http://www.betvega.com/nfl-week-11-upset-pick-bears-over-eagles/ http://www.betvega.com/nfl-week-11-upset-pick-bears-over-eagles/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:45:12 +0000 Uncle Jay http://www.betvega.com/?p=2373
Eagles vs. Bears Live Point Spreads – NFL Expert Picks – NFL Handicapper Rankings

In a critical game for their fading playoff hopes, the 4-5 Chicago Bears will entertain the 5-4 Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night at Soldier Field. With four losses in their last five outings, Chicago can’t afford another home setback. While the Eagles are a 2-point favorite in the matchup, the Bears could be in a position to stay alive in the NFC wild-card playoff race.

1.) Extra prep time

The Bears will have ten days to prepare for this week 11 contest after last Thursday’s defeat in San Francisco. The extra time should help the club regroup after a rough stretch of games. While Chicago is getting into a comfort zone at home, the Eagles had to travel across the country after Sunday’s loss at San Diego. Philly will have to get on a plane again this week for their trip to the Windy City.

2.) Soldier Field

Chicago is 3-1 at home this season. After a tough setback to begin the season at Green Bay, the Bears returned home to face the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers in week 2. Chicago rallied for a dramatic win to avoid an 0-2 start. The loyal fan base for the Bears should be able to pump some life into the club on Sunday night.

3.) Chicago’s defense

The Bears are 9th in the NFL in total defense despite losing standout linebacker Brian Urlacher to an injury in the season opener. Linebacker Lance Briggs leads the club in tackles with 71 while Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown have combined for nine sacks on Chicago’s frontline. Chicago is 8th in the league in passing defense. The Bears should match up well against Philadelphia’s pass-oriented offense.

4.) Jay Cutler

The quarterback is under fire after last week’s debacle at San Francisco. Cutler leads the NFL in interceptions (17) after being picked off five times against the 49ers. Still, the former first-round draft choice has plenty of ability. Without a sound running game, Cutler has been forced to throw the ball at some inopportune times this season. He is capable of carrying the team on his back based on last year’s (4526 passing yards, 25 TD passes in 2008) performance in Denver. Cutler should be especially focused for this week’s contest after last week’s rough effort.

5.) Eagles are also struggling

After last year’s trip to the NFC championship game, the Eagles were a trendy pick to reach the Super Bowl before the season began. However, Philadelphia has been pretty average in 2009 with a 5-4 record. With two straight losses, the Eagles could be feeling the pressure on Sunday night. Standout running back Brian Westbrook has been limited to only 47 carries this season and is unlikely to play against Chicago after suffering another concussion last week at San Diego. With road games against the Falcons, Giants and Cowboys still on tap, Philadelphia will be hard pressed to make the playoffs in the NFC based on their recent play.



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In the season’s second Thursday Night Football game, the Carolina Panthers play host to the Miami Dolphins. With both teams at 4-5, neither team is where they want to be entering week 11. Expectations for both teams were certainly much higher entering the season, but inconsistent and often bad play at the quarterback position has been the main reason for the sub .500 play. In Carolina, Jake Delhomme has yet to instill much confidence since his playoff meltdown last year in which he threw 5 interceptions against Arizona. Miami has had to deal with the inconsistent and often poor play of backup Chad Henne as their starter after Chad Pennington was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. The game will eventually be decided on which quarterback makes the least amount of mistakes and is better able to facilitate the offense game-plan by getting the ball to his playmakers.

The Carolina Panthers and the Miami Dolphins are both run dominant teams with Carolina ranking 3rd in the league in rushing yards per game and Miami ranking 4th in the league. Carolina will rely heavily on DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and Miami will depend on Ricky Williams for the injured Ronnie Brown. X-Rays were negative for Brown, but there does appear to be significant swelling, so Brown will sit out this game.

In recent weeks Jake Delhomme has finally started to play better football. And for him, better football is about just making less mistakes week in and week out, rather than actually making big plays. In his first 6 games, Delhomme threw 13 interceptions. In his last 3 games he has not thrown a single interception and last week he had his best single game performance of the season with 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 115.8.

