Sports betting

After a promising 6-0 start, the Denver Broncos are in the midst of a three-game slump and the San Diego Chargers have caught them in the AFC West standings.

The Broncos host the Chargers this week and might have a bit of a problem at the QB position as current starter Kyle Orton has missed three practices this week with backup Chris Simms practicing in his place.

Various sources say that Orton will be a game-time decision.

The No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines are on opposite ends of the Big Ten standings and they meet in their yearly rivalry game on Saturday.

This year’s edition may be taking place in Ann Arbor but Michigan is listed as a big 12-point underdog.

It’s not surprising when you consider its home record as the Wolverines are 1-8 straight up and 2-7 against the spread in their last nine at Michigan Stadium.

The Buckeyes have the edge in the last eight games between the two with records of 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS complemented by 6 Overs.

The Total for Saturday’s game is 47.5.

Updated November 20, 2009 

Cotto-Pacquiao was the event du jour last weekend in Vegas and UFC 106 will be the must-see event this Saturday.

The main event will see Tito “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz taking on Forrest Grffin with Ortiz a +115 ‘dog and Griffin favored at -145.

Some of the bouts on the undercard include, Amir Sadollah (-220) and Phil “New York Bad Ass” Baroni (+170), Luiz Banha Cane (+120) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (-150), Josh “Kos” Koscheck (Even) vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (-130) and Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (+147) vs. Jake Rosholt (-185).

More in the Boxing/MMA section.

The marquee matchup on the college football sked sees the No. 6 Boise St. Broncos on the road against the Utah St. Aggies.

The Broncos are big 23.5-point faves with a Total of 62 but do the underdog Aggies have what it takes to cover the big spread?

The odds seem stacked against Utah State as it is 1-8 straight up and 0-9 ATS in its last nine against Boise State.

However, in the Aggies’ last seven games when listed as an underdog of more than 8-points, they are 6-1 ATS, including 5-0 ATS in their last five in that line range.

Updated November 20, 2009 

Is this a case of the strong getting stronger?

The AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals have added former K.C. Chiefs RB Larry Johnson to the roster, just in time for this Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders; Cincy opened as a 9.5-point road fave and is still at -9.5.

ESPN reports that Johnson was signed as an “insurance policy” for starting RB Cedric Benson who is suffering from a hip injury sustained last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Bengals haven’t played their best football on the road against the Raiders with records of 1-6 SU and 2-5 ATS with six Unders dating back to 1985. 

However, Cincinnati is 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS on the season. 

The O/U is 36.

Updated November 20, 2009 

The 3-6 SU and 4-5 ATS Buffalo Bills decided it was time for a change and fired head coach Dick Jauron yesterday.

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was named interim coach yesterday and almost immediately decided to demote QB Trent Edwards and elevate QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to starter.

Buffalo faces the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road this week, was an 8.5-point underdog yesterday and is currently +9. 

The O/U was at 42.5 and now sits at 43.

The Bills are 6-3 ATS in its last nine games against Jacksonville overall.

ESPN reports that Mike Shanahan could be a permanent replacement for Jauron.

The Colorado Buffaloes see themselves set as 17.5-point underdogs for tonight’s game against the No. 12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys. 

In Colorado’s last nine games when listed as underdogs of more than 8-points, it is 2-7 SU, including seven-straight losses but at the same time, is 6-3 ATS, including 4-0 ATS in its last four.

Oklahoma St. trails the No. 3 Texas Longhorns for top spot in the Big 12 South standings and is 9-1 SU in its last 10 when favored by 8-points or more and 7-3 ATS.

The Cowboys are +10,000 to take the Big 12 title and the Longhorns are overwhelming -1300 favorites to do the same.

Tonight’s game has an O/U of 48.

Out to a 3-0 record SU, the No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels look to remain undefeated against the 2-0 No. 15 Ohio State Buckeyes favored by a three-pointer.

The two are taking part in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden and in UNC’s last nine games it is 9-0 SU and 6-2 ATS (not all of its games had betting lines).

The Tar Heels have taken 7 Overs in its last 10 games when favored by 4-points or less.

Ohio State is 5-1 ATS in its last six games.

Updated November 18, 2009 @ 4:38 pm PST

Miami Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown won’t see any action in his team’s next game thanks to ankle and foot injuries and will miss the rest of the season.

Citing a league source, The Palm Beach Post earlier reported that Brown is done for the season and ESPN confirmed an hour ago that Miami had placed him on the IR, ending his season.

The Dolphins have a short week, with an impending Thursday night game in Carolina, and are 3-point underdogs with a Total of 42.5.

Brown’s absence will cause many problems for Miami as he not only is its primary tailback but the main triggerman for its Wildcat formation as well.

The Wildcat is a big reason the Dolphins have the the third and fourth-best rushing attack in the AFC and NFL respectively.

Brown suffered the injury in the third quarter of Sunday’s 25-23 home win over Tampa Bay, where Miami failed to cover at -10.5; he did not return to the game.

The Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs tonight favored by 1.5-points with a Total of 196.5.

Dallas is 17-3 straight up in its last 20 home games and 6-2-1 against the spread in its last nine at American Airlines Arena.

In the Mavericks’ last seven home games against San Antonio, they are 5-2 SU and ATS.

They have also taken 8 Overs and 2 Unders when listed at -2 or less.