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NFL

Wild Card Ravens vs. Dolphins NFL Predictions

AFC Wild Card Line and Pick

The Dolphins have won nine of their last ten games to complete a ten-game improvement, and did so by bucking a trend and beating the Jets in the regular season finale. If you recall, the only win for Miami last year was a 22-16 overtime thriller at this site when Troy Smith was the Baltimore quarterback.

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Gambling

2009 International Bowl

2009 International Bowl: Buffalo vs. Connecticut Preview

The Buffalo Bulls upset Ball State in winning the MAC title and will head north to face the UConn Huskies January 3 for the International Bowl.
If you look at the recent history between the Bulls and UConn, you will see four straight ATS wins by the Huskies and a 139-10 total score. But these Bulls have improved dramatically under coach Turner Gill.

Oddsmakers currently have the Huskies listed as 6½-point favorites versus the Bulls, while the game’s total is sitting at 51.  

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NCAA Football

Golden Hurricane vs. Cardinals Preview/Pick: GMAC Bowl

GMAC Bowl Tulsa vs Ball State

Ball State is already shy of personnel. Coach Brady Hoke, an alum, took a better offer from San Diego State, which is a lowly team. That should tell you a little about the state of the Ball State football program. Taking over the team for this ballgame is Stan Parrish, who was formerly a coach at Kansas State and won two out of 33 games.  

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Gambling

2009 Sugar Bowl

2009 All State Sugar Bowl Utah vs. Alabama Preview

Alabama spent a good chunk of the season ranked No. 1 in the country, but lost when it mattered most in the SEC title game. That loss sent the Crimson Tide to the Louisiana Superdome for the Sugar Bowl where they will face the tough Utah Utes. It’s No. 4 Bama against unbeaten No. 7 Utah.

Oddsmakers currently have the Crimson Tide listed as 9½-point favorites versus the Utes, while the game’s total is sitting at 45½.

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Gambling

2009 Auto Zone Liberty Bowl

2009 Liberty Bowl East Carolina vs. Kentucky Preview

Kentucky lost six of its final eight games, but still earned a bowl berth. God bless the bowl system for finding place for a team that lost 63-5 against Florida. The fans at the Liberty Bowl will watch the East Carolina Pirates and the Kentucky Wildcats clash January 2.

Oddsmakers currently have the Pirates listed as 3-point favorites versus the Wildcats, while the game’s total is sitting at 41. 

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Gambling

2009 Cotton Bowl

2009 Cotton Bowl Mississippi vs. Texas Tech Preview

The Mississippi Rebels won’t get as much press and public betting as their opponent in this year’s Cotton Bowl. But beware Ole Miss as they battle the Texas Tech Red Raiders January 2. While the Red Raiders were highly ranked and their offense highly feared, the Rebels were quietly beating Auburn, Arkansas, LSU and Florida. Not bad for a team sitting as a TD underdog.  

Oddsmakers currently have the Red Raiders listed as 4-point favorites versus the Rebels, while the game’s total is sitting at 65½.

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Gambling

2009 Orange Bowl

2009 Orange Bowl Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati Preview

The Virginia Tech Hokies, ranked 16th nationally on defense, face the 11-2 Cincinnati Bearcats at Dolphin Stadium in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day.Cincy won 10 of 11 to end the year, while the Hokies rebounded from a tough mid-season stretch to win their final three games.

Oddsmakers currently have the Bearcats listed as 2-point favorites versus the Hokies, while the game’s total is sitting at 42.

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Gambling

2009 Rose Bowl

2009 Rose Bowl Penn State vs. Southern Cal Preview

A pair of 11-1 conference champions restore some luster to the Rose Bowl this year as the Big Ten champion Penn State Nittany Lions face the Pac 10 champion USC Trojans. Penn State has struggled ATS of late, losing three of four, while USC has been dominant on defense, allowing more than 10 points just twice in 12 games this year.

Oddsmakers currently have the Trojans listed as 9-point favorites versus the Nittany Lions, while the game’s total is sitting at 44½.  

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Gambling

2009 Capital One Bowl

2009 Capital One Bowl Michigan State Spartans vs. Georgia Bulldogs Preview

The fans at Florida Citrus Bowl will be treated to a possible defensive battle when the Michigan State Spartans and the Georgia Bulldogs clash January 1 for the Capital One Bowl. And Bulldog backers will be hoping for a victory to take the money-losing sting out of four consecutive ATS losses. Oddsmakers currently have the Bulldogs listed as 10-point favorites versus the Spartans, while the game’s total is sitting at 57.  

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Gambling

2009 Gator Bowl

2009 Gator Bowl Clemson vs. Nebraska Preview

The Clemson Tigers finished the season on a roll playing tough defense and the Nebraska Cornhuskers finished the year on a roll playing great offense. 
Both will after a win January 1 when they meet at Municipal Stadium in the Gator Bowl.

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NCAA Football

Nittany Lions vs. Trojans Preview/Pick: Rose Bowl

Rose Bowl Odds USC Trojans vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

USC has a defense that has already become the stuff of legend. The Trojans have yielded just 7.8 points per game, and ranks first in total defense, first in pass defense, fifth in rushing defense (allowing 2.6 yards a carry) and has held ten different opponents to ten points or less.  

BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: USC -9, Total 45  

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Gambling

2009 Outback Bowl

2009 Outback Bowl Iowa vs. South Carolina Preview

The Iowa Hawkeyes beat a lot of good teams this year, while the South Carolina Gamecocks seemed to lose to a lot of good teams. What does that mean January 1 when they meet at Raymond James Stadium in the Outback Bowl?

Oddsmakers currently have the Hawkeyes listed as 3½-point favorites versus the Gamecocks, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.  

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Gambling NFL

Wildcard Round: Ravens vs. Dolphins Betting Trends + Pick

AFC Wildcard Odds Baltimore @ Miami

The Baltimore Ravens (11-5 SU, 12-4 SU, 9-6-1 O/U) have been the best defensive team in all of football for the better part of the last decade.

Now with a strong-armed rookie quarterback leading the team’s improving offense, the Ravens are a playoff opponent’s worst nightmare.

The Miami Dolphins (11-5 SU, 8-8 ATS, 6-10 O/U) completed the greatest one-season turnaround in league history and come into their improbable AFC wildcard showdown having won five straight games and nine of their last ten overall.  

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NCAA Football

Hokies vs. Bearcats Preview/Pick: Orange Bowl

Orange Bowl Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Cincinnati Bearcats

Virginia Tech is playing in its 16th straight bowl game, though it has lost all three of its appearances in BCS games. On the basis of fundamentals, it looks like clear edges should be going Cincinnati’s way.

BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: CINCINNATI -2.5, Total 41.5  

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NCAA Football

Tigers vs. Cornhuskers Preview/Pick: Gator Bowl

Gator Bowl Clemson Tigers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Clemson may be the biggest disappointment in college football this season. The Tigers looked to have so much offensive weaponry at their disposal, and were considered such easy favorites in the ACC, given a great chance to compete for a national title. Instead, they had to get hot at the end just to secure a bowl bid, and head coach Tommy Bowden was given his walking papers.  

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NCAA Football

Spartans vs. Bulldogs Preview/Pick: Capital One Bowl

Capital One Bowl Michigan State Spartans vs. Georgia Bulldogs

In retrospect, Georgia was overrated coming into the season, wouldn’t you agree? The Bulldogs were being counted on as the #1 or #2 team by many pundits, on the strength of their resounding win over Hawai’i in last year’s Sugar Bowl and many starters returning. They just couldn’t live up to that hype, however.