Miami enters this game feeling extremely lucky to survive their week 10 matchup against the TB Bucs. Chad Henne redeemed himself after a late interception and led the ‘Fins on a 77 yard drive setting up a field goal to win 25-23. It may turn out to be a confidence builder for Henne, but up until now, I have not seen much from the position. Miami throws only when they have to and ask only of Henne not to “screw it up.” In the last 4 weeks he has only thrown for 2 touchdowns to 3 interceptions with a QB rating of 69.

On the road, Miami does not trust Chad Henne. In 4 road games this season, Henne has a total of 74 attempts, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt with only 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Combining Miami’s lack of confidence with Henne on the road with Brown’s injury and Miami is in trouble Thursday night.
The Panthers should win and cover this game. Carolina is getting significantly better play from Delhomme in recent weeks and although that is not saying much, at this point, he is no longer losing games for them. Miami continues to struggle significantly away from Landshark Stadium. Their road record of 1-3 has been highlighted by defeats of 12, 10, and 10 points, suggesting that they play competitive but covering the spread is another thing. The lack of offensive production from Ronnie Brown combined with non-existent QB play on the road will not be able to overcome Carolina’s 12th ranked total defense.

NFL Thursday Night Football Pick: Carolina -3 (Bet Now at the Best Sportsbooks)

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The Heisman race is still tied to a three-way battle for the BCS championship. Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Mark Ingram will continue to be the favorites as long as their respective teams remain undefeated.

Tim Tebow – Florida Gators

Tebow and the top-ranked Gators completed a perfect 8-0 SEC regular season mark with a 24-14 win at South Carolina last Saturday. Tebow had a modest effort against the Gamecocks. He completed 14-of-25 passes for 199 yards with a 68-yard touchdown strike in the win. Tebow also added a 1-yard touchdown run in the contest. For the season, Tebow has completed 65% of his pass attempts with 12 touchdown throws and four interceptions. He leads the Gators in rushing yardage (604) and touchdown runs (10). Florida will conclude their regular season with a pair of non-conference home games against Florida International and Florida State before a showdown with 2nd-ranked Alabama in the SEC championship game on December 5th in Atlanta.

Colt McCoy – Texas Longhorns

The 3rd-ranked Longhorns improved to 10-0 with a 47-14 rout at Baylor last week. McCoy connected on 23-of-34 passes for 181 yards with a pair of touchdown tosses against the Bears. He leads the nation in completion percentage at 72.4%. McCoy has passed for 19 touchdowns with nine interceptions in 2009. This week, he will play the final home game of his career against Kansas. Texas is a four-touchdown favorite for the nationally televised contest. With a victory, McCoy can become the winningest quarterback in the history of college football. He enters the game with a 41-7 record.

Mark Ingram – Alabama Crimson Tide

Ingram delivered another big effort for Alabama last week. He gained 149 yards on 19 carries in the Crimson Tide’s 31-3 win at Mississippi State. It was the sixth time this year that Ingram has gained at least 140 yards in a game. He broke loose for a career-best 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Ingram is fifth in the nation in rushing with 1,297 yards. He is averaging 6.7 yards per carry with ten rushing touchdowns. This week, Alabama will play their home finale against Chattanooga. With a trip to bitter rival Auburn on tap for the following week, Ingram will likely only get a few a carries on Saturday against the FCS (division 1-AA) school from Tennessee.

Kellen Moore – Boise State Broncos

Moore continues to put up some dazzling numbers for the 6th-ranked Broncos. In a 63-28 home victory over Idaho, the sophomore passed for five touchdowns. He completed 22-of-32 passes for 299 yards in the win. Moore leads the nation in quarterback rating and touchdown passes with 32. He has been intercepted only three times in 300 pass attempts this season. Moore is a perfect 20-0 in regular season starts for the Broncos. This week, Boise State will travel to Utah State for a nationally televised matchup on Friday night. The undefeated Broncos are favored by more than three touchdowns in the game.

Latest 2009-2010 Heisman Trophy Award Betting Odds

(Heisman Odds from Sportsbook.com)


Case Keenum
+300

Toby Gerhart
+1500

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For the second time in the last three weeks, the Oregon Ducks could be in some real trouble out on the road in the Pac-10.

