Oregon vs. Cal Betting Odds and Preview
2010-11-12
Sportsbook.com Oregon vs. Cal Betting Lines: Oregon -20, Total: 58.5
The Oregon Ducks gun for their 10th win of the season against a Cal team undefeated at home. The Ducks have been kind to their loyal bettors this season, having covered six out of 9 point spreads.
The Ducks continue to lead the nation in scoring (54.7 PPG), yardage (569 YPG) and scoring margin (37.0 PPG) led by LaMichael James’ nation-best 166 rush YPG. The Bears also have a great running back in Shane Vereen averaging 118 all-purpose yards with 15 touchdowns this year. Oregon won last year’s meeting 42-3, but has lost three straight at Cal. The Bears will once again start Brock Mansion at QB with Kevin Riley out with a knee injury.
Oregon also has a quarterback out with a knee injury. Backup Nate Costa will miss the rest of the season after injuring himself in last week’s game. That leaves freshman Bryan Bennett as the No. 2 QB behind Darron Thomas. Fortunately for Thomas, he receives great pass protection from his offensive line. Oregon ranks ninth in the nation for fewest sacks allowed (0.6 per game). The sophomore James continues to be a monster with five straight games of 120+ rushing yards and 2+ TD. He has 15 touchdowns in six Pac-10 games this year. He also rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown in last year’s blowout win over Cal.
The early bettors at Sportsbook.com are expecting another Oregon romp as 93 percent of the Oregon vs. Cal point spread bettors are backing the Ducks.
Cal has demolished its opponents at home this year, outscoring them by an average of 47 to 9 and out-gaining them by an average of 408 to 175. However, Oregon is a huge step up from UC-Davis, Colorado, UCLA or Arizona State.
The Bears barely beat conference doormat Washington State last week 20-13, but they did run the ball well, gaining 212 yards on 42 carries. That was quite an improvement from the 69 rushing YPG average in the previous three contests. However, Mansion did not play well in his first career start last week, completing just half his passes (12-for-24) for 171 yards and two interceptions. Considering Oregon has 15 interceptions this year and is tied for fifth in the nation in turnover margin (1.22 per game), it is imperative for Mansion to make smart decisions throwing the football. Vereen, who is averaging 98.4 rushing YPG this year, hasn’t done much in two career games against Oregon, rushing for just 89 yards on 27 carries (3.3 YPC).
Oregon is 10-5 (SU and ATS) in the past 15 series meetings, but this college football betting trend suggests Cal will keep this game closer than 20 points.
Play On - Underdogs of 10.5 to 21 points (CALIFORNIA) - after failing to cover the spread in 3 out of their last 4 games against opponent after covering the spread in 2 out of their last 3 games. (106-52 over the last 10 seasons.) (67.1%, +48.8 units. Rating = 3*).
Seven of the past eight series meetings have finished Under the Total, but these highly-rated betting trends expect the game to finish Over the 58.5 points Sportsbook.com has listed.
CALIFORNIA is 16-2 OVER (+13.8 Units) after scoring 7 points or less in the first half in 2 straight games since 1992. The average score was CALIFORNIA 25.6, OPPONENT 27.3 - (Rating = 4*).
OREGON is 12-2 OVER (+9.8 Units) after scoring 42 points or more last game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was OREGON 47.3, OPPONENT 22.7 - (Rating = 3*).
Now that you have the key numbers for Saturday’s Pac 10 game, head over to Sportsbook.com and get your bets in.
Undefeated Big 12 rivals square off on Thursday night2010-09-30Big 12 rivals Texas A&M Aggies and Oklahoma State Cowboys sit in a similar place with 3-0 records coming off a bye week. Sportsbook.com currently has the visiting Aggies as three point underdogs.
Aggies’ QB Jerrod Johnson will look to shake off last week’s poor performance versus Florida International when he threw four interceptions. He threw for 273 yards and three TD in a losing effort (36-31 score) against OSU last year. Sophomore RB Christine Michael leads the Aggies with 331 rushing yards and three TD, but he was helpless against OSU in 2009, rushing for 30 yards on nine carries and catching two passes for minus-4 yards.
