Shea Matthews the Senior Writer at CP. Lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national papers. Shea applies his knowledge to sports betting + handicapping daily, and shares winning picks with the world.
After navigating some tricky spreads over the last couple of weeks, I’m pleased to say that there are several spreads I really like this week. Hopefully that means it’s easy sledding in NFL Week 7.
Each week during the heart of the NFL season, and once or twice during the NFL Preseason, we’ll gather the troops around the roundtable and hash out the NFL Power rankings. We check out the stats, looks at the records, and, most importantly, we take a close, close look at the heart of each team.
Cappers Picks Golf handicappers have all your latest golf news and information so be sure to make us your trusted source for up-to-the-minute golf details. PGA Golf betting fans will also have plenty golf action to focus on as this year’s PGA Fall Silly season is here.
Week 6 in the NFL had very few surprises (for a change). Most of the favorites won, though many of them didn’t cover the spreads. Let’s review a week when it seems order was restored to the football universe.
The Texas Rangers ride into Game 1 of the World Series riding a high after thumping Detroit 15-5 to clinch the American League Division Series in six games on Saturday night. That game showcased what Texas has done best during this postseason: play long ball and pitch out of the bullpen.
We’re more or less a third of the way through the 2011 NFL season. It’s been full of surprises, to say the least, and the futures odds have shifted dramatically. Let’s explore the top Super Bowl contenders, risers and fallers.
If you saw a Rangers/Cardinals World Series coming before this season started, I suggest you enter the psychic business. A return to the Fall Classic was certainly conceivable for Texas but few handicappers gave St. Louis a chance after it lost Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery.
The Detroit Tigers staved off elimination in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series by riding their best player, Justin Verlander, until there was no tread left on his tires.
After falling flat in losses to Baltimore and Houston early this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers got back on track with a statement win over Tennessee last week. Ben Roethlisberger threw five touchdown passes as the Steelers romped 38-17 over a hyped Titans team.
The Milwaukee Brewers did what they had to do after dropping Game 2 of a 2-3-2 series format: win a road game.
What the hell, Florida State? I still can’t believe this team was ranked fifth in the preseason coaches’ poll for 2011. Here we are in Week 7 and the Seminoles have a worse record than Duke of all teams. At least FSU can pull even with the Blue Devils if they win on Saturday.
NCAAF Week 7: Florida State vs Duke
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2011
Venue: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham NC
Broadcast: ACC/FSN Regional HD
Florida State Seminoles at Duke Blue Devils Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com
Money Line: Florida State -480, Duke +360
Spread: Florida State -13.5
Over/Under: 54.5
Florida State Seminoles (2-3)
After losing a 35-30 shootout at Wake Forest last week, the Seminoles have dropped three straight games. What’s wrong with this team? On paper, it isn’t that bad. The Seminoles actually have the country’s 10th-ranked defense and are top-25 against both the pass and the run. They’re 13th in passing, averaging 325.4 yards per game. They average 33.8 points and allow 20.6. Yet their offense fell flat when it mattered against Oklahoma and their defense couldn’t keep points off the board in consecutive losses to Clemson.
The numbers clearly show that FSU’s talent should yield a better record but this team seems to wilt in clutch situations. Turnovers have been a problem, too. E.J. Manuel and Clint Trickett combined for four interceptions last week.
Duke Blue Devils (3-2)
Duke enters Saturday’s home game headed in the opposite direction of FSU; the Blue Devils have rattled off three straight victories. With the gunslinging Sean Renfree leading the charge, Duke has ridden a strong passing game to victory. Last week, he threw for 335 yards and two scores as Duke rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat Florida International on the road.
Duke is not without its faults, however. The Blue Devils have struggled to run the ball all season, ranking 107th with just 97.8 yards per game. They’ve allowed 278.8 passing yards per game, good for 106th; and they allow 28 points per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The pick:
See a pattern here? Florida State and Duke are the perfect inverse of each other. The Seminoles’ numbers suggest they’re vastly underperforming and even unlucky; the Blue Devils’ numbers suggest they’re overachieving and lucky.
The more I look at this matchup, the more I believe FSU covers the 13.5 points – easily. Duke’s offense is one-dimensional and could get bottled up by a well-rounded FSU defense. Despite the turnovers, the Seminoles have still moved the ball through the air, so they should score on Duke’s Swiss-cheese defense.
Look for Florida State to take out a month’s worth of frustration on a Duke team that may be a bit overconfident.
Florida State vs Duke prediction: Florida State 38, Duke 17
Money Line: Florida State -480
Spread: Florida State -13.5
Over/Under: OVER 54.5
The 2011 CFB Season is finally here. Welcome to the CappersPicks.com college football weekly predictions pages! We KNOW you will find our FREE weekly college football picks, tips, betting advice,
strategies, CFB gambling articles and more to help you become the best College football bettor on your block!!
More so than at any other moment so far in the 2011 playoffs, the Milwaukee Brewers’ resolve will be tested tonight. They faced pressure before in their cushy home park, where they’re 4-1 this postseason, but the Brew Crew are 0-3 on the road.
For the second straight week, the odds have nailed us with some stressful, big spreads. Feels like almost every line is at least a touchdown. Still, there has to be value in here somewhere. Let’s see what I can dig up.
Each week during the heart of the NFL season, and once or twice during the NFL Preseason, we’ll gather the troops around the roundtable and hash out the NFL Power rankings. We check out the stats, looks at the records, and, most importantly, we take a close, close look at the heart of each team.
The St. Louis Cardinals evened up the National League Championship Series on Monday.
Miami almost pulled off a major statement win at Virginia Tech last week but fell just short, losing a 38-35 heartbreaker. Next up, the ’Canes face another difficult test on the road against a 5-1 North Carolina team. Was last week as close as it gets for Miami or was it a preview of a triumph to come this week?