1.) North Carolina over Boston College

In a battle of 7-3 clubs in the ACC, the North Carolina Tar Heels will head north to take on the Boston College Eagles on Saturday. While the Eagles are a 3.5-point home favorite, the Tar Heels have plenty of momentum entering this contest. North Carolina has won three straight games, including a pair of upset wins over teams ranked in the top 15. The club stunned Virginia Tech in Blacksburg last month and then upset Miami-FL last week in Chapel Hill. A stout defense has keyed the way for North Carolina.

The Tar Heels lead the conference in total, scoring and rushing defense. With the 95th-ranked total offense in the country, Boston College will have trouble moving the football on North Carolina. The Tar Heels defense recorded three interceptions in last year’s 45-24 victory over the Eagles at Chapel Hill.

2.) Texas Tech over Oklahoma

Last year, both of these squads were ranked in the top 5 prior to their meeting in Norman. The Sooners rolled to a 65-21 rout to hand Texas Tech its only defeat of the 2008 regular season. This time around, neither club is ranked in the top 25 but there will still be plenty of intensity in Lubbock on Saturday. The Red Raiders are a 4.5-point home underdog in the matchup. However, Texas Tech has won its last two contests against the Sooners in Lubbock.

As usual, the Red Raiders have a lethal air game. The club is in the top 7 nationally in total, scoring and passing offense this season. The defense is a respectable 54th in the nation in total and scoring defense despite facing several of the top offenses in the country this year. The loss of quarterback Sam Bradford has been a big blow to the Oklahoma team in 2009. It has been a down year for a school that has been to four BCS title games in this decade.

3.) Arizona over Oregon

With a chance to reach the Rose Bowl for the first time in school history, the Arizona players and fans will be fired up to face the 11th-ranked Ducks on Saturday in Tucson. The Wildcats must win their home finale to have any shot at a Pac-10 crown. Arizona has used a balanced offense to rank 24th in the nation in total offense. The 6-3 Wildcats are also a sound defensive squad. The unit is 18th in the country in total defense. Arizona can attack with their special teams as well.

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With most teams still in playoff contention, there are plenty of key games on tap for this week’s slate. Here’s a breakdown of all 16 games:

Miami Dolphins (43.5) at Carolina Panthers (-3.5)

Both teams are under .500 in 2009 after capturing division titles last year. In a battle of run-oriented teams with similar profiles, the underdog Dolphins are the choice in this Thursday night affair.
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Cleveland Browns (38.5) at Detroit Lions (-3.5)

The winner of this ugly matchup will hurt its stock in next spring’s draft. Detroit was unable to beat the Rams at home earlier this season. The Browns should be able to hang around for the win in this one.
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Buffalo Bills (43) at Jacksonville Jaguars (-8)

Buffalo was tied entering the fourth quarter at Tennessee before collapsing while the Jags stayed in playoff contention with a last-second win against the Jets in last week’s action. Jacksonville failed to cover at home earlier this season against the Rams and Chiefs. The Bills are the choice in this AFC matchup.
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Pittsburgh Steelers (-10) at Kansas City Chiefs (40.5)

The Steelers could be headed for a wild-card spot after last week’s defeat to the Bengals. Kansas City is still looking for its first home win of the season. Pittsburgh is poised to bounce back but the Chiefs deliver their best shot to the defending champs.
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Indianapolis Colts (44.5) at Baltimore Ravens (-1)

The Colts could be a little drained after last week’s dramatic rally against the Patriots. With little margin for error, Baltimore can’t afford another home loss. The Ravens should step up to end Indy’s 18-game regular season winning streak on Sunday.
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Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

With top runner Michael Turner unlikely to play due to an injury, young quarterback Matt Ryan will face some extra pressure against a desperate New York team. Off of a bye after four straight losses, we expect the Giants to step up and get back on track against the Falcons.
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San Francisco 49ers (42.5) at Green Bay Packers (-6)

Both teams won last week with their backs against the wall. In a similar spot this week, the 49ers use some extra prep time to keep this one tight at Lambeau Field.
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Seattle Seahawks (46.5) at Minnesota Vikings (-11)

Seattle’s last realistic hope at a playoff bid died last week at Arizona. With an opportunity to get a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, Minnesota can’t afford to let up. The Vikings are expected to roll to another big win at the Metrodome against a down Seattle squad.
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Washington Redskins (41.5) at Dallas Cowboys (-12)