Weeden has been incredible this season, completing 74-of-101 passes for 975 yards, 11 TD and only two interceptions. The Cowboys lead the nation with 392 passing YPG, thanks to Justin Blackmon’s nation-best 144 receiving YPG. Senior RB Kendall Hunter has also dominated with 513 total yards (473 rushing) and six touchdowns. Hunter missed last year’s meeting with A&M due to an ankle injury.
Oklahoma State is 4-10 SU against Texas A&M since the formation of the Big 12, but the Cowboys have won two straight, including a 56-28 beat-down in the last meeting in Stillwater in 2008. This betting trend supports the Cowboys to win a third straight game over A&M:
Play Against - Road underdogs (TEXAS A&M) - excellent passing team (>=275 PY/game) against a poor passing defense (230-275 PY/game), in conference games. (35-10 over the last 5 seasons.) (77.8%, +24 units. Rating = 3*).
For bettors looking to wager on the over-under, this trend expects the game to go Under the hefty 66.5 point total.
Play Under - Any team against the total (OKLAHOMA ST) - after a game where they forced 3 or more turnovers against opponent after 2 consecutive games where they committed 4 or more turnovers. (39-12 since 1992.) (76.5%, +25.8 units. Rating = 3*).
To wager on tonight’s Big 12 match-up, head over to Sportsbook.com. And while you are there, don’t forget to register for the $100,000 Perfect Parlay promo.
PROFITS DROP AT FOOTBALL POOLS GROUP2010-04-05Online casino, bingo and poker division underperforms
The predominently football pools betting group Sportech plc has unveiled a disappointing set of numbers that show the group's nlne casino poker and bingo operations have been underperforming, affecting overall operating profit, which fell by 14 percent to GBP 19.5 million over the year 2009. EBITDA dropped by 12 percent to GBP 14.7 million.
“That the decline in profitability is due primarily to our continued investment in establishing our online football pools business and the underperformance of our e-gaming business is testament to the resilience of the business in these tough times," said chief executive Ian Penrose, giving an assurance that strong action has been taken to address the underperformance.
Operating highlights included Sportech’s acquisition of Scientific Games Racing (SGR), the pari-mutuel technology provider and venue management business division of US giant Scientific Games, and a joint venture in India with Playwin, the Indian lottery and gaming brand owned by Essel Group (see previous InfoPowa reports).
“The strategic acquisition of SGR, together with our entry into the Indian market in partnership with one of India’s leading organisations, offers a unique opportunity to build a profit focused, global gaming business from strong pari-mutuel sporting and technology foundations,” said Penrose.
Sportech secured GBP 90.8 million in revised banking facilities valid to 2013 at the end of 2009, giving the group the flexibility to grow organically and make acquisitions, the chief executive said.
CFB: Sugar Bowl -CINCINNATI vs. FLORIDA (8:30 PM ET, FOX)2010-01-04Yes, Urban Meyer will be coaching the Florida Gators when they finally meet up with Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on Friday night. It’s been a crazy few weeks lead-up regarding the coaches for both teams, and while Meyer will be on the sideline for the Gators, counterpart Brian Kelly will not, as he has left the Cincy program for Notre Dame. In some part due to that, Florida is a heavy 13-point favorite at Sportsbook.com, and even that number hasn’t stopped 80% of bettors from backing them to get it done.
Florida had bigger plans, but had to “settle” for a Sugar Bowl date with unbeaten Cincinnati. With two national titles in three years, anything but is a disappointment and one of the primary storylines will be Florida’s motivation after the SEC title game loss. Of course, it is the last game in one of the great college careers in history, that of Tim Tebow, and he surely wants to go out on a high note. The Gators boast a 9-2 ATS mark when rested under head coach Urban Meyer, plus a 15-4 ATS record in non-conference play. Cincinnati is 12-0 despite allowing 36.5 points per game in its L4 contests. The Bearcats hope to pull off the second straight mammoth Sugar Bowl upset, but will do so without coach Brian Kelly, who left for Notre Dame.
Tebow is a winner, not much more needs to be said. Don’t let the anti-Tebow sentiment that flows throughout the country blind you. There is no denying he will go down as one of the most complete all-around leaders ever to play the college game. And Meyer, he’s no slouch, either, with a 16-3 ATS record (+12.7 Units) versus good teams, outscoring opponents by 10-plus points per game on the season as the head coach of FLORIDA. The average score was FLORIDA 30.2, OPPONENT 18.5 - (Rating = 4*) – FoxSheet trend. Without Kelly, out went any chance of a bowl victory for the Bearcats. Tebow will dominate one final time. Florida 45, Cincinnati 28.
