boise State +11- over Nevada (10:05)
LOCK: Hawaii -9 over Louisiana Tech (12:05 AM)
Current NBA Records:
Last Night: 0-2
Total Season: 59-43-4
Locks: 11-6-1
Super Locks: 2-0
Current College Basketball Records:
Last Night: 0-0
Total Season: 3-7-1
Locks: 0-2-1
Good Luck!
Action Sports
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ASHTON SPORTS
Pro Basketball:
1 Unit on Golden State Warriors +8 -110
NBA FREEBIE: GST The Warriors stumbled in Minnesota but then came right back and whipped Stack, MJ & crew last night. Gents that’s 6 of 8 SU wins for the lowly Warriors to go along with 8 of 11 covers. It will not be an easy task to head into Conseco tonight but the Pacers were traveling from the land of Disney after winning their 3rd straight against the Magic in a game that took a come from 10 points down and an OT to pull out. The Pacers have now covered 7 of their last 9 but tonight we side with the athletic Warriors and the 96 PPG they’ve been averaging the last 5. Defensively GST is a mess but tonight will be run & gun and with Indiana’s big 3 of O’Neal, Artest and Miller logging 40+ minutes and Harrington seeing the floor for almost that many, the Pacer legs may be a little wobbly in this one. Indiana is 5-16 ATS at home after covering 5 or 6 of their last 7.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINE SHEET
The Coach's Free Selection
Jets/Raiders over 47 1/2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAPPERS ACCESS
Sport Favorite Underdog Line Pick
(Sat)NFL Tennessee Pittsburgh 4 Tennessee ****(best bet)
(Sat)NFL Philadelphia Atlanta 7- Atlanta
Pittsburgh at TENNESSEE (-4)
By Hunt Archbold, Contributing Editor
One has to wonder how much teams like Pittsburgh and San Francisco have this week after huge fourth quarter rallies last week. For Pittsburgh, they get short-changed a day as they’re forced to play today at Tennessee just six days after coming back against Cleveland.
Of course, since 1990, divisional playoff hosts are 42-10 SU and 31-19-2 ATS. They’re other trends pointing against Pittsburgh, including its 2-8 mark versus the number in their final 10 games. Also in this hotly contested series, the home team is 18-8-1 ATS.
But forgetting trends just for a moment, the truth is that Tennessee is the better football team in this game. Jeff Fisher’s troops finished the season as the league’s hottest team, winning 10 of their final 11 games, including the final five. Over the course of the final eight games of the year, Tennessee had the league’s second-ranked defense, and should receive a boost with the return of Jevon Kearse, who is excepted to get in 25-30 snaps today.
The offense, behind the MVP-caliber play of quarterback Steve McNair, was ranked 14th over the final eight contests. Tennessee finished the year with dominating wins over New England, Jacksonville and Houston. They limited their opponents in those games to an average of 6.7 points and 204 yards while racking up an average of 23.6 points and 338 yards in those wins.
Pittsburgh quarterback Tommy Maddox turned it on in the fourth quarter against Cleveland last week. But really, he hasn’t been the same since his last visit to the Music City on Nov. 17. In that easy Tennessee win, in which the home team led 31-7 at one point, Maddox suffered a scary spinal concussion injury. But that wasn’t before he had tossed three picks as Maddox has a poor 7-8 touchdown-to-interception ration in the last six games. And he better not rely to much on the overrated Pittsburgh ground game, which had just 45 yards last game against Tennessee.
Pittsburgh has been good defending the run, but certainly Fisher will have McNair attack through the air. Pittsburgh has a poor secondary and will have to come up with some kind of a pass rush against a Tennessee defense that allowed only 21 sacks this season. In the last game between the two teams, McNair was steady in passing for 257 yards, two scores and no interceptions.
Rested and ready, Tennessee should dominate this game. Fisher is 8-2 ATS versus Bill Cower and is 3-1-1 versus the number in the playoffs. Tennessee, which was 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games, is rallying like Pittsburgh. But Tennessee is rallying around each other, however, as they feel snubbed after no player on the roster was selected to play in the post-season all-star game in Hawaii.
At home and playing with a chip on its shoulder, Tennessee is the play today.
PICK: 4 TENNESSEE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlanta at PHILADELPHIA (Toatl 38')
By Hunt Archbold, Contributing Editor
The two most exciting and mobile quarterbacks in league meet tonight at The Vet. The question is, how effective will Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb be coming back from injury and how effective will Atlanta’s Mike Vick be against a style of defense that has stymied him this season?
McNabb, out since Nov. 17 with an ankle fracture, won’t have anything close to the kind of mobility he had prior to his injury. He still has his accurate arm, though. But how rusty will he be? Certainly, Atlanta defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and his 3-4 scheme of blitzes, will try to confuse the Philly passer. And for sure, Philadelphia hardly has world-class receivers to help bail their quarterback out.
With an out-of-game shape McNabb adjusting himself back to live action, it would appear Philly will have to win this game with defense. And they can as they have the league’s fourth-ranked unit. Of course, that means stopping Vick.
The Philadelphia defense is much like the Tampa Bay defense that dominated Atlanta and Vick twice this year. Philly, much like Tampa, has a solid defensive front as players on the line had 40 of Philly’s league-best 56 sacks this year. Atlanta took advantage of a Green Bay team that was dissipated by injury last week. With star safety Darren Sharper out, Vick had some early passing success that opened the door for Atlanta’s running game.
That won’t be the case tonight as Philly is healthy and ready. Really, Atlanta had just one sustained drive for a touchdown last week as they scored off a blocked punt and a short scoring drive following one of Green Bay’s five turnovers.
Atlanta has had terrible red zone struggles this season as the team has bogged down close to the goal line. Taking a page from Tampa’s book, I expect Philly will bring tons of pressure against Vick and force the rest of the Atlanta offensive skill players beat them.
There are several trends siding with home team Philly in this game, but Atlanta has played its best football away from home this year. They’re 7-2 ATS away this season and are 4-3 versus the number against playoff teams. Philadelphia benefited from playing the league’s second-easiest schedule.
Atlanta has gone under on the road in cold weather the past two weeks. Atlanta is facing maybe the best defense (or second-best with a tip of the cap to Tampa Bay) it has faced this year. McNabb hasn’t played in almost two months. I just don’t see where the points are going to come from.
This one’s going to be tight and low scoring.
PICK: 3 UNDER
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACES HIGH
College Basketball:
2 Units on Georgia Tech -3 -110
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonight's NBA Picks:
Indiana -8 over Golden State
Today's NCAA Picks:
AFTERNOON:
Appalachian State -9 over UNC-Greensboro (1:00)
Kansas -21 over Nebraska (1:45)
Michigan State -2- over Iowa (2:30)
LOCK: LaSalle -4 over George Washington (4:00)
Georgia Tech -3- over NC State (4:00)
NIGHT:
Missouri -13 over Baylor (7:00)
LOCK: New Orleans -1 over LA-Lafayette (8:00)
Richmond -7- over Temple (8:00)
Vanderbilt +3 over Alabama (9:00)
LOCK: Boise State +11- over Nevada (10:05)
LOCK: Hawaii -9 over Louisiana Tech (12:05 AM)
Current NBA Records:
Last Night: 0-2
Total Season: 59-43-4
Locks: 11-6-1
Super Locks: 2-0
Current College Basketball Records:
Last Night: 0-0
Total Season: 3-7-1
Locks: 0-2-1
Good Luck!
Action Sports
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASHTON SPORTS
Pro Basketball:
1 Unit on Golden State Warriors +8 -110
NBA FREEBIE: GST The Warriors stumbled in Minnesota but then came right back and whipped Stack, MJ & crew last night. Gents that’s 6 of 8 SU wins for the lowly Warriors to go along with 8 of 11 covers. It will not be an easy task to head into Conseco tonight but the Pacers were traveling from the land of Disney after winning their 3rd straight against the Magic in a game that took a come from 10 points down and an OT to pull out. The Pacers have now covered 7 of their last 9 but tonight we side with the athletic Warriors and the 96 PPG they’ve been averaging the last 5. Defensively GST is a mess but tonight will be run & gun and with Indiana’s big 3 of O’Neal, Artest and Miller logging 40+ minutes and Harrington seeing the floor for almost that many, the Pacer legs may be a little wobbly in this one. Indiana is 5-16 ATS at home after covering 5 or 6 of their last 7.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINE SHEET
The Coach's Free Selection
Jets/Raiders over 47 1/2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAPPERS ACCESS
Sport Favorite Underdog Line Pick
(Sat)NFL Tennessee Pittsburgh 4 Tennessee ****(best bet)
(Sat)NFL Philadelphia Atlanta 7- Atlanta
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