The Redskins came to life to gain an upset win last week. Dallas is still atop the NFC East despite last week’s setback. The Cowboys should stay in first with a win but the rivalry aspect of this game should enable the Redskins to gain a cover.
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New Orleans Saints (-11.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (51)

For the third straight game, the Saints failed to cover last week at St. Louis. Tampa Bay has shown plenty of life with rookie quarterback Josh Freeman in the lineup. The scrappy Bucs will give the Saints a scare but New Orleans will stay perfect in this NFC South matchup.
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Arizona Cardinals (-9) at St. Louis Rams (46.5)

Kurt Warner returns to his former home to lead an Arizona team that is undefeated on the road this season. St. Louis is playing hard despite its record. The Rams will show enough fire to give the Cardinals a game on Sunday.
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New York Jets (45) at New England Patriots (-10.5)

After a pair of heartbreaking losses at home, the Jets must face an angry Patriots team on the road that is looking for revenge from an earlier loss at New York. New England will add another loss to New York’s record but the Jets have enough weapons to keep the final margin in single digits.
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Cincinnati Bengals (-9.5) at Oakland Raiders (36)

It’s a major flat spot for Cincinnati after a couple of big divisional wins. Oakland appears lost on the field more often than not. With only one playoff bid since 1990, the Bengals can’t afford to take anyone lightly and will take care of business against the hapless Raiders.
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San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

The Chargers have reeled off four straight wins to move into a first place tie in the AFC West with the Broncos. Denver has dropped three straight contests and starting quarterback Kyle Orton is unlikely to play due to an injury. The recent momentum shifts continue with a Chargers win on Sunday.
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Philadelphia Eagles (-2) at Chicago Bears (45)

Philly has lost two straight contests and still must play the Falcons, Giants and Cowboys on the road. Chicago is also a desperate club with a 1-4 mark in their last five outings. The home crowd provides the difference in a Bears victory.
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Tennessee Titans (48) at Houston Texans (-4)

Tennessee will face its toughest test since the beginning of its three-game winning streak. Houston is always eager to face the team formerly known as the Houston Oilers. Off of a bye with a chance to play a division rival on Monday night at home, the Texans just may delight their home faithful with a big win against the Titans.
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The classic finish on Sunday night between the Patriots and Colts capped a wild day in the NFL. Here are some highlights from last Sunday’s action:

Colts stay perfect in dramatic fashion

In a showdown of the two winningest teams of the decade, the Patriots and Colts slugged it out in a Sunday night battle of heavyweights. New England led the fight most of the night and it appeared that Indianapolis didn’t have enough left in the tank for a knockout blow. The Patriots kicked a field goal with just over four minutes to play to take a 34-21 lead. Indianapolis pulled to within six points with 2:23 to play and then stopped New England in its own territory on a controversial fourth-and-two call. The Colts proceeded to march the short field to score the game-winning touchdown with just 13 seconds to play in a 35-34 victory. In the end, the game was a push on the point spread. Indianapolis opened as a 2.5-point favorite before closing as a 1-point choice by kickoff. The undefeated Colts are 5-0 at home this season but have covered only once this year at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Saints fail to cover

The Saints also remained perfect last week with a 28-23 win at St. Louis. However, New Orleans failed to cover the point spread for the third game in a row. In their first six games, the Saints won all six contests by more than ten points. In their last three outings, New Orleans has won by ten points or less. The Saints were a 14-point favorite against the 1-8 Rams. This week, New Orleans is a 11.5-point favorite at Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers in a NFC South contest.

Underdogs bark again

In week 9 Sunday action, underdogs went 10-2 against the point spread. Last Sunday, underdogs were barking again in week 10. Favorites went 3-8-2 against the point spread in the 13 contests that were played on Sunday. Tennessee, Arizona and San Diego were the only favorites to cover. The Cardinals barely covered as a 9-point favorite in a 31-20 win over Seattle after trailing 14-0 early in the game. The Jets and Steelers were both upset at home as 6.5-point favorites. Denver, Atlanta, Oakland and Dallas also lost straight up as favorites last week.