Top FoxSheets.com ATS Trend
CINCINNATI is 28-9 ATS (+18.1 Units) vs. good teams - outscoring opponents by 10+ PPG on the season since 1992. The average score was CINCINNATI 23.3, OPPONENT 27.8 - (Rating = 2*)
Top FoxSheets.com Total Super Situation
Play Over - All teams where the total is between 56.5 and 63 (CINCINNATI) - in a game involving two excellent offensive teams (>=440 YPG). (48-20 over the last 5 seasons.) (70.6%, +26 units. Rating = 2*)
SUGAR BOWL Series Trend: The SEC has been represented in the Sugar Bowl every year since ’01. They are 6-3 SU & 5-4 ATS in that span. Typically this bowl series has not offered one of the more competitive matchups each season, as only one of the last 12 installments has had a line smaller than 5.5-points. Florida is a double-digit favorite this time around. Overall, favored teams are 7-5 ATS in that span. As far as totals are concerned, the UNDER has been the winning wager in five of the L7 games.
CFB: Emerald Bowl - BOSTON COLLEGE vs. USC (8:00 PM ET, ESPN)2009-12-28The 2009 season will be looked upon as a disappointment for USC, as the Trojans finished the season with four losses, their most since ‘01. It will be even more devastating however, if they can’t beat Boston College in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco. They are a 7.5-point favorite at last check, and according to the Sportsbook.com BETTING TRENDS page, that line has been able to adequately balance the incoming action on the contest.
Playing in this level of bowl game is unfamiliar territory for USC, which has been part of the BCS party in each of the last seven years and was 6-1 SU and ATS in those bowl games. Still, the Trojans are a heavy nine-point favorite against a Boston College team that shares the same 8-4 record in ’09, and is on a 19-6 ATS run when playing with rest. The Eagles lost in the Music City Bowl game a year ago, 16-14, snapping an eight-game bowl win streak.
For the first time in eight years, Pete Carroll and the Trojans won’t be in a BCS bowl. If you read the press clippings, USC players have made no effort to hide their disappointment with this trip to San Francisco. One has to wonder how motivated they will be here. This was just another typical season for Boston College – an 8-4 record anchored by solid, but unspectacular defense (19.4 points per game, 4.6 yards per play, 318 yards per game). A late-season loss to North Carolina prevented the Eagles from playing in another ACC title game. Boston College is also one of the nation’s best bowl teams, winning eight consecutive bowls before last year’s upset loss to Vanderbilt. With a shaky freshman quarterback, Matt Barkley, and questionable motivation, USC certainly won’t light up the scoreboard as it has in previous bowls. A tight, low-scoring struggle is the most likely scenario here; an outright upset isn’t out of the question.
EMERALD BOWL Series Trend: The Pac 10 has won consecutive Emerald Bowl games, but California’s inability to separate from Miami last year pushed the underdog’s record to 5-2 ATS overall. In all three previous games where the pointspread exceeded a touchdown, the underdog covered, a good sign for Boston College’s chances. In terms of totals, UNDER has been the result of the last two games, after OVER had won four straight. Interestingly, in the three lowest totaled Emerald Bowl games (46 or less), the underdog won both outright and ATS.
Top FoxSheets.com ATS Trend
Pete Carroll is 24-8 ATS (+15.2 Units) versus good rushing defenses - allowing <=3.25 rushing yards/carry as the coach of USC. The average score was USC 35.5, OPPONENT 16.3 - (Rating = 3*)
Top FoxSheets.com Total Super Situation
Play Under - All teams where the total is between 42.5 and 49 (USC) - in a game involving two average passing teams (6.4-7.5 PYA), in non-conference games. (40-12 over the last 5 seasons.) (76.9%, +26.8 units. Rating = 3*)
Visit the LIVE ODDS page for more wagering options available on this bowl game.
CFB: Betting on No.1 or No.2 in SEC Title Tilt2009-12-04There may be 13 other games on the college football schedule for Saturday, but for many fans, only one of them matters in the grand scheme of things. When Florida & Alabama meet for the second straight year in the SEC Championship Game, not only will a conference title be on the line, but a national title may be as well, since the winner of the game figures to be the favorite for the BCS Championship Game next month. For this one, Florida is a shaky 5.5-point favorite, nearly half of what it was last December. It seems oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com are giving the Tide a legitimate shot at the upset.
As soon as the first BCS ratings were announced, it was a foregone conclusion these two SEC teams would meet again for what is essentially a semi-final game for the national championship. This is the second year in a row these teams will meet sporting a perfect records, however Alabama (12-0, 7-4 ATS) has closed the gap, now 5.5-point underdogs compared to +10 a season ago. The Crimson Tide have tailback Mark Ingram running behind five behemoths.
Quarterback Greg McElroy has rectified mid-season slump and again is on target to Julio Jones and other pass-catchers. The defense is led by nose tackle Terrence Cody and has a number of large bodies and they have been ranked with Florida all season among the top three defenses in college football. Bama is 13-5 ATS after eight or more consecutive straight up wins.
Just how good has the Florida (12-0, 6-5 ATS) football program been the last several of years? This senior class is 47-6, the best ever in the long history of the SEC and they are impressive 31-17-2 ATS, often facing spreads bigger than the Mt. Cody. Besides the numbers, this Florida team wants to leave an indelible mark, like the basketball team did a few years back.
The Gators are trying to be back-to-back champions and be first Florida squad to claim a national championship being unbeaten. Tim Tebow has put up numbers and accomplished feats that arguably make him the greatest college football player of all-time. The offense lacked the playmakers of a year ago but offensive line has pulled them through. The defense covered up what rough patches the offense suffered. The Gators are 9-2 ATS away from Gainesville after two or more consecutive straight up wins.
This is a de facto BCS Final Four encounter. Florida has the edge because they have Tebow and shined on this stage every time they have played under Urban Meyer. Pick the style of play, the Gators eat it up. Teams with winning records, Florida is 11-2 ATS. You play great defense and hold teams to 17 or fewer points, the Gators are 6-0 ATS. What about teams with high scoring offenses that total 31 or more points a game, 8-1 ATS the last three years. Did we mention Tin Tebow?
Job one of Alabama’s tremendous defense; take away the Florida dive play, that means you Mr. Cody. If LB Rolando McClain is making tackles within four yards of line of scrimmage, the Crimson Tide defense is doing its job. The Florida passing tends to run in streaks during games, don’t let Tebow get comfortable throwing the ball. Coach Nick Saban’s offensive line had played outstanding until last week in Auburn. They have to be great against fabulous Florida defense and they got early Christmas present, not having to deal with DE Carlos Dunlap (suspended for drunk driving charges). Mark Ingram can’t run like he did last week and QB Greg McElroy cannot crumble in the moment for a team that is 7-0 ATS away from home vs. excellent passing defenses allowing 5.25 or less passing yards per attempt.
Sportsbook.com has the Gators as favorites; however from our friends at Playbook.com, we find No.1 teams are 2-9 and 1-10 ATS off a win by 25 or more points. The total has been steady at 41 and Florida is 7-1 UNDER after allowing 125 or less rushing yards in two straight games and Alabama is 11-2 UNDER after five or more consecutive straight up wins over the last two seasons.
This has the making of classic defensive struggle and Florida is 6-4 and 5-4-1 ATS since 1992. That’s why it seems strange that at last check on the Sportsbook.com Betting Trends page, nearly 80% of total wagering was favoring the OVER.
CFB: Ohio State at Michigan (12:00 PM ET, ABC)2009-11-20The third Saturday in November is always special on the college gridiron. No matter the circumstances, Ohio State and Michigan automatically makes this day standout. For the ’09 “Big Game in the Big House”, the Big Ten Champion Buckeyes are a 12-point favorite at Sportsbook.com. Surprisingly, bettors aren’t backing them “big”, with only about 60% of the action going that way.
From the standpoint of being truly meaningful, this won’t be the most dynamic of Ohio State and Michigan matchups, nevertheless it still counts just because it is these two teams. The Buckeyes squeaked by Iowa at home last week 27-24 in overtime and will be playing in their first Rose Bowl in 13 years. The last thing Ohio State (9-2, 8-3 ATS ) looked like a month ago was team going to Pasadena as Big Ten representative after losing at Purdue 26-18, as two touchdown road favorites. But as coach Jim Tressel said, “We have to go back to work and fix things” which is exactly what the Buckeyes did. What Ohio State has really done in putting this four-game winning streak together is keep it simple and basic. Play great defense, win the field position battle, and make enough plays on offense to turn the tide of the game. The Buckeyes are 14-4 ATS a Big ten road favorites since 2005.
After a promising 4-0 start, Michigan (5-6, 4-6 ATS) is staggering to the finish line. Their only win after that quick beginning is against FCS Delaware State. The defense is squarely to blame, having conceded 35 points per game in Big Ten action. As coach Rich Rodriguez correctly pointed out after the recent 38-36 loss to Purdue, “You score 36 points you ought to be able to win it.”
This is the one contest on the schedule that can heal some Michigan wounds and though Ohio State is still going to the Rose Bowl on January 1, the Wolverines would take away satisfaction in knowing they made Ohio State co-champions of the conference, instead of outright winners. The issue for Michigan is how to change, since they are 1-9 ATS in the second half of the season over the last two years losing by 14.1 points per contest.
Ohio State is on a 7-1 and 6-2 ATS run against Michigan in the “Big Game” and has held the Wolverines to seven or less points in consecutive games for the first time in 54 years.
The StatFox Power Line Ohio State by 16, and it remains to be seen whether or not Michigan can make this game competitive, at least to the point of covering the 12-point line at Sportsbook.
CFB: Ohio U at Buffalo (7:00 PM ET, ESPN2)2009-11-10It’s a weeknight in November, which must mean it’s time for Mid-American Conference Football. The league has enjoyed a bit of resurgence in 2009 with better quality football. Central Michigan knocked off Michigan State and Northern Illinois punted Purdue among fine showings. This week several more MAC games will be televised as teams compete to determine who plays in the league’s championship game.
This is Ohio U’s last road game of the season and it has intentions of staying right where they are in the MAC East standings, hoping to setup all important matchup with Temple in last contest of the year. The Bobcats (6-3, 5-4 ATS) are 4-1 in conference action and trail the Owls who have yet to lose. Before then, the Bobcats have to avoid what almost befell them at Ball State, escaping with 20-17 win as 5.5-point favorites.
Ohio U. has been road warriors with 4-1 (3-2 ATS) record. They hope that continue, since the last several years have been contrary to that information, being 8-13 and 6-15 ATS on the November road. The Bobcats offense is now more of a spread with “pistol” elements and as expected growing pain has been part of the process. They’ve averaged 315 yards against teams that allow 376 per game. Their biggest problems have been in the red zone, with a youthful offensive line and no true power backs.
Defensively, Ohio U has been strong, forcing 27 turnovers and giving the offense continual chances. Off their win at Ball State, they are 11-3 ATS after playing their last game on the road over the last three seasons.
Buffalo (3-6, 4-5 ATS) is off painful last minute loss to Bowling Green 30-29 last Tuesday and is running out of reasons to stay motivated.
“It’s a tough loss, tough for our football team,” Buffalo coach Turner Gill said. “That’s why you have to play four quarters. We didn’t know how to finish the football game. Bowling Green did a good job and finished the football game.” After being MAC champions a season ago, the best Buffalo can hope for is .500 record if they win out.
The Bulls have gone thru a number of running backs this season due to injury and Jeffvon Gill, no relation to Buffalo’s coach, rushed for 172 last week against the Falcons in a relief role. The Bulls played mistake free football as week ago, yet is only 8-19 ATS in home games after a contest where they committed one or less turnovers.
Sportsbook.com has Buffalo as 1.5-point favorites with total of 45.The Bulls are 5-4 and 6-3 ATS in last nine meetings and have never been favored in 10 previous games vs. Ohio U until today. Buffalo is just 2-5 ATS as a home favorite and 5-1 OVER against teams with winning records. Ohio U. is 3-11-1 ATS as underdog of three or less points since 1997 and is 7-1 OVER in that role.
ESPN2 has the coverage starting at 7 Eastern live from University of Buffalo Stadium.
StatFox Power Line – Buffalo by 5