Sports betting

Updated November 12, 2009 

The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs did more than just hammer the San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday, they put themselves in the conversation for the national title.

The Horned Frogs have a tilt against Utah this week, opening as 17.5-point faves and currently sitting at -19.5 with an Over/Under of 46.5.

TCU covered as 24.5-point favorites in a 55-12 win over the Aztecs last Saturday and on the strength of that big win, it shot up from sixth to No. 4 in the BCS rankings.

According to oddsmakers, Texas Christian is a +2000 longshot to win the BCS championship.

Only two games on the NBA sked tonight, one featuring the Phoenix Suns at the STAPLES Center to play the L.A. Lakers.

The teams both rank in the NBA’s Top 10 when it comes to points scored with Phoenix scoring an association-leading 112.3 a game.

The Lakers are 7.5-point faves with a Total of 221 and in the last 10 overall matchups between the two, the Over has cashed 7 times.

However, in the Lakers’ last 12 home games, the Total has yielded 1 Over, 1 Push and the Under 10 times.

In the Suns’ last nine road games there have been 6 Unders.

The Lakers’ last 10 games when favored by 8-points or less, the Total has gone Under 8 times.

Updated November 12, 2009 

Starting tonight until the end of the NFL regular season, there will be professional football on Thursday.

The first Thursday-nighter will see the Chicago Bears visiting the San Francisco 49ers with the Niners favored by a field goal.

Candlestick has not been kind to the Bears as they are 1-7 straight up and against the spread on the road against San Fran dating back to 1985.

Chicago is also 2-7 ATS in its last nine road games and in its last 10 games when underdogs of 4-points or less, is 3-7-1 ATS.

The Total is set at 43.5.

Although the 3-5 New Orleans Hornets are on the road to play one of the top teams in the NBA, that would be the Phoenix Suns, the Hornets could come away with a cover.

While New Orleans is merely 7-6 SU in its last 13 games in Phoenix, it is 11-2 ATS at the same time.

The Hornets are listed as 6-point underdogs for the game with a Total of 216.

The Dallas Mavericks are in the midst of a two-game intrastate swing and play the second game in two nights with a road tilt against the San Antonio Spurs.

Although a line has not yet been set, Dallas is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 visits to what is currently the AT&T Center.

In the Mavericks’ last 11 games that are the second in two nights, they have taken 9 Unders.

Dallas hosted the Houston Rockets last night and covered at -6 in a 121-103 victory.

The NCAA basketball season begins tonight and the USA Today and ESPN preseason rankings were released a few weeks ago.

The Kansas Jayhawks are the kings of the college basketball hill entering the season ranked No. 1 and listed at +300 to win the national championship.

The Michigan State Spartans are close behind at No. 2 and are +1200 to win the March Madness tournament in 2010.

Just like their football brothers’ current rank in the BCS rankings, the Texas Longhorns basketball team is ranked No. 3 and just like Michigan St. are +1200 to win it all.

The defending NCAA men’s hoops champion North Carolina Tar Heels come in at No. 4 and are +700 to repeat.

The Kentucky Wildcats round out the Top 5 and are +500 to win the college basketball national title this season.

The Dallas Mavericks begin a two games in two nights stand, beginning first with a home tilt against against the Houston Rockets tonight.

The Mavs are favored by 6-points, the Total is at 199 and in their last nine home games against the Rockets are 7-2 SU and 6-3 ATS and in their last eight games when favored by 6-points or less are 7-1 SU and 5-2-1 ATS.

In its last eight tilts that are the first of back to back games, Dallas is 6-2 SU and ATS.

The Mavericks then travel to San Antonio for a game against the Spurs the following night.

Week 9 concludes with a Monday nighter between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos in the Mile High City.

Pittsburgh is listed as a 3-point road fave with an Over/Under of 41 and in the last 15 games between the two, there have been 11 Overs, 3 Unders and a Push on the Total.

In the Steelers’ last 15 games when favored by 4-points or less, the Over has dominated 11 times while the Under has only 4 times–they are 3-11-1 ATS in the same time.

Pittsburgh has also failed to cover in its last five-straight overall.

A brand new college basketball season begins tonight with four games on the sked, featuring the defending NCAA hoops champion North Carolina Tar Heels.

Ranked No. 4 in the ESPN/USA Today preseason poll, UNC will host the Florida International Golden Panthers and are listed as a big 30-point favorite with a Total of 153.

While the Tar Heels are 17-3 SU when favored by more than 8-points, they are only 7-13 ATS.

In other games on opening night Murray St. is at No. 12 Cal with the home team favored by 13.5-point faves and an Over/Under at 136.5.

The 17th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the same boat as UNC, listed as 37-point home faves against Alcorn St. 

Rounding out the action, No. 25 Syracuse is favored by 21.5-points and plays a home game against Albany.

Listed as 8.5-point underdogs going into their Sunday game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Houston Texans covered the spread and almost upset their division rivals in a 20-17 loss.

Houston K Kris Brown shanked a field goal in the dying seconds of the game ensuring the Colts would improve to 8-0 SU and thus, remain undefeated.

The combined score of 37 went Under the Total of 48.5.

The Colts have a key matchup against the Patriots this coming week and have opened as field goal home faves.