Chargers, Broncos heading in opposite directions

The AFC West is a dead heat at the top of the standings heading into this week’s first place showdown in Denver between the Chargers and Broncos. While both squads are 6-3, the teams are moving in opposite directions heading into Sunday’s battle. San Diego has won four straight, including last week’s 31-23 win over the Eagles as 1-point favorite. The Chargers are 3-1 against the point spread during their winning run. In contrast, the Broncos have lost three consecutive games. All three of the setbacks have been by double-figures. Last week, Denver fell at Washington by a final of 27-17 as a 3.5-point favorite.

NFL Week 10 ATS Betting Results:

Team             Score        Odds           Bet Final

Bears                     6            +3.5            Under: 43

49ers                    10            -3.5            Cover: + 0.5

Jaguars                  24           +6.5            Cover: + 8.5

Jets                       22            -6.5             Over: 41

Broncos                17             -3.5            Over: 36

Redskins               27             +3.5            Cover: + 13.5

Bengals                 18             +6.5            Cover: + 12.5

Steelers                 12             -6.5             Under: 41

Bills                       17             +9               Over: 41

Titans                    41              -9               Cover: + 15

Lions                     10              +17            Under: 47.5

Vikings                  27              -17             Push

Saints                    28               -14            Over: 50.5

Rams                     23               +14           Cover: + 9

Falcons                  19               -1             Over: 43.5

Panthers                 28                +1            Cover: + 10

Buccaneers             23              +10            Cover: + 8

Dolphins                 25               -10            Over: 43

Chiefs                     16               +1              Cover: + 7

Raiders                   10               -1               Under: 36.5

Seahawks               20                +9              Over: 46.5

Cardinals                31                 -9              Cover: + 2

Eagles                    23                 +1              Over: 47

Chargers                31                 -1               Cover: + 7

Cowboys                 7                 -3               Under: 48

Packers                 17                 +3               Cover: + 13

Patriots                  34                 +1              Over: 48

Colts                      35                 -1               Push

See live NFL Odds every week of the NFL Lines season. Make sure to visit our sports betting forum on a daily basis. Also check out updated 2009-2010 Super Bowl Odds.

Degenerate gambler, this Monday night game is all for you! The Week 10 Monday Night Football game features the 4-4 Baltimore Ravens traveling to Cleveland to play the 1-7 Browns for the second time this season. The first meeting had Baltimore winning in blowout fashion, 34-3, and I see little that would change that for this go-around. The excitement level for this game could not be any lower. The local markets in Cleveland have even shown their excitement or rather disgust for the Browns by doing their part in helping make a TV blackout happen. The casual fan indifference in the game is often the sports bettors “lock of the week.” As it so happens, I will be putting my lock on this game with Baltimore covering the -11 point spread.

This game is not so much about what Baltimore does well in any of the three phases of football; it is more about what Cleveland does not do well. Because Cleveland is so bad, in so many facets of the game, every team they go up against often has the ability to look like Super Bowl contenders on any given night. Then there is the Brady Quinn factor. He remerges as the starter after Derek Anderson lead the club to a 1-4 record during his 5 games as a starter. Quinn’s influence on the game will be critical to bettors who back the Ravens.

Teams have proven to be able to move the ball against Cleveland’s defense with very little resistance. At home or on the road, Cleveland does not discriminate on location, they are bad everywhere. Opponents are averaging 409 yards per game, good for last in the league. They give up almost 20 yards per game more than their nearest rival in Tennessee and as improbable as it may be, Cleveland is actually getting worse. The last 3 opponents they played; Pittsburgh, Green Bay, and Chicago have averaged almost 487 yards total yards. The amount of yards given up on a week to week basis by Cleveland’s defenses, easily translates to plenty of scoring opportunities for opponents. Teams are averaging 26.1 points per game against their defense, 28th in the league. At home, Cleveland is actually significantly worse than on the road, giving up 30.1 points per game. 6 times this year, Cleveland has allowed at least 27 points in a game. 28th in points allowed does not seem so terrible when you consider that teams average 69 plays a game which ranks 31st in the league. Thus, allowing teams to control the ball for a little over 56% of the time, ranked 30th in the league.

On the flip side, Cleveland’s offense is just as dreadful. Independent of whether it is Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn leading the team, the offense still ranks last or near last in both passing and rushing. The Cleveland passing attack ranks dead last in passing with 121 yards per game. That number combines both Anderson and Quinn. Looking just at Quinn, the team is averaging 136 yards per game which ranks 31st in the league if extrapolated across a full 8 games. Each attempt is averaging a meager 4.2 yards, again, good for last in the league.

The rushing offense fairs only slightly better when compared to the passing game. Cleveland crawls out of the cellar with their rushing offense ranking 22nd in the league in total rushing yards per game. However over the last 3 games, that 22nd in the league rushing offense, has dropped to just over 88 yards per game further reinforcing a team in steady decline in every phase of the game. The end result of a team that cannot run and cannot pass is a team that cannot score. Ranking 31st in the league, Cleveland is scoring only 9.8 points per game. The only team preventing them from reaching the bottom is the St. Louis Rams, averaging 9.6 points a game. Cleveland also ranks 31st in touchdown scores per game at .9 per game with Oakland being the only team standing in their way of reaching the bottom. Looking at the quarterbacks, it is hard to find one that is more at fault than the other when points score is concerned. Since, Quinn is getting the nod this week, in 2 of his 3 games as a starter; the team scored less than 6 points twice. So Quinn is certainly not without considerable blame for the lack of offensive production.

The preview is all about what the Cleveland Browns can and cannot do with respect to their offense and defense with zero mention of their opponent, the Baltimore Ravens. The reason being, as stated earlier, is that Cleveland will make any opponent look very, very good. The Ravens currently rank 9th in points scored and 10th in total offensive yards per game for the 2009 season. On the defensive side, they are ranked 9th in points allowed, giving up 19 points per game and 13th in yards allowed per game. Their stats are indicative of a team that should be better than .500 especially with Joe Flacco slowly emerging as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. The 12 touchdowns to 7 interceptions are good for a quarterback rating of over 90 this year. Expect Flacco to duplicate his week 3 performance in which he had a season high 111.8 QB rating against these same Browns.

Monday Night Football Pick: This game will not be close, it will not be competitive at any point, and we will probably see Derek Anderson come back in at some point during the game. Cleveland stands no chance of keeping this game within the 11 points; take the Ravens at-11.

See live NFL Odds every week of the NFL Lines season. Make sure to visit our sports betting forum on a daily basis. Also check out updated 2009-2010 Super Bowl Odds.

As usual, teams like Kansas, North Carolina and Michigan State are expected to be serious Final Four contenders in the 2009-10 college basketball campaign. With 65 spots available in the annual NCAA tournament, there is plenty of room for some surprise teams to emerge by the time March Madness rolls around. Here are five squads that could sneak up and surprise this season:

Vanderbilt Commodores

After consecutive NCAA trips in 2007 and 2008, the Commodores stayed home last season after a .500 finish in the SEC. This year, Vandy could be ready for a rebound campaign. All four of the club’s double figure scorers from last year are back this season. Australian native A.J. Ogilvy has emerged for Vanderbilt. The junior center has averaged at least 15 points and 7 rebounds per game in each of his two collegiate campaigns.

Creighton Bluejays

The Missouri Valley Conference school could be poised to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007 this season. Creighton just missed getting into the dance last year in a 27-8 campaign. Junior guard P’Allen Stinnet (13 points per game in 2008-09) leads a deep team. Veteran head coach Dana Altman should be able to take advantage of his club’s depth to get back to the NCAA tourney this year.

San Diego State Aztecs

Despite three straight 20+ win seasons, the Aztecs have had to settle for the NIT since their last NCAA trip in 2006. Under the guidance of former Michigan head coach Steve Fisher, San Diego State has emerged as one of the top clubs in the Mountain West Conference over the last few years. While this year’s club has only two seniors, there is plenty of young talent on the roster. Fisher has been able to effectively recruit the Southern California area to reload his roster in recent years.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Former Massachusetts head coach Travis Ford was able to guide the Cowboys into the second round of the NCAA tournament in his debut season at Oklahoma State last year. For a storied program that has been to a pair of Final Fours over the last 15 years, the future appears bright for Ford and the Cowboys. A pair of big guards are set to lead this year’s club. 6-foot-6 junior James Anderson (18 points, 6 rebounds per game in 2008-09) and 6-foot-5 senior Obi Muonelo (13 rebounds, 7 rebounds per game in 2008-09) are difficult matchups for many teams.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Head coach Paul Hewitt was a single win away from a national championship in 2004 at Georgia Tech. Since then, the Yellow Jackets have missed the NCAA tourney in three of the last five years. With the arrival of prized 6-foot-10 freshman forward Derrick Favors and some other promising recruits, Georgia Tech is ranked 22nd in the country to begin the season after last year’s woeful 2-14 record in the ACC. Junior forward Gani Lawal (15 points, 10 rebounds per game in 2008-09) will aid Favors and the other newcomers this season.

With the 2009-10 college basketball season now underway, it’s time to take an early look at some teams that could reach the Final Four at Indianapolis in April. Here are three favorites, as well as two sleepers, to keep an eye on this season:

Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas is a 9/2 favorite to capture the 2009-10 NCAA Basketball Championship. The 2007-08 champions are the top-ranked squad in the initial AP poll. Senior guard Sherron Collins leads the club after averaging a team-high 19 points per game last season. In the frontcourt, junior center Cole Aldrich is a force in the middle. He averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game last year

Kentucky Wildcats

The Wildcats are also a 9/2 choice to win the championship despite not making the NCAA tournament a year ago. The arrival of former Memphis head coach John Calipari has brought plenty of excitement to the program. The 4th-ranked Wildcats are led by junior forward Patrick Patterson (18 points, 9 rebounds per game last season) and a talented group of freshmen recruited by the new head coach. With previous Final Four trips at Massachusetts and Memphis, Calipari has the potential to build a dynasty at one of the most storied programs in all of college basketball.

North Carolina Tar Heels

The defending champions are a 7/1 choice to repeat this season. Head coach Roy Williams will be trying to win his third title since 2005 this year. While star center Tyler Hansbrough and some other standouts from last year’s title squad are now in the NBA, there is still plenty of talent on hand for the 6th-ranked Tar Heels. Senior forward Deon Thompson (11 points, 6 rebounds per game last season) could be poised for a breakout season. In addition, there are plenty of underclassmen that will get a chance to shine this season.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Despite a last place finish in the ACC last year, the Yellow Jackets are ranked 22nd in the nation to begin the year. Head coach Paul Hewitt has assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the nation. 6-foot-10 freshman forward Derrick Favors will likely be an NBA Lottery Draft pick after this season. The son of former NBA star Glen Rice is also a part of Tech’s talented freshmen class. Junior forward Gani Lawal is the club’s top returning player after averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per contest last season. Georgia Tech is a 45/1 choice to win this year’s NCAA hoops crown.

California Golden Bears

While Cal is ranked 13th in the country to begin the season, the Bears are still a 75/1 long shot to cut down the nets in April. Former Stanford and Golden State Warriors head coach Mike Montgomery is trying to bring the school its first Pac-10 crown since 1960. With senior guard Jerome Randle (18 points per game last year) leading a veteran team, the Bears experience could enable the club to make a strong March Madness run.

Odds To Win 2010 NCAA Tournament:

