THE SPORTS ADVISORS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23
NFL
Tennessee (3-6, 4-5 ATS) at Houston (5-4, 5-3-1 ATS)
After beginning the season with six straight losses, the Titans now head to Reliant Stadium in search of their fourth straight victory as they take on the Texans in an AFC South clash.
Tennessee scored a 41-17 win over Buffalo last weekend, cashing as nine-point favorites as they broke open a 17-17 tie by scoring the final 24 points. During their 0-6 start to the season (1-5 ATS), the Titans topped the 17-point mark only once, but since coach Jeff Fisher made the switch at QB from Kerry Collins to Vince Young, the offense has exploded for 30 or more in three consecutive SU and ATS wins.
The Titans still ranks just 21st in total offense (332 yards per game), but they now have the league’s second-best rushing attack at 161.8 ypg. RB Chris Johnson leads the NFL in rushing and during the winning streak, the second-year pro has 495 rushing yards, 136 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. On the downside, Tennessee’s defense is 30th in the 32-team NFL in points-allowed (28.3 per game) and 31st in pass defense (270.4 ypg, just a yard better than lowly Detroit).
Houston won three of its last four (3-0-1 ATS) going into its bye last week. The Texans last played on Nov. 8 when they went to Indianapolis and fell 20-17, covering as 7½-point underdogs. Houston’s offense ranks sixth in the league at 374.9 ypg, with QB Matt Schaub leading the third most-prolific passing attack at 283.7 ypg. The Texans are middle of the pack when it comes to defense, ranking 17th in total defense (332.1 ypg), but they have not been able to get to opposing quarterbacks this season, ranking next to last in sacks with just 11.
These teams played a shootout in Week 2 this season with Schaub throwing for 357 yards and four TDs to lead the Texans to a 34-31 road win as seven-point road ‘dogs. Houston has won the last two meetings (2-0 ATS) after dropping seven in a row to the Titans (6-1 ATS). The underdog is on a 9-3 ATS streak in the last 12 meetings.
Tennessee is on ATS slides of 2-5 on the road, 0-5 against winning teams and 1-5 against AFC South rivals, but the Titans are on positive pointspread runs of 4-0 in November, 16-7 as an underdog and 4-1 in Week 11 games. Houston is on modest ATS runs of 4-0 in November games, 5-1 against AFC South rivals and 5-2 in Week 11.
The Titans are on “over” streaks of 6-2 overall, 4-0 on the road, 4-1 in November and 5-1 against AFC squads. The Texans have topped the total in 20 of 27 against the AFC South but they’re also on “under” runs of 5-1 overall, 4-1 after a bye week, 8-2 after a spread-cover and 7-2 against teams with a losing record. In this rivalry, the over has been the play in six of the last seven overall and five of the last six in Houston.
Finally, the last two Monday Night Football games have stayed under the total following a 19-5-1 “over” streak. The over is 8-3 on Monday this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
NBA
Chicago (6-6, 4-8 ATS) at Portland (10-5, 9-6 ATS)
The Bulls continue their six-game West Coast road trip with a stop at the Rose Garden in Portland to take on the Trail Blazers.
Chicago opened the trip with a victory at Sacramento on Tuesday, but it has dropped the last two, falling 108-93 at the Lakers as a 9½-point ‘dog Thursday, then losing in Denver on Saturday 112-93 as an eight-point pup. Chicago, which has scored more than 94 points just once this season, shoots 43.2 percent from the floor but just 29 percent from behind the three-point line.
Portland has alternated wins and losses over its last six outings, including Saturday night’s 106-78 home win over Minnesota, cashing in as a 13-point favorite. All five starters scored double-digits for the Blazers on Saturday, led by Martell Webster’s 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Steve Blake had 14 points and nine assists.
The Trail Blazers have won four straight (3-1 ATS) in this series, including a 116-74 blowout win in Portland last season as a 6½-point favorite. Portland is 5-3 ATS in the last eight meetings and the straight-up winner has gotten the cash in eight of the last 10 matchups.
Despite failing to get the money at L.A. and at Denver in the last two, Chicago has still cashed in 14 of its last 18 games against Western Conference teams and seven of its last 10 Monday games, but the Bulls are also on negative ATS streaks of 1-4 overall, 2-6 on the road, 1-7 after getting a day off and 0-7-1 after a straight-up loss. The Blazers are just 1-4 ATS in their last five against the Eastern Conference, but they’re otherwise on positive ATS runs of 7-3 overall, 11-5 at home, 7-2 on Mondays, 5-1 after spread-cover and 5-2 after a straight-up win.