(Odds from BetUs.com)
Payout based on $100 Bet


1 Arizona +3000
2 Arizona State +10000
3 Arkansas +20000
4 Auburn +20000
5 BYU +20000
6 Baylor +6000
7 Boston College +6000
8 Butler +6000
9 California +7500
10 Cincinnati +20000
11 Clemson +4500
12 Cleveland State +20000
13 Connecticut +1600
14 Creighton +20000
15 Dayton +25000
16 Duke +1000
17 Duquesne +20000
18 Florida +1600
19 Florida State +10000
20 George Mason +20000
21 Georgetown +1600
22 Gonzaga +7000
23 Houston +20000
24 Illinois +7000
25 Indiana +30000
26 Iowa +25000
27 Iowa State +20000
28 Kansas +450
29 Kansas State +12500
30 Kentucky +450
31 LSU +6000
32 Louisville +1200
33 Marquette +25000
34 Maryland +10000
35 Memphis +4000
36 Miami Florida +15000
37 Michigan +10000
38 Michigan State +1400
39 Minnesota +10000
40 Mississippi +12500
41 Mississippi State +12500
42 Missouri +2500
43 Nebraska +20000
44 Nevada +20000
45 New Mexico +20000
46 Niagara +20000
47 North Carolina +700
48 North Carolina State +15000
49 Northern Iowa +30000
50 Northwestern +20000
51 Notre Dame +3000
52 Ohio State +4000
53 Oklahoma +3500
54 Oklahoma State +10000
55 Old Dominion +20000
56 Oregon +15000
57 Oregon State +20000
58 Pacific +20000
59 Penn State +20000
60 Pittsburgh +4000
61 Providence +20000
62 Purdue +2000
63 Rhode Island +20000
64 Saint Johns +20000
65 Saint Josephs +20000
66 Saint Louis +20000
67 Saint Marys +7500
68 San Diego State +20000
69 Seton Hall +15000
70 Siena +20000
71 South Carolina +10000
72 Stanford +12500
73 Syracuse +1500
74 Temple +20000
75 Tennessee +2500
76 Texas +1000
77 Texas A M +7500
78 Tulsa +20000
79 UAB +20000
80 UCLA +1800
81 USC +10000
82 UTEP +20000
83 Utah +10000
84 Utah State +20000
85 Virginia Commonwealth +20000
86 Vanderbilt +15000
87 Villanova +3000
88 Virginia +20000
89 Virginia Tech +15000
90 Wake Forest +2500
91 Washington +4500
92 Washington State +12500
93 West Virginia +1400
94 Western Kentucky +20000
95 Wisconsin +8000
96 Xavier +4500
97 Georgia +15000
98 Texas Tech +12500
99 Alabama +1500
100 UNLV +50000
101 Georgia Tech +4500
102 Davidson +15000

The two winningest teams of the decade will square off again on Sunday night at Indianapolis. The Patriots and Colts have combined to capture four Super Bowl crowns over the last eight years. In three playoff meetings since 2003, New England holds a 2-1 edge over Indianapolis. While the Colts will bring a 17-game regular season winning streak into the contest, the 3-point underdogs from New England could have the right formula to end the run in this week 10 clash.

1.) Tom Brady

Many wondered about how effective Brady would be in 2009 after last year’s severe knee injury. Early in the year, he was slowly rounding into form. At the midway point of the season, Brady is starting to resemble the record-setting quarterback of 2007. He has passed for over 300 yards in each of the last three weeks with a total of ten touchdown strikes during the stretch.

2.) The overall passing game of the Patriots

New England is second in the NFL in total and passing offense entering Sunday’s matchup. While Brady is the foundation of the club’s air game, the Patriots receiving duo of Randy Moss and Wes Welker also have a major role in the success of the passing game. Moss continues to be one of the most feared deep threats in the game. He is fifth in the league in receiving yards this season with 712. Welker is the perfect complement to Moss as one of the NFL’s best possession receivers. He is fifth in the NFL in receptions with 55 despite missing a pair of games this season.

3.) New England’s defense

The Patriots are third in the league in scoring defense while ranking fourth in the NFL in passing defense. Head coach Bill Belichick has shown a knack for being able to frustrate Colts quarterback Peyton Manning over the years. Despite losing some key veterans from last year’s squad, Belichick has been able to mold another solid group of defenders in 2009.

4.) Colts secondary injuries

Even at full strength, the Colts defense would be in for a major challenge going against a Tom Brady-led offense. With two secondary starters out for the season and another questionable to play on Sunday, Indianapolis won’t be at their best against one of the most lethal passing games in the NFL. Safety Bob Sanders and cornerback Marlin Jackson are done for the year due to injuries. Cornerback Kelvin Hayden is battling a leg injury and is questionable for Sunday’s contest. Brady and Belichick will certainly look to take advantage of a depleted Indianapolis secondary early and often on Sunday night.

5.) The due factor

In a league driven by parity, it is rare for a team to put together the kind of run the Colts are on now. Indianapolis has escaped the last couple of weeks to defeat the 49ers and Texans by a combined total of just seven points. With the injuries piling up, the Colts magical run could be ready to finally come to an end in their biggest test of the 2009 campaign to date.

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