The Bulls are on modest “under” streaks of 5-1 overall, 5-1 on the road, 4-1 against Western Conference teams and 7-0 after a non-cover. Portland has topped the total in seven straight Monday contests, but otherwise it is on “under” streaks of 5-1 overall, 7-1 at home, 8-3 after a spread-cover and 4-1 after getting a day off. In this series, the “over” is 4-1 in the last five contests.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PORTLAND
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(3) Texas (2-0 SU and ATS) vs. Iowa (1-2 SU and ATS)
(at Kansas City, Mo.)
Third-ranked Texas takes its high-scoring offense to the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., for a non-conference showdown with Iowa in the CBE Classic.
Texas is averaging 81 points through two games, destroying UC Irvine 89-42 as a 26½-point home favorite in the season opener and then crushing Western Carolina a 73-41 as a 23½-point home chalk Wednesday. The Longhorns are shooting 55 percent from the floor through two games and limiting the opposition to 41.5 points a game, along with 26.8 percent shooting overall and 17.2 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line.
Iowa struggled coming out of the gate, losing its first games at home to Texas-San Antonio 62-50 as a nine-point favorite, followed by a 52-50 setback to Duquesne as a 1½-point underdog. The Hawkeyes bounced back on Friday, crushing Bowling Green 68-46 and easily cashing as a 9½-point favorite. Iowa is having issues on offense, shooting just 37.3 percent from the floor and 29.1 percent from behind the three-point line.
These teams met in late-November in 2004 and 2005 in Texas, with Iowa taking the first meeting 82-80 as a 3½-point ‘dog, while the Longhorns got revenge in 2005 with a 68-59 victory as a four-point favorites.
Texas is on ATS runs of 4-0 overall, 20-8 on Mondays and 4-0 in non-conference games, but it is on ATS slides of 4-12 after a spread-cover and 0-4 against teams with losing records. Iowa is just 1-8 ATS in its last nine neutral-site games.
The Longhorns have topped the total in eight of 11 after a straight-up win and five of six after a spread-cover, but they have stayed below the posted number in 11 of 14 on Monday. Iowa is on a plethora of “under” streaks, including 5-1 overall, 5-1 in non-conference action, 6-2 against Big 12 teams, 5-2 in neutral-site games and 4-1 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23
NFL
Tennessee (3-6, 4-5 ATS) at Houston (5-4, 5-3-1 ATS)
After beginning the season with six straight losses, the Titans now head to Reliant Stadium in search of their fourth straight victory as they take on the Texans in an AFC South clash.
Tennessee scored a 41-17 win over Buffalo last weekend, cashing as nine-point favorites as they broke open a 17-17 tie by scoring the final 24 points. During their 0-6 start to the season (1-5 ATS), the Titans topped the 17-point mark only once, but since coach Jeff Fisher made the switch at QB from Kerry Collins to Vince Young, the offense has exploded for 30 or more in three consecutive SU and ATS wins.
The Titans still ranks just 21st in total offense (332 yards per game), but they now have the league’s second-best rushing attack at 161.8 ypg. RB Chris Johnson leads the NFL in rushing and during the winning streak, the second-year pro has 495 rushing yards, 136 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. On the downside, Tennessee’s defense is 30th in the 32-team NFL in points-allowed (28.3 per game) and 31st in pass defense (270.4 ypg, just a yard better than lowly Detroit).
Houston won three of its last four (3-0-1 ATS) going into its bye last week. The Texans last played on Nov. 8 when they went to Indianapolis and fell 20-17, covering as 7½-point underdogs. Houston’s offense ranks sixth in the league at 374.9 ypg, with QB Matt Schaub leading the third most-prolific passing attack at 283.7 ypg. The Texans are middle of the pack when it comes to defense, ranking 17th in total defense (332.1 ypg), but they have not been able to get to opposing quarterbacks this season, ranking next to last in sacks with just 11.
These teams played a shootout in Week 2 this season with Schaub throwing for 357 yards and four TDs to lead the Texans to a 34-31 road win as seven-point road ‘dogs. Houston has won the last two meetings (2-0 ATS) after dropping seven in a row to the Titans (6-1 ATS). The underdog is on a 9-3 ATS streak in the last 12 meetings.
Tennessee is on ATS slides of 2-5 on the road, 0-5 against winning teams and 1-5 against AFC South rivals, but the Titans are on positive pointspread runs of 4-0 in November, 16-7 as an underdog and 4-1 in Week 11 games. Houston is on modest ATS runs of 4-0 in November games, 5-1 against AFC South rivals and 5-2 in Week 11.
The Titans are on “over” streaks of 6-2 overall, 4-0 on the road, 4-1 in November and 5-1 against AFC squads. The Texans have topped the total in 20 of 27 against the AFC South but they’re also on “under” runs of 5-1 overall, 4-1 after a bye week, 8-2 after a spread-cover and 7-2 against teams with a losing record. In this rivalry, the over has been the play in six of the last seven overall and five of the last six in Houston.
Finally, the last two Monday Night Football games have stayed under the total following a 19-5-1 “over” streak. The over is 8-3 on Monday this season.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
NBA
Chicago (6-6, 4-8 ATS) at Portland (10-5, 9-6 ATS)
The Bulls continue their six-game West Coast road trip with a stop at the Rose Garden in Portland to take on the Trail Blazers.
Chicago opened the trip with a victory at Sacramento on Tuesday, but it has dropped the last two, falling 108-93 at the Lakers as a 9½-point ‘dog Thursday, then losing in Denver on Saturday 112-93 as an eight-point pup. Chicago, which has scored more than 94 points just once this season, shoots 43.2 percent from the floor but just 29 percent from behind the three-point line.
Portland has alternated wins and losses over its last six outings, including Saturday night’s 106-78 home win over Minnesota, cashing in as a 13-point favorite. All five starters scored double-digits for the Blazers on Saturday, led by Martell Webster’s 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Steve Blake had 14 points and nine assists.
The Trail Blazers have won four straight (3-1 ATS) in this series, including a 116-74 blowout win in Portland last season as a 6½-point favorite. Portland is 5-3 ATS in the last eight meetings and the straight-up winner has gotten the cash in eight of the last 10 matchups.
Despite failing to get the money at L.A. and at Denver in the last two, Chicago has still cashed in 14 of its last 18 games against Western Conference teams and seven of its last 10 Monday games, but the Bulls are also on negative ATS streaks of 1-4 overall, 2-6 on the road, 1-7 after getting a day off and 0-7-1 after a straight-up loss. The Blazers are just 1-4 ATS in their last five against the Eastern Conference, but they’re otherwise on positive ATS runs of 7-3 overall, 11-5 at home, 7-2 on Mondays, 5-1 after spread-cover and 5-2 after a straight-up win.
The Bulls are on modest “under” streaks of 5-1 overall, 5-1 on the road, 4-1 against Western Conference teams and 7-0 after a non-cover. Portland has topped the total in seven straight Monday contests, but otherwise it is on “under” streaks of 5-1 overall, 7-1 at home, 8-3 after a spread-cover and 4-1 after getting a day off. In this series, the “over” is 4-1 in the last five contests.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PORTLAND
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(3) Texas (2-0 SU and ATS) vs. Iowa (1-2 SU and ATS)
(at Kansas City, Mo.)
Third-ranked Texas takes its high-scoring offense to the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., for a non-conference showdown with Iowa in the CBE Classic.
Texas is averaging 81 points through two games, destroying UC Irvine 89-42 as a 26½-point home favorite in the season opener and then crushing Western Carolina a 73-41 as a 23½-point home chalk Wednesday. The Longhorns are shooting 55 percent from the floor through two games and limiting the opposition to 41.5 points a game, along with 26.8 percent shooting overall and 17.2 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line.
Iowa struggled coming out of the gate, losing its first games at home to Texas-San Antonio 62-50 as a nine-point favorite, followed by a 52-50 setback to Duquesne as a 1½-point underdog. The Hawkeyes bounced back on Friday, crushing Bowling Green 68-46 and easily cashing as a 9½-point favorite. Iowa is having issues on offense, shooting just 37.3 percent from the floor and 29.1 percent from behind the three-point line.
These teams met in late-November in 2004 and 2005 in Texas, with Iowa taking the first meeting 82-80 as a 3½-point ‘dog, while the Longhorns got revenge in 2005 with a 68-59 victory as a four-point favorites.
Texas is on ATS runs of 4-0 overall, 20-8 on Mondays and 4-0 in non-conference games, but it is on ATS slides of 4-12 after a spread-cover and 0-4 against teams with losing records. Iowa is just 1-8 ATS in its last nine neutral-site games.
The Longhorns have topped the total in eight of 11 after a straight-up win and five of six after a spread-cover, but they have stayed below the posted number in 11 of 14 on Monday. Iowa is on a plethora of “under” streaks, including 5-1 overall, 5-1 in non-conference action, 6-2 against Big 12 teams, 5-2 in neutral-site games and 4-1 after a straight-up win